National Legend of Ukraine

National Legend of Ukraine
Type	Award
Awarded for	"significant contribution to the development of the national economy, science, education, culture, art, sports, healthcare, as well as for active charitable and public activities." [1]
Presented by	President of Ukraine
Eligibility	Citizens of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons
Status	Active
Established	14 July 2021
First award	20 August 2021
Final award	23 August 2023
Total awarded posthumously	6
Total recipients	25

The title of National Legend of Ukraine is a state award of Ukraine granted to individuals viewed as having made significant contributions to Ukrainian culture, sports, sciences, or society through public activities. It was founded by a presidential decree by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 14 July 2021, and first awarded on 20 August 2021. ^[1] The award's establishment was part of broader celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian independence that occurred throughout 2021. ^[2] It was designed by Ukrainian jeweller Valeriia Huzema  [ uk ]. ^[3]

Awarded individuals

 : Awarded posthumously

Name	Date awarded	Notes
Oleg Blokhin	20 August 2021 (2021-08-20) [1]	Football striker and manager.
Ivan Marchuk	20 August 2021 (2021-08-20) [1]	Painter. Previously awarded Shevchenko National Prize.
Olena Potapova	20 August 2021 (2021-08-20) [1]	Ballet master and choreographer. Previously awarded People's Artist of Ukraine and People's Artist of the USSR.
Sofia Rotaru	20 August 2021 (2021-08-20) [1]	Singer. Previously awarded People's Artist of the USSR and Hero of Ukraine.
Yurii Rybchynskyi	20 August 2021 (2021-08-20) [1]	Poet, dramatist, and singer. Previously awarded People's Artist of Ukraine and Hero of Ukraine.
Myroslav Skoryk	20 August 2021 (2021-08-20) [1]	Composer. Previously awarded People's Artist of Ukraine and Hero of Ukraine.
Myroslav Vantukh	20 August 2021 (2021-08-20) [1]	Choreographer. Previously awarded People's Artist of Ukraine and Hero of Ukraine.
Anatolii Babichev	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Train conductor.
Ihor Bedzai	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Naval officer and pilot. Also awarded Hero of Ukraine and Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
Hanna But	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Teacher.
Ihor Ivasykov	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Firefighter.
Tata Kepler	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Volunteer and restaurateur.
Maria Prymachenko	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Naïve art painter, embroiderer, and ceramicist. Previously awarded Shevchenko National Prize.
Andriy Shevchenko	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Football striker and manager. Previously awarded Hero of Ukraine.
Anatoliy Solovianenko	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Operatic tenor. Previously awarded People's Artist of the USSR, People's Artist of Ukraine, and Shevchenko National Prize.
Andrii Svyst	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Neurosurgeon and volunteer.
Olha Svyst	20 August 2022 (2022-08-20) [4]	Pediatrician and volunteer.
Albina Deriugina	23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) [5]	Rhythmic gymnastics coach.
Fuminori Tsuchiko	23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) [5]	Japanese volunteer and café owner.
Iryna Huk	23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) [5]	Volunteer.
Dmytro Kotsiubailo	23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) [5]	Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Also awarded Hero of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Letenko	23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) [5]	Pipeline engineer.
Taras Petrynenko	23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) [5]	Singer. Previously awarded People's Artist of Ukraine.
Andrii Sirko	23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) [5]	Neurosurgeon.
Andriy Tsaplienko	23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) [5]	War correspondent and journalist.
Ihor Poklad	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	Composer. Previously awarded the People's Artist of Ukraine and Hero of Ukraine.
Oleh Korosteliov	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	General designer. Previously awarded the Hero of Ukraine and Order of Merit.
Olga Kharlan	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	Two-time Olympic gold medalist fencer.
Vitalii Khmel	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	Thoracic surgeon.
Ivan Lukashevych	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	Brigadier General of Military Counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine.
Iryna Yurchenko	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	Conductor at Ukrzaliznytsia.
Oleksandr Dubovyk	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	Painter, graphic artist, monumental artist and honorary member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine.
Howard Graham Buffett	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	American businessman, philanthropist, and Ukraine's largest private donor.
Oleksandr Usyk	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	Olympic gold medalist and world champion boxer. Previously awarded the Order of Liberty and Order of Merit.
Sergei Parajanov	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	Ukrainian-Armenian film director and screenwriter.
Nina Matviienko	22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) [6]	Singer. Previously awarded the People's Artist of Ukraine and Hero of Ukraine.

References

1. Zelenskyy, Volodymyr (20 August 2021). "Указ Президента України про нагородження відзнакою Президента України "Національна легенда України"" [Act of the President of Ukraine on awarding of the presidential distinction of Ukraine "National Legend of Ukraine"]. Verkhovna Rada (in Ukrainian).
2. "Відзначення 30-річчя незалежності України «Ти у мене єдина»" [Celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence: "You are my only one"]. President of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 2 August 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
3. "06 серпня 2021 року відбулось засідання комісії з проведення всеукраїнського конкурсу на кращий малюнок відзнаки Президента України «Національна легенда України»" [On 6 August 2021 a meeting of the Commission on Realisation of an All-Ukrainian Competition was held on the best proposals for the presidential distinction of Ukraine "National Legend of Ukraine"]. Ministry of Culture and Information Policy (in Ukrainian). 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021.
4. Zelenskyy, Volodymyr (20 August 2022). "Указ президента України №588/2022" [Act of the President of Ukraine No.588/2022]. President of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 15 October 2023.
5. "Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the National Legend of Ukraine Presidential Award". President of Ukraine . 23 August 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
6. "Many Ukrainians Deserve the Title of Legend, Achieving the Impossible and Inspiring Others – President Presents "National Legend of Ukraine" Award". president.gov.ua. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2025.