NZ Special Service Medal – Ukraine

A New Zealand Special Service Medal (Support to Ukraine) will be awarded to New Zealand Defence Force personnel who have deployed to Europe and the United Kingdom in support of Ukraine’s self-defence.

Defence Minister Judith Collins made the announcement, acknowledging the challenging and often emotionally confronting work carried out by personnel in the service of New Zealand

“Nearly 1,000 New Zealand Defence Force personnel have served in Europe and the United Kingdom supporting Ukraine’s self-defence following the Russian invasion in February 2022,” Ms Collins says.

“As part of Operation Tīeke, they have helped alongside partners to prepared many thousands of Ukrainian personnel for the battlefield. Under the UK-led Operation Interflex, as at January this year more than 60,000 Ukrainian personnel have been prepared for immediate combat operations.”

The New Zealand Special Service Medal (NZSSM) is specifically for service that carries some of the elements of operational service but does not meet the threshold for that recognition.

It was instituted in 2002 to recognise service or work for New Zealand in very difficult, adverse, extreme or hazardous circumstances that fall outside the boundaries of what members of the NZDF - and certain other New Zealanders - could normally expect as part of their routine duties or work.

The New Zealand Special Service Medal (Support to Ukraine) has been approved in principle by the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. It is proposed to be issued to those with 30 days of qualifying service once the Governor-General has approved the medal Regulations, which detail eligibility criteria.

“Operation Tīeke is a major component of New Zealand’s effort to uphold the international rules-based order, by directly supporting Ukraine against Russia’s illegal invasion and supporting the wider security of our European partners,” Ms Collins says.

“I have seen first-hand the value our personnel are providing to the people of Ukraine, and I am extremely proud of their contribution.

“I would like to thank our NZDF personnel for what they have done and acknowledge the impact deployment has on your families. We appreciate your service and sacrifice.”

To date, the New Zealand Special Service Medal has been awarded to those who were present at atmospheric nuclear tests in Australia and the Pacific in the 1950s and 1973; took part in body recovery and victim identification following the Air New Zealand Mount Erebus disaster in 1979; and participated in rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts after the 2004 Asian earthquake and tsunami.

Service recognised through a NZSSM does not count towards qualification for the New Zealand Operational Service Medal.