Kate Turska Named Among Recipients Of Ukraine’s Order Of Merit (Third Class); Formal Presentation Pending

Kate Turska, spokesperson for Mahi for Ukraine and Chair of the Ukrainian Association of New Zealand, has been named among recipients of Ukraine’s Order of Merit, Third Class (O « » ) in the honours announced around Independence Day.

The presidential honours were announced as part of a wider set of awards given to foreign nationals around Independence Day; some recipients were presented with decorations in person at Independence Day events (for example, U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg received an Order of Merit during the Independence Day programme).

Ms Turska travelled to Kyiv and attended the Second National Prayer Breakfast, held on 25th August at Mystetskyi Arsenal under the patronage of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The event drew more than 1,200 Ukrainian and international participants, including over 350 foreign guests from around 50 countries, and brought together civic, faith and humanitarian leaders. During the programme speakers repeatedly acknowledged New Zealand’s solidarity despite the country’s distance from Ukraine.

The Prayer Breakfast concluded a global 24-hour prayer initiative launched on Independence Day. In Auckland, Mahi for Ukraine and the Ukrainian Association of New Zealand organised a community rally on Independence Day that joined the 24-hour prayer chain; the event in Auckland was attended by Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities, and Patrick Gamble, Honorary Consul of Ukraine, and was featured on Ukrainian national television. Aucklanders’ prayers and solidarity were noted as part of the global show of support for Ukraine. (Organisers: Mahi for Ukraine / Ukrainian Association of New Zealand.)

Kate Turska said:

“Being named among the recipients of Ukraine’s Order of Merit, Third Class is a profound honour for me and for the community I represent. I want to be clear: the decoration itself is a separate process and has not yet been formally presented to me in person. I accept this recognition with humility and deep gratitude — and it belongs to the many Kiwis who stand with Ukraine: those on the ground as volunteers and medical and humanitarian teams, those who have taken up the cross of service, and those back home whose practical support keeps the work going. Their courage and commitment are why we continue. The work is not finished — we must keep going, with respect, focus and solidarity, until peace endures.”

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