Three representatives of Ukraine's law enforcement agencies have been honored at an international competition organized by the International Association of Women Police. They won awards in the categories – "Officer of the Year", "Community Service", and "Bravery".

This was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The title of "Officer of the Year" was awarded to Police Captain Olena Stavytska, who serves in the evacuation unit in Sumy region. Along with her colleagues, she is involved in evacuating civilians from frontline areas, assisting the wounded, and participating in search operations following enemy attacks.

In October 2024, her team's vehicle was hit by a Russian strike, resulting in injuries for Olena. After a brief period of treatment, she quickly returned to duty to continue saving lives.

"At first, it was challenging, but I enjoy helping people. They hug me, thank me; these are genuine emotions [...]

I love what I do. At home, my 17-year-old daughter is waiting for me. Of course, she worries about me, but she is proud and wants to become a police officer like me in the future," Olena shared.

In the category of "Community Service", the award was given to Police Lieutenant Colonel Olha Zinchenko, who heads the juvenile prevention department in Zaporizhia region.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that under Olha's coordination, over a thousand Ukrainian children have been evacuated to safer locations since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Thanks to her efforts, 255 children have been located and returned to their families as of early 2024.

Moreover, she conducts classes for school students under the "Mobile Safety Class" program and actively participates in the "Baida" youth club, which helps to develop legal awareness among young people.

Police Lieutenant Valeriya Bileneț received recognition in the "Bravery" category. Since December 2022, she has been involved in challenging evacuation operations from Donetsk region as part of the "White Angels" team.

Through Valeriya's service, 518 Ukrainians, including 84 children, were rescued from under fire, and 250 families received humanitarian aid.

Additionally, she has repeatedly participated in rescue operations at shelling sites, saving the wounded from debris.

The International Association of Women Police unites over 30 law enforcement organizations from 75 countries worldwide, representing the interests of women in law enforcement on an international level.

Every year, the organization holds a competition to honor police officers across 11 categories.