Awards for Cardiology Center Doctors: State Recognizes Contribution That Saves Ukraine's Hearts
On Unity Day, the President honored the head and deputy of the capital’s Center for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery — awards meant to signal the importance of medicine for the security, recovery, and support of wounded defenders.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
January 23, 2026 · 2 min read
What happened and why it matters
On the occasion of Unity Day, representatives of the medical field were honored with state awards. By presidential decree, the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 5th class, was awarded to Heorhii Mankovskyi, general director of the Center for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, and the Order of Merit, 3rd class, was awarded to deputy director and physician Serhii Varbanets. The information was reported by UNN with reference to the Center's official Facebook page.
Position: the award as a state marker of priority
This is not only individual recognition. Through awards, the state emphasizes that investment in health care is an investment in national security and recovery. Medical expertise that saves newborns and treats veterans must become a priority in reconstruction policy.
What the Center does
The capital's Center for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery is a leading facility in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Ukraine. Thousands of complex operations are performed here each year, including on newborns with critical heart defects. The institution also develops spaces for veterans and provides care to patients from all regions regardless of their place of residence.
"Our work is a fight for life at every stage: from complex surgeries for infants in the rebuilt pediatric ward to creating a Veteran Space where we care for the hearts of our defenders and veterans. Every saved heart is a contribution to Ukraine's shared future."
— Heorhii Mankovskyi, general director of the Center for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
Consequences for patients and the system
Recognition of the Center's leadership strengthens patient trust and could ease the mobilization of resources — from state programs to international aid and partnerships. For the healthcare system, it's a signal: specialists who provide critical care during the war and reconstruction are receiving tangible support.
Sources: UNN, the official Facebook page of the Center for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.
An analytical question to end on: will these symbolic recognitions be transformed into sustained funding, investments in equipment, and a nationwide network of cardiology care? The answer will determine how many hearts will be saved in the coming years.
