Top peacekeeping awards for military and police

On 5 June, Secretary-General António Guterres will honour two peacekeepers with the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage, UN Peacekeeping’s highest award.

The ceremony will be held at UN Headquarters from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST and broadcast live on UN Web TV.

Sergii Prykhodko, Ukraine – Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage United Nations

Mr. Prykhodko was a private contractor with a helicopter crew who served in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

In March 2025, Mr. Prykhodko volunteered to take the place of a less experienced colleague during a high-risk air evacuation to extract a group of besieged soldiers in Upper Nile State. 

He was killed and two crewmates were injured when their helicopter came under fire during the mission – which had received assurance of safe passage. His actions and willingness to place himself in danger to carry out the mission helped save lives amid escalating violence in the area.

Sergeant Matias Reyes, Uruguay – Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage United Nations

Sergeant Reyes was stationed in Goma with the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in January 2025 when he witnessed fierce clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces and the M23 armed group.

While helping to secure the entrance of the MONUSCO base, Sgt. Reyes repeatedly braved heavy fire and rescued wounded Congolese soldiers who were seeking refuge within the UN mission’s base. 

Despite the risks, he helped carry 12 gravely wounded soldiers back to the temporary medical tent established by UN troops, going above and beyond the call of duty and saving lives in the process.

A representative of the Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations is expected to receive the medal on behalf of Sgt. Reyes, who is still serving under the blue flag in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Major Abhilasha Barak, India – Military Gender Advocate of the Year United Nations

Serving as Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point within the Indian Battalion in southern Lebanon, Major Barak integrates gender perspectives into military operations, patrols and civil-military activities. 

She has led extensive outreach efforts, engaging over 5,000 women and girls through vocational training, education and health programmes that support empowerment and post-conflict recovery.

Major Barak has also introduced innovative protection mechanisms, including an AI-driven platform, the Lebanon Gender Initiative, enabling women and children to confidentially report gender-based violence, while offering grievance tracking, access to helpline services, self-defence resources, and educational materials.

Inspector Stephanie Königs, Germany – UN Woman Police Officer of the Year United Nations

Inspector Königs has been recognised for her outstanding leadership and contribution to implementing the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), where she was deployed from September 2024 to March 2026 as a Patrol Team Leader.

She strengthened field operations through the introduction of structured patrol systems and enhanced coordination with the mission's military peacekeepers, and her leadership contributed to reinforcing early warning mechanisms, supporting mission-level decision-making during periods of crisis.

Operating in a high-risk and politically sensitive environment, Inspector Königs has shown that women can lead frontline policing efforts with confidence and authority, strengthening both mission effectiveness and trust with local communities.