‘The true cost of peace’: UN honours fallen peacekeepers as dangers mount
The true cost of peace: UN honours fallen peacekeepers as dangers mount
The true cost of peace - On Friday, the United Nations took a moment to commemorate the sacrifices of over 4,500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the line of duty since the organization began its mission in 1948. This year’s observance of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers coincided with a somber reminder of the ongoing risks faced by these personnel, as a blue helmet from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was killed in a mortar attack earlier that week. The incident underscored the persistent dangers in conflict zones, even as hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants continue to escalate.
Commemoration Ceremony in New York
The day started with a solemn tribute on the Secretariat grounds in New York, where UN Secretary-General António Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial. The ceremony was followed by a formal event in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), attended by senior officials, diplomats, and families of the fallen. Guterres emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the recent events highlighted the continued peril faced by peacekeepers in the pursuit of peace.
“Unfortunately, as events of this very week remind us, peacekeepers continue to face peril in the cause of peace – and we pay the highest tribute to their service and sacrifice,” he said.
The Secretary-General also honored 68 peacekeepers from 33 countries, awarding them the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal posthumously. Among the recipients were 59 individuals who died in 2025, their names read aloud as country representatives accepted the medals. Their stories, displayed on a screen, served as a poignant reminder of the human cost behind the UN’s mission to maintain global stability.
Recognition of Courage and Dedication
Two peacekeepers were celebrated for exceptional bravery, receiving the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage. This honor, named after a Senegalese military officer killed in Rwanda in 1994, was awarded to Sergeant Matias Reyes of Uruguay and Sergii Prykhodko of Ukraine. Reyes, who served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in January 2025, was recognized for his actions in a volatile region. However, his absence at the ceremony in New York was due to the Ebola outbreak, which disrupted travel plans.
Prykhodko, a private contractor with a helicopter crew in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), was remembered for his sacrifice during a critical mission to rescue trapped soldiers in March 2025. His widow, Tetiana Prykhodko, addressed the gathering, reflecting on the medal’s significance.
“This medal honours his bravery, but it also reminds us of the true cost of peace – the sacrifices made by those who serve far from home for the sake of people they may never meet,” his widow Tetiana Prykhodko told the assembly.
Tetiana shared that her husband had always been driven by a desire to help others, even in the face of uncertainty. She described how he chose to volunteer with the UN, prioritizing the needs of communities over personal safety. The ceremony, attended by their six-year-old daughter Elizabeth, was a testament to the family’s pride in his legacy.
“For our family, it is a great honour that the United Nations remembers Sergii not only as a fallen hero, but as a person who chose humanity every single day,” she said.
Currently, more than 50,000 peacekeepers are deployed worldwide, carrying out a range of tasks such as protecting civilians, supporting elections, delivering aid, and clearing landmines. Their work is vital in maintaining peace in regions plagued by conflict. Yet, the challenges they face are growing more complex, as Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of UN Peace Operations, noted in his remarks.
Lacroix highlighted how peacekeepers operate in increasingly dangerous and difficult environments. These include rising geopolitical tensions, fragmented conflicts, the spread of disinformation, and the rapid evolution of technology. Multilateral cooperation, he said, is under strain, making the mission of peacekeepers more demanding than ever.
Financial Constraints and Operational Impact
Amid these challenges, peacekeeping operations are also grappling with significant financial limitations. Delays and incomplete payments of mandatory contributions have forced reductions in patrols and air missions, while delaying infrastructure projects and limiting support to local communities. Despite these constraints, the demand for peacekeeping efforts continues to rise.
The latest fatality in southern Lebanon brought the total number of UNIFIL casualties since hostilities intensified in March to seven. Sergeant Milovan Jovanović of Serbia, who died on Thursday, was the seventh blue helmet lost in the region. Lacroix, who had recently begun his deployment, noted that Jovanović was in his first mission and would have turned 37 on Saturday.
“The courage we recognize this morning is not abstract,” said Lacroix. “It is lived every day by peacekeepers serving in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult environments.” He underscored the need for sustained investment in peacekeeping, emphasizing the importance of political support, adequate resources, and modern training to fulfill the mandates entrusted to these personnel.
The UN’s mission to honor fallen peacekeepers is not just a tribute to their sacrifice but a call to action for global solidarity. As the world grapples with persistent conflicts and the need for diplomatic solutions, the stories of those who have given their lives remind us of the enduring value of peace. Their efforts, though often unseen, form the backbone of international efforts to prevent violence and protect vulnerable populations.
From the DRC to South Sudan, and from Lebanon to other regions, peacekeepers continue to operate under immense pressure. Their dedication ensures that the principles of the UN remain a guiding force, even in the darkest of times. The ceremonies and awards serve as both a celebration of their achievements and a sobering reminder of the costs incurred in the name of peace.
As the UN looks ahead, it is clear that the path to stability requires not only the courage of individuals but also the collective commitment of nations. The fallen peacekeepers are a symbol of this resolve, their legacies inspiring future generations to take up the mantle of service. In a world where conflict seems ever-present, their stories stand as a beacon of hope and resilience, proving that peace is worth the price paid by those who fight for it.