President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the “National Legend of Ukraine” award to this year’s laureates. First Lady Olena Zelenska also took part in the ceremony.
The Head of State emphasized that the award carries great significance and purpose – as a rightful tribute to Ukraine’s talents, geniuses, and heroes.
“I want to thank you for making Ukraine known, for defending our state with your voices. We must constantly keep the focus on our state so that support does not diminish – both political support and, above all, support for our warriors. We are grateful to them for defending Ukraine and for defending all the talent you have brought to our country,” said the President.
This year, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented ten “National Legend of Ukraine” awards to servicemembers, athletes, artists, and philanthropists. The awardees are:
Musician, vocalist, composer, and leader of the rock band Okean Elzy, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, who also serves as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador for Youth in Ukraine. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, he has actively supported Ukrainian warriors, giving more than 150 concerts on the front line and at military units, as well as organizing numerous fundraisers to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and civilians.
First Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Hero of Ukraine, Volodymyr Horbulin. He has devoted over 60 years of his life to strengthening the state. One of the authors of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Concept, the first National Space Program, and the Strategy for the Construction and Development of the Armed Forces. He is regarded as the father of Ukraine’s rocket and space industry in the years of Ukraine’s independence.
Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, who developed and carried out the unique military operation “Spiderweb.” As a result of this operation, four Russian airfields were attacked and 41 aircraft – one-third of the enemy’s strategic aviation – were destroyed. For security reasons, the names and faces of the awardees remain undisclosed. The special operation was led by the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk
Ballet artist, choreographer, and dance theorist, Serge Lifar (posthumously). His contemporaries called him “the god of dance.” In 1922, Serge Lifar emigrated from Kyiv to Paris, rising quickly from corps de ballet dancer to soloist, and in 1929, he became head of the ballet troupe at the Paris Opera. This year, Ukraine marks the 120th anniversary of his birth.
Olympic champion, multiple world and European champion in athletics, Yaroslava Mahuchikh. Last year, she won Olympic gold and was named the world’s best female athlete. She was a bronze medalist at the 2020 Olympics and is a three-time Diamond League winner. She is currently competing in another Diamond League stage in Lausanne. Yaroslava Mahuchikh will receive her award once she returns home from the competition.
Opera singer, soloist of the Taras Shevchenko National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine, Liudmyla Monastyrska. She is considered the “leading Aida” of the modern world opera stage, as she is performing this role at La Scala, Covent Garden, and the Metropolitan Opera. Liudmyla Monastyrska has received numerous international awards and is listed among the world’s top opera singers.
Artist, master of non-figurative painting and landscape, laureate of the Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine, Anatoly Kryvolap. He is the author of a unique approach to color in painting. The artist twice set world records for sales of contemporary Ukrainian art on the international art market.
Commander of a medical company, captain of the medical service, Andrii Semianiv (MED GOblin). For over two years, he has overseen stabilization points in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. His unit combines advanced approaches to the evacuation of the wounded with the provision of qualified medical aid to warriors directly on the front line. Andrii Semianiv has provided assistance to nearly 6,000 wounded warriors.
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and public figure, Canadian citizen of Ukrainian origin, James Temerty. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, he has funded a program for students and teachers from Ukraine in Toronto, supported the Olena Zelenska Foundation in helping residents of de-occupied territories, and donated one million dollars for generators for Ukrainian hospitals.
Singer, People’s Artist of Ukraine, Hero of Ukraine, Vasyl Zinkevych. His songs are part of the golden collection of 20th-century Ukrainian music. It was with the trio Smerichka – featuring Vasyl Zinkevych, Nazariy Yaremchuk, and Volodymyr Ivasiuk – that the legendary “Chervona Ruta” was first performed. This year, Vasyl Zinkevych celebrated his 80th birthday.
The “National Legend of Ukraine” award was established in 2021. Since then, the President has annually honored people who have contributed to building an independent Ukraine, defending our state, and advancing the national economy, science, education, culture, arts, sports, health care, as well as active charitable and public work.
A full television broadcast of this year’s awards ceremony will air on the national United News telethon on Ukraine’s Independence Day, August 24, at 9:00 p.m.
