On the 212th day of the war, on 23 September 2022, Ambassador of Ukraine to Denmark Mykhailo Vydoinyk solemnly presented the Order of Princess Olga of the I degree to the Permanent Secretary of State at the Office of the Prime Minister of Denmark Barbara Bertelsen for her personal efforts in supporting Ukraine and its people in countering Russian military aggression.
From the first day of the full-scale war, Barbara Bertelsen responded to Ukraine’s request and, together with the team of the Office of the Danish Prime Minister, actively participated in resolving a number of issues related to the delivering humanitarian, military and financial assistance to Ukraine.
The awarding of Barbara Bertelsen with the Order of Princess Olga took place on the basis of Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 595/2022 of 23 August 2022 “On Decorating with State Awards of Ukraine” for outstanding personal merits in strengthening interstate cooperation, support for the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, significant contribution to the popularization of the Ukrainian state in the world.
The award of the President of Ukraine “Order of Princess Olga” was established in 1997 to reward women for outstanding personal merits in state, public, scientific, educational, cultural, charitable and other spheres of social activity.
The Dames of the Order of Princess Olga include Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Finance of Canada, and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
Princess Olga (the Nordic equivalent of her name is Helga) was the spouse of Prince Igor (Ingvar). After his death, she became the regent under her young son Sviatoslav (Svendoslav) and de facto ruler of Rus in 944-964.
Olga was the first Rus Princess who converted to Christianity in Constantinople in 957. At the same time, the baptism of Rus took place 31 years later.
Princess Olga was a wise leader, a progressive reformer and a skilled diplomat who ruled for two decades without wars. She abolished the tribal principality, in fact carried out tax reform, organized first administrative units and centres of justice.
Photo Credit: Office of the Prime Minister of Denmark