Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The United Nations marked the International Day of UN Peacekeepers with a ceremony led by Secretary-General António Guterres, who paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers worldwide. The commemoration followed the death of a peacekeeper in Lebanon from injuries during hostilities, highlighting ongoing risks in UN missions.
Guterres posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal to 68 peacekeepers from 33 countries, 59 of whom died in the previous year. Their photographs were displayed and their names read aloud as representatives accepted the medals, emphasizing their dedication to global peace.
Additionally, two peacekeepers were honored with the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage. Sergeant Matias Reyes of Uruguay was recognized for saving lives in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo amid an Ebola outbreak. Sergii Prykhodko of Ukraine, serving as a private contractor with the UN Mission in South Sudan, lost his life during an evacuation mission in March 2025. Prykhodko's widow spoke of his selflessness and commitment to helping others despite the dangers involved.
The ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York included senior officials, the diplomatic community, and families of the fallen, underscoring the human cost of peacekeeping efforts across troubled regions.