Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, together with First Lady Olena Zelenska, honored prominent Ukrainians with the state award “National Legend of Ukraine.”
According to Ukrinform, Zelensky said this in a post on Facebook.
“Ukraine is a country of incredible people — smart, strong, and talented. True legends from different fields and generations. What unites them is their ability to inspire, to bring glory to our nation on the global stage, and to make history today,” Zelensky said.
He noted that it was a great honor for him to present this award to such outstanding individuals.
This year’s laureates include Serge Lifar, Anatoliy Kryvolap, Vasyl Zinkevych, James Temerty, Liudmyla Monastyrska, Volodymyr Horbulin, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Andrii Semianiv, and Sviatoslav Vakarchuk — as well as those “whose names cannot be revealed but whose contributions allow the enemy to feel Ukraine’s strength and made Operation Spiderweb possible.”
Volodymyr HORBULIN is a well-known Ukrainian statesman, politician, and scientist. He has been the Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies s under the President of Ukraine since 2014 and the First Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine since 2015. Previously, he was an adviser to several Ukrainian Presidents, serving as the Director of the Institute of National Security Problems of Ukraine (2003-2010) and as the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (1994-1999, 2006). In January 2003, in accordance with the decree of the President of Ukraine, he established the National Center for Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine and headed its work on a voluntary basis. As the General Director of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (1992-1994), he managed the development and implementation of the first National Space Program of Ukraine, while serving as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.
“We are proud to have such people. They are our shared pride and proof that the strength of Ukraine lies in its people,” Zelensky said.
“Glory to everyone who is making history — in culture, in sports, and, most importantly, in defending our independence,” Zelensky said.