Focus's "Ukrainian of the Year" ranking: only one day left until voting ends.

Focus Rating "Ukrainian of the Year": Key Selection Criteria: "Focus Rating

• Patriotism and support for the front;
• Integrity, hard work, and dedication to one's cause;
• Compassion, empathy, and assistance to those in need;
• Responsibility to society, awareness of the consequences of one's actions, and readiness to take responsibility for them;
• Love for one's country, respect for its culture, traditions, and history.

Tomorrow is the last chance to cast your vote for your "Ukrainian of the Year." The name of the person who will top the rating will be announced on Monday, December 23.

Nominees for the title "Ukrainian of the Year"

Over the past three weeks, we have introduced our readers to the nominees in more detail.

Mstyslav Chernov — director, photographer, photojournalist, war correspondent, and writer. In 2024, he won an "Oscar" for his film "20 Days in Mariupol," co-created with photographer Yevhen Maloleka and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko.

Yulia "Tyra" Paievska — military service member, paramedic, leader of the volunteer medical battalion "Angels of Tyra." She currently assists war victims, focusing on training civilians in tactical medicine and supporting military personnel on the front lines.

Nataliya Yusupova — a volunteer who gave up a "luxury" life to help save the lives of Ukrainian defenders. Since 2014, she has actively supported Ukrainian soldiers, especially those receiving treatment in hospitals.

Yuriy Kasyanov — public figure, volunteer, and expert in the field of UAVs. Over the years of war, he has become a key figure in the volunteer movement, organizing the supply of essential resources to the front and supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Viktor Rozovyi - comedian, TV presenter, and military service member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, he joined the ranks of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. On March 21, 2024, Viktor sustained a severe shrapnel wound to the head while performing a combat mission.

Maxim Butkevych — human rights activist, journalist, and volunteer. He actively worked on issues concerning refugees, minority rights, as well as preventing discrimination and hate speech in Ukraine. In June 2022, Butkevych was captured by Russian troops. On October 18, 2024, he was released as part of a prisoner exchange.

Oleksandr Usyk — world heavyweight boxing champion, honored master of sports of Ukraine, and a national legend of Ukraine. His fight with Tyson Fury in May this year became a historic event. On December 21, a rematch with the British boxer will take place in Saudi Arabia, with the world heavyweight championship titles from WBA, WBO, and WBC on the line.

Oleg Sentsov — Ukrainian director from Crimea who spent five years in a Russian prison, where he went on a hunger strike for 145 days. After the full-scale war began, he joined the ranks of the Territorial Defense of Kyiv. He is currently serving in the 47th Brigade and performing combat tasks in hot spots.

Denys "Redis" Prokopenko — colonel of the National Guard, Hero of Ukraine, commander of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade "Azov." From February to May 2022, he led the defense of Mariupol, spent four months in Russian captivity, and after his release, returned to the front lines. Since August 2023, the brigade under his command has been fighting in the Toretsk direction.

Kyrill Veres — commander of the K-2 Battalion of the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Mazepa. In 2022, he was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and the Order of the Golden Star for personal courage and heroism. He began his military career in 2014 in the Kyiv-1 police battalion in Sloviansk.