'City Savior': Ukrainian president Zelenskiy awards honorary title to Prague

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy granted the honorary title "City-Savior" to the Czech capital for its ongoing provision of aid to Ukraine and Ukrainians during the Russian invasion of his country.

The accolade came on Oct. 28, a Czech national holiday commemorating the founding of the First Czechoslovak Republic in 1918.

Former Ukrainian ambassador to Czechia and current deputy foreign minister Yevhen Perebyinis announced the presidential decree on Twitter Friday.

"Congratulations, Golden Prague, and thank you very much," Perebyinis tweeted. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign affairs also posted a Czech-English message and tagged its diplomatic counterpart in Czechia.

Zelenskiy's presidential decree recognizes the "humanism, mercy, and solidarity" shown by Prague to the Ukrainian people.

"For the expressed humanity, mercifulness, and solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the overall aid to the citizens of Ukraine who were forced to leave their homeland as a consequence of an armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as well as for strong support of Ukraine in defense of its independence and sovereignty, I order to award the honorary title City-Savior to the city of Prague (the Czech Republic)," Zelenskiy wrote.

Prague mayor Zdeněk Hřib tweeted his thanks to Ukraine for the award, tweeting Friday:

"Since February, we have ensured safety from the war for 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, mostly women, and children. We also support Ukraine materially and will continue to do so even in the context of post-war reconstruction. Thank you for the award and especially thank you for fighting for us!"

The Ukrainian media stressed that since the start of the Russian invasion in February, Prague has been one of the strongest allies of Kyiv, putting Czech aid to Ukraine at dozens of billions of crowns.

A new postage stamp "We Are Together" symbolizing the friendship and partnership between the Czech Republic and Ukraine was released in Kyiv Friday, the Embassy of Ukraine in Prague wrote.

On Sunday, Oct. 30, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenská will address the "Czech Republic Against Fear" rally being held at Wenceslas Square in Prague at 4 p.m.