20 celebs who came to Ukraine in past year
Read also: How world leaders travel to Kyiv, what they eat, and what they do
During a year of all-out war, Hollywood actors, world-renowned directors, philosophers, musicians, writers and photographers came to war-torn Ukraine to support the Ukrainians amid war and draw the world's attention to the atrocities committed by Russia.
On the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, NV recalls the names of world celebrities who dared to come to Ukrainian cities during the full-scale war to support Ukraine.
Ellie Golding
Last summer, the famous British singer Ellie Goulding came to Kyiv to take part in the summit of first ladies and gentlemen initiated by Olena Zelenska, which took place on July 23 in St. Sophia Cathedral of Kyiv. She also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and sang “Oh, there's a red viburnum in the meadow” with Ukrainian musician Dmyro Shurov (“Pianoboy”).
Jessica Chastain
In August, U.S. actress and producer Jessica Chastain (Molly’s Game, The Martian, Scenes from a Marriage) arrived in Ukraine on a visit. The star visited patients at Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital and met with President Zelenskyy in his office. Later, Chastain spoke about how she travelled from the United States to war-torn Ukraine and admitted that she had come by train without an interpreter or security.
Ben Stiller
In June, the famous Hollywood actor Ben Stiller arrived in Lviv as a UN Goodwill Ambassador. He visited Makariv, which suffered from the Russian occupiers, and came to Kyiv, where he met with President Zelenskyy.
Read also: Hollywood star Ben Stiller delights fans with photo in support of Ukraine
On his social media, Stiller explained why he came to Ukraine. He recorded a video message in which he explained that he wanted to express solidarity with people who are forced to leave their homes because of wars and conflicts around the world.
"I felt that it was important to come here, to tell the world that this war has to stop, that people have the right to safety," he said.
Sean Penn
U.S. actor, director, and producer Sean Penn visited Ukraine three times during the full-scale hostilities and even received the Order of Merit of the III degree from the head of state for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, contributing to the popularization of Ukraine in the world, and strengthening international cooperation.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie's visit to Ukraine became known on April 30, when she was photographed in a Lviv cafe. She visited children injured in a Russian missile attack on the train station in Kramatorsk and talked to internally displaced persons at the city's railway station. During Jolie's visit to Lviv, there was an air raid alert, so she, along with volunteers and other people,had to go to a shelter.
In an official statement, the actress said that she was impressed by the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people.
Cary Fukanaga
In March, Cary Fukunaga, director of the latest Bond film No Time to Die, arrived in Kyiv, where he came from Lviv. Fukunaga, who supported Ukraine from the very beginning of the Russian invasion and posted his first photos from Lviv on March 24 on his Instagram, joined the World Central Kitchen project, an organization founded in 2010 by the famous chef José Andrés that organizes food delivery after natural disasters.
David Letterman
At the end of October, the famous U.S. comedian and talk show host David Letterman came to Ukraine to talk to President Zelenskyy and record a special episode of his show
“My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.”Later, Letterman spoke about his impression of Zelenskyy. He said that the Ukrainian president was sincere, adding that it was "impossible to not find him appealing."
Bear Grylls
At the end of November, the famous British traveller, TV presenter, and writer Bear Grylls came to Kyiv to meet with President Zelenskyy.
He shared photos and impressions of his trip to Kyiv and meeting with Zelenskyy on his Instagram. Grylls said that he had filmed a program in Ukraine about survival in conditions when the country's infrastructure is under attack closer to winter, and thus survival for millions of people becomes a real daily struggle.
Jean-Claude Van Damme
The famous Belgian-American actor Jean-Claude Van Damme visited Ukraine in mid-December. Van Damme met with Ukrainian defenders and, posing with them, the actor shouted “Glory to Ukraine” twice.
Bono and the Edge (U2)
Famous musicians and members of the Irish rock band U2, Bono and the Edge visited Ukraine in May. They gave a concert in the Kyiv subway. Bono said that President Zelenskyy personally invited him to perform in Kyiv as a sign of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
Prior to his arrival in Kyiv, Bono published a poem dedicated to Ukraine and its President Zelenskyy.
Doug Liman
In April, it was reported that U.S. filmmaker Doug Liman, best known for the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith, was coming to Ukraine. He visited the war-torn country to make a documentary about the war crimes of the Russian army.
Scott Kelly
Scott Kelly, a U.S. astronaut, participant and commander of six expeditions to the International Space Station and ambassador of the United24 platform, visited Ukraine in November. He visited Irpin, Kyiv Oblast, and the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv.
The astronaut met with Katia, a girl who was injured in a Russian missile attack in Kramatorsk. Her mother was killed there. Scott presented the girl with a NASA badge that had been with him in space for a year. They also met with other children who dream of becoming astronauts.
Annie Leibovitz
In July, the famous U.S. photographer Annie Leibovitz was spotted in Kyiv. The photographer and her team travelled a long way to get to Ukraine and take portraits of Olena Zelenska. She came from New York and spent two days in Kyiv to take historic shots of the First Lady of Ukraine for Vogue magazine.
Bernard-Henri Lévy
The French writer and philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy was not only the first of his Western colleagues to travel the entire front line in eastern Ukraine, but also presented the film Why Ukraine (Pourquoi l'Ukraine) to the world, dedicated to the events from the Revolution of Dignity to the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army.
Liev Schreiber
Hollywood actor and X-Men star Liev Schreiber not only visited Ukraine several times during the full-scale war, but also became an ambassador for United24. He actively supports Ukraine and never ceases to express his admiration for the Ukrainian people.
Timothy Snyder
In September, historian and Yale University professor Timothy Snyder came to Kyiv and met with President Zelenskyy. They discussed issues of freedom, security and choice, and the role of truth in politics and diplomacy.
Zelenskyy said that the U.S. historian plans to use parts of the conversation in his upcoming book and thanked Snyder for making Ukraine and its struggle for independence known to as many people as possible.
Jack Gleeson
Game of Thrones star Jack Gleeson, known for his role as King Joffrey Baratheon, visited Kyiv on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
At the Young Spectator Theater, the 30-year-old Irish actor met with Ukrainian actors and journalists and held a master class for his colleagues.
Robert Del Naja
On Feb. 23, Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja came to Ukraine. This is evidenced by the photos the musician posted on his Instagram page.
In particular, he posted several photos from Ukraine — from Lviv and Kyiv railway stations. The musician and artist left his posts without comments.
Christian Guémy
The famous French street artist Christian Guémy, known as C215, came to Ukraine to support Ukrainians with his works on destroyed buildings and equipment in Kyiv, Bucha and Hostomel.
Guémy is one of the first foreign artists to use drawings to tell the world about Russian aggression. He came to Ukraine in March 2022, despite the threat that Russian forces might seize Kyiv. He plans to visit Ukraine again in the near future.
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