The commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers came hours after another peacekeeper serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) died from wounds sustained in a mortar attack, as hostilities between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants continue.
The day began with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres laying a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial on the grounds of the Secretariat in New York before presiding over a solemn ceremony at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) attended by senior officials, the diplomatic community and grieving family members and colleagues.
Secretary-General António Guterres attends the wreath-laying ceremony in honor of fallen peacekeepers at the Peace Operations Memorial at UN Headquarters.
Service and sacrifice
“Unfortunately, as the events of this week remind us, Peacekeepers continue to face danger in the cause of peace, and we pay the greatest tribute to their service and sacrifice.“, said.
The Secretary-General posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal to 68 peacekeepers from 33 nations, including 59 who paid the ultimate price last year. Their photographs were displayed on a screen and their names were read as country representatives accepted the boxed medals.
“They represent the best of humanity: people willing to risk everything to keep others safe,” he said.
Bravery Awards
Two peacekeepers were rewarded for their bravery and received the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage, named after a Senegalese military officer killed in Rwanda in 1994.
Sergeant Matías Reyes of Uruguay saved lives serving under the UN flag in the restive eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in January 2025. The Ebola outbreak there prevented him from traveling to New York.
The other recipient, Sergii Prykhodko of Ukraine, a private contractor with a helicopter crew at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), sacrificed his life during a dangerous mission to evacuate besieged soldiers in March 2025.
“This medal honors their bravery, but also reminds us of the true cost of peace: the Sacrifices made by those who serve far from home for the sake of people they may never meet.“, his widow Tetiana Prykhodko told those present.
Secretary-General António Guterres presents an award to the family of Sergii Prykhodko, a Ukrainian peacekeeper who died in combat.
Put others first
Speaking later to UN NewsShe recalled that her husband “always went where help was needed, knowing that danger could be inevitable,” and had agreed to volunteer at the UN because he wanted to help others.
“He did what he had always done: he put others before himself. And I think his example of serving peace is an example for all of us,” he said.
Mrs Prykhodko, who attended the ceremony with her six-year-old daughter Elizabeth, wanted her husband to be remembered for his humanity, bravery and sense of responsibility.
“For our family, it is a great honor that the United Nations remembers Sergii not only as a fallen hero, but as a person who chose humanity every day.”
The body of UN peacekeeper Chef Sergeant Florian Montorio is repatriated to his country of origin.
Courage in the midst of danger
There are currently more than 50,000 peacekeepers deployed around the world, where their mandated tasks include protecting civilians, supporting elections, providing humanitarian assistance and clearing landmines.
“The courage we recognize this morning is not abstract.“said UN Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix. “It is experienced every day by peacekeepers serving in some of the most dangerous and difficult environments in the world.”
The peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon on Thursday, Sergeant Milovan Jovanović of Serbia, was the seventh UNIFIL peacekeeper killed since hostilities escalated in March.
Lacroix said this was his first peacekeeping deployment, as he arrived in the country in January and would have turned 37 on Saturday.
Complex environments, multiple challenges
He highlighted how peacekeepers are working in increasingly complex environments marked by rising geopolitical tensions, fragmented conflicts, disinformation, rapidly evolving technologies and increasing pressure on multilateral cooperation.
At the same time, Peacekeeping operations face serious financial constraints. resulting from delayed and incomplete payment of mandatory contributions.
Consequences include forced reductions in patrols and air operations, delays in infrastructure projects, and limited support to local communities. Meanwhile, expectations continue to grow.
Invest in peace
“And yet, Peacekeepers continue to comply“, said.
Mr. Lacroix highlighted the importance of continuing to invest in peace, including “ensuring that peacekeepers have the political support, resources, training and capabilities necessary to carry out the mandates entrusted to them by Member States.”
Women, peace and defense
During the ceremony, the UN also celebrated two pioneering women in peacekeeping.
Major Abhilasha Barak of India, deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), received the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Inspector Stephanie Königs of Germany, who served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), received the 2025 Police Woman of the Year award.
Friday’s events coincided with the annual celebration of International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on May 29, the day the first field mission, the United Nations Middle East Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), was established in 1948.
Since then, more than two million women and men have served in 71 peacekeeping missions on four continents.