Lifetime Stipends Awarded to Distinguished Cultural Figures by President Zelenskyy

Government Stipends for Outstanding Figures in Culture and the Arts

According to Главком: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Decree No. 496/2026, which establishes state stipends for prominent individuals in culture and the arts. This initiative provides 15 lifetime stipends and 70 two-year stipends to recipients. The decree builds on a framework originally set by Presidential Decree No. 906/2011 on September 10, 2011, which outlines the procedure for granting such stipends to distinguished professionals across various fields. This move underscores the government's commitment to honoring those who have made significant contributions to Ukraine's cultural landscape.

Among those receiving lifetime stipends is Vasyl Zinkevych, who celebrated his 81st birthday on May 1. He holds the titles of People's Artist and Hero of Ukraine. Other lifetime stipend recipients include:

• Valentyna Yuriivna Hubska
• Valentyna Ivanivna Dzhuraniuk
• Anna-Olha Mykhailivna Kanych
• Volodymyr Hryhorovych Kushpeta
• Nadiia Yevhenivna Labunska
• Oleksandr Mykolaiovych Levadnyi
• Liudmyla Leonidivna Martsevych
• Mykola Dmytrovych Oliinyk
• Yevhen Ivanovych Piliuhin
• Yuliia Yuliivna Skakanda
• Mykola Vasyliovych Sukach
• Tetiana Mykolaivna Surkova
• Valerii Oleksandrovych Franchuk
• Liudmyla Oleksiivna Shevchenko

List of Two-Year Stipend Recipients

The two-year stipend list includes 70 individuals. Among them are:

• Viktoriia Vadymivna Avdieienko
• Roman Serhiiovych Adamovych
• Mykola Panteleimonovych Babak
• Larysa Volodymyrivna Bielovi
• Yurii Hryhorovych Berlinskyi
• Lesia Yevstakhiivna Bernakevych
• Raissa Mykolaivna Borshch
• Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Vilchynskyi
• Anatolii Ivanovych Voloshyn
• Larysa Ivanivna Harlinska
• Oksana Vasylivna Herasymenko
• Vitalii Volodymyrovych Holtsov
• Iryna Borysivna Honcharova
• Vasyl Ivanovych Horbatiuk
• Nataliia Valeriivna Denysenko
• Olha Mykolaivna Druh
• Olena Serhiivna Yesypok
• Nadiia Hryhorivna Zhadyk
• Mykhailo Mykytovych Zhaivoron
• Serhii Ivanovych Zazhytko
• Larysa Feodosiivna Zelenova
• Dariia Ivanivna Zilizna
• Vitalii Fedorovych Zinchuk
• Oleksandr Ivanovych Zozulia
• Nina Ivanivna Ipatii
• Mykola Illich Kysylytsia
• Anatolii Ivanovych Kychynskyi
• Hanna Mykolaivna Kopylchuk
• Nadiia Ivanivna Korotun
• Petro Vasyliovych Korpaniuk
• Olena Albertivna Kramarieva
• Tetiana Mykolaivna Loboda
• Svitlana Mykolaivna Martynova
• Tetiana Mykhailivna Matviienko
• Olha Omelianivna Melnyk
• Lidiia Mykolaivna Misiurenko
• Liubov Mykhailivna Movchan
• Nina Vasylivna Morozevych
• Robert Yosyfovych Mruz
• Valentyna Afanasiivna Nikirui
• Myroslava Anatoliivna Overchuk
• Anatolii Ivanovych Onyshchenko
• Adriana Romanivna Onufriichuk
• Yevhen Vasyliovych Papernyi
• Olena Borysivna Parfeniuk
• Nadiia Anatoliivna Polishchuk
• Olena Kyrylivna Popova
• Ivan Mykolaiovych Postolovskyi
• Raissa Izotivna Savchenko
• Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Sakva
• Viktoriia Yevheniivna Syrovatko
• Vasyl Ivanovych Slobodianiuk
• Leonid Ivanovych Sotnyk
• Nataliia Oleksiivna Stepanenko
• Halyna Anatoliivna Stefanova
• Vladyslav Feliksovych Stolnykov
• Viacheslav Hordiiovych Todytsia
• Alla Mykhailivna Uchyk
• Tetiana Volodymyrivna Frolova
• Nataliia Yuriivna Khylobokova
• Viacheslav Antonovych Khimiak
• Tetiana Mykolaivna Tsymliakova
• Tariel Mykolaiovych Chekurishvili
• Nataliia Ivanivna Chernysheva
• Valentyna Ivanivna Shevchenko
• Oleh Myroslavovych Shkliarenko
• Oleksandr Stepanovych Shchetynskyi
• Mykhailo Petrovych Yaremchuk

Through this decree, the Ukrainian President underscores the importance of recognizing and supporting leading cultural and artistic figures, which is vital for the advancement of the nation's cultural heritage. Such state-funded stipends not only honor individual achievements but also help preserve and promote Ukrainian culture on a global stage.

This allocation of state stipends represents a key step in bolstering Ukraine's cultural environment. It not only acknowledges the accomplishments of talented individuals but also encourages broader cultural development. Government backing for these figures can aid in safeguarding cultural heritage and elevating Ukrainian art internationally.

In addition to the newly awarded stipends, the government has recently unveiled a comprehensive program aimed at enhancing cultural support across Ukraine. This initiative, known as the 'Thousand Springs', is designed to further empower artists and cultural figures, ensuring that their contributions are recognized and sustained in the long term.