On January 24, 2023, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree conferring the honorary title of the Rescuer City to Vilnius city. 

This title was conferred by the President of Ukraine in recognition of the humanism, compassion and solidarity with the Ukrainian nation, comprehensive assistance to the citizens of Ukraine forcibly fleeing the homeland as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, along with considerable support for Ukraine in defending its independence and sovereignty. 

Vilnius became the 4th city to be awarded this high status. After Rzeszow, Przemyśl in Poland and Prague in the Czech Republic. 

The abovementioned information was publicly announced today by Ambassador of Ukraine Petro Beshta during the Champion Cities Summit 2023 organised in Vilnius. While announcing the President of Ukraine's extraordinary decision to recognise Vilnius as the Rescuer City, the Ambassador of Ukraine congratulated the Vilnius residents on the occasion of the 700th Vilnius anniversary celebration and emphasized: “Freedom is in DNA of Vilnius – from Gediminas times to XXI century. 700 years of "Unity – Justice – Hope", that the great coat of arms of the city bears, has witnessed unbreakable spirit, creative action and bold leadership