AMBASSADOR OLE EGBERG MIKKELSEN AWARDED MEDALS AS HE BIDS FAREWELL TO UKRAINE
The event gathered representatives of Ukrainian state authorities, Danish and Ukrainian partners, NGOs, businesses, and civil society and numerous representatives of the Mykolaiv region and the city of Mykolaiv.
The suburb of Bucha, which ambassador Mikkelsen has visited several times, was also well represented by the City Mayor, the Parish Priest, Father Andriy as well as the commander of the territorial defence unit and female volunteers, also known as “Witches of Bucha”.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mr. Yevhen Perebyinis, delivered opening remarks, thanking Ambassador Mikkelsen for his significant contribution to strengthening Danish–Ukrainian relations, particularly in the field of defence, but also in the civilian area.
Vitaliy Kim, Head of the Mykolaiv Military and Civil Administration, Anton Tabunshchyk, Chairman of the Mykolaiv Regional Council, and the Mayor of Mykolaiv also addressed the audience. They highlighted the Ambassador’s role in advancing the unique partnership between Denmark and the city and region of Mykolaiv — a responsibility Denmark assumed at the request of President Zelenskyy in 2022.
Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Oleksiy Mihin, expressed gratitude for the Denmark’s support of Ukrainian rescue workers in their vital efforts to mitigate the consequences of Russian aggression and thanked ambassador Mikkelsen for his frequent visit to impact sites to report on the consequences of the Russian aggression.
In recognition of his work, ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen received awards and medals from the City of Mykolaiv, the Mykolaiv Regional Council, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Last month, he was also awarded the order “For merit”, 2nd degree, by President Zelensky.
“I am deeply honoured, but I am also humble. Because I know very well that it is not for me personally. It is a recognition of the strong partnership between Denmark and Ukraine that has developed since 2022”
Ambassador Mikkelsen said in his farewell speech. He also highlighted the crucial role of the embassy team:
“The award and the kind words are also for the entire Danish-Ukrainian embassy team for their tireless work under wartime conditions – both in Kyiv and in Mykolaiv”
The full speech can be downloaded here.
The evening concluded with a performance by the National Presidential Orchestra, bringing the reception to a festive close with two pieces of music particularly liked by ambassador Mikkelsen, namely the battle song of the Ukrainian riflemen “ Red kalyna” and the traditional Polish-Ukrainian folk song “Hej sokoły” (Hey Falcons), about love and longing in times of war.
As the finale the presidential orchestra played a well known Danish pop song. To find out which one check it out on the video below.