Three Ukrainian women from law enforcement have been recognized internationally by the International Association of Women Police. They won in three categories: "Officer of the Year", "Community Service", and "Bravery".
This was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The "Officer of the Year" award was given to Police Captain Olena Stavytska, who works in the evacuation unit in Sumy region. Together with her colleagues, she organizes the evacuation of civilians from dangerous areas, assists the wounded, and participates in search operations after enemy attacks.
In October 2024, her team's vehicle was hit by a Russian strike, resulting in injuries to Olena. However, after a brief recovery, she returned to duty and continued to save lives.
"At first, it was difficult, but I enjoy helping people. They hug me and thank me; these are genuine emotions [...]
I truly love what I do. I have a 17-year-old daughter waiting for me at home. She worries about me but is proud and wants to become a police officer like me in the future," Olena shared.
In the "Community Service" category, the award went to Police Lieutenant Colonel Olha Zinchенко, who heads the juvenile prevention department in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that under her coordination, over a thousand Ukrainian children have been evacuated to safer places since the start of the full-scale invasion. Thanks to her efforts, 255 children have been located and returned to their families since the beginning of 2024.
Moreover, she conducts classes for students within the "Mobile Safety Class" program and participates in the "Baidа" youth club activities, which help foster legal awareness among the youth.
Police Lieutenant Valeriia Bilenets was awarded in the "Bravery" category. Since December 2022, she has participated in complex evacuation operations from Donetsk as part of the "White Angels" unit.
Thanks to Valeriia's service, 518 Ukrainians, including 84 children, were evacuated from under fire, and 250 families received humanitarian assistance.
Additionally, she has repeatedly participated in rescue operations at shelling sites, saving the wounded from the rubble.
The International Association of Women Police unites over 30 law enforcement organizations from 75 countries and advocates for women's interests in law enforcement at the international level.
Each year, the organization holds a competition to recognize police officers' achievements across 11 categories.
