Ukraine has decided to award the Order of Merit to French actor Alain Delon to thank him for his support for the country attacked by Russia, Ukrainian Ambassador to France Vadym Omelchenko announced on Thursday on the TV5 Monde channel.
“Since the first day of the war, Delon has spoken a lot in support of Ukraine. For us, it is a symbol, it is important,” we explained at the embassy, recalling that the actor had participated in an exchange with President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2022, and that he had also read texts by the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko during a television program.
Unwavering support
On the set of TV5 Monde, Vadym Omelchenko spoke directly to the actor. “Mr. Delon, dear Alain, I know that you are in a not very simple situation, and I want to tell you that you are not alone. You have many admirers and people who love you. Me and my people, we are always at your side,” he said.
Alain Delon, 88 years old, sacred monster of French cinema, is seriously ill and at the heart of a fratricidal war between his three children, each claiming to want to protect him. He was placed under curatorship by the courts. From the start of the massive invasion of Ukraine by Moscow’s troops, in February 2022, he expressed his support for kyiv.