Zelenskyy honors Sean Penn, José Andrés and Ukrainian figures with National Legend award
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored 18 people with the National Legend of Ukraine award, including American actor and filmmaker Sean Penn, World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés, Ukrainian military personnel, medics, artists, athletes and journalists.
Zelenskyy presented the awards alongside First Lady Olena Zelenska as Ukraine marked 35 years of independence.
“We have our state, we have independence, and we have our strong warriors,” Zelenskyy said. He thanked those defending Ukraine as well as friends and partners abroad “who do not let the world forget what is happening in Ukraine.”
Among the recipients was Penn, who has supported Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion and has visited the country several times.
“Sean Penn didn’t come to the Oscars, as you can see. But he did come to receive the National Legend award,” Zelenskyy joked during the ceremony.
The award also went to José Andrés, founder of the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen and a United24 ambassador; 1986 Ballon d’Or winner Ihor Belanov; and, posthumously, Soviet-era dissident Levko Lukyanenko, one of the authors of Ukraine’s 1991 Declaration of Independence.
Other recipients included Ukrainian service members, military medics, musicians, artists and journalists.
The National Legend of Ukraine award was established in 2021 to recognize people for outstanding contributions to Ukraine and service to the Ukrainian people. The first awards were presented ahead of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence that year.
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