A ceremony to present the Ukrainian Canadian Sacrifice Medal, a special award established by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian Rifle Community of Canada, was held in Kyiv.
This year’s honorees include 23-year-old Mackenzie “Mac” Hughes from Calgary. In 2022, he and his father traveled to Ukraine to deliver humanitarian aid. After the death of a close friend fighting for Ukraine, Mackenzie decided to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The medal also went to Canadian Caleb David Koopman, who joined the National Guard of Ukraine in November 2024. During an important mission in the Kupyansk area, he was seriously wounded and lost his leg. Due to urgent orders, Caleb was unable to attend the award ceremony in person.
The Ukrainian Canadian Sacrifice Medal is an award that honors the contribution of Canadians to Ukraine’s struggle for freedom and independence.
