Artist Yurko Yurchenko Urges Ukraine to Honor Cultural Figures While They Are Still Alive

A Call to Recognize Artists During Their Lifetime

According to Главком: Ukrainian singer and serviceman Yurko Yurchenko has called on the state to award artists with national honors while they are still alive, rather than posthumously. He made this statement on Facebook after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posthumously awarded People’s Artist Stepan Hiha and musician Mykhailo Klymenko on Ukraine’s Constitution Day. For context, this tradition of posthumous awards has long been a point of contention in post-Soviet societies, where critics argue it diminishes the value of recognition for living contributors.

Yurchenko argued that giving state awards after death-especially to figures in the entertainment industry-is a lingering Soviet-era practice. He wrote:

'I consider awarding state honors posthumously (this does not apply to true heroes: soldiers, medics, energy workers, or the young men from Berdiansk who fought for Ukraine to their last breath) to show business figures on some important date to be, at the very least, a vulgar leftover Soviet tradition.' Yurko Yurchenko

As a reminder, on December 7, 2025, 38-year-old Ukrainian singer Mykhailo Klymenko, frontman of the band Adam, passed away after a long battle with a serious illness. Just five days later, on December 12, 2025, People’s Artist of Ukraine Stepan Hiha died at age 66 in Lviv due to illness.

Yurchenko also declared that he officially renounces any state awards that might be granted to him after his death, stating that such honors are unnecessary for him, his children, or his grandchildren. He said:

'I hereby officially refuse all state awards after my death. Neither I, nor my children, nor my grandchildren need them.' Yurko Yurchenko

A Debate Over Award Traditions

President Zelenskyy has emphasized his desire to honor artists, educators, athletes, politicians, and other figures from various fields by awarding them on Ukraine’s Constitution Day. Yurchenko’s remarks have sparked a broader discussion about the country’s awarding traditions.

Yurchenko’s statement raises an important question about Ukraine’s system of recognition, which he argues is in need of rethinking. The debate around this issue could lead to changes in how the country honors the achievements of artists and other public figures during their lifetimes, potentially benefiting the nation’s cultural landscape. At the same time, it may encourage the state to reassess its traditions and adopt new practices that support talent in real time.

Yurchenko's remarks come in the wake of recent posthumous honors awarded to notable figures in the Ukrainian music scene, such as the late members of the ADAM band and Stepan Hiha. This ongoing debate highlights the need for a reevaluation of how cultural contributions are recognized, emphasizing the importance of honoring artists while they can still appreciate the accolades.