President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky awarded American entrepreneur and engineer Elon Musk the Order of Freedom. The head of state signed the relevant decree No. 835/2026 on August 26.
According to the document, Musk was awarded “for outstanding personal merits in protecting human life and freedom, and developing relations between the peoples of Ukraine and the United States of America”. The decree refers to him as an entrepreneur, engineer, and head of SpaceX and Tesla.
The Order of Freedom is a state award of Ukraine given for outstanding and special merits in upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, consolidating Ukrainian society, developing democracy, social and economic and political reforms, as well as defending constitutional human rights and freedoms. It may be awarded to Ukrainian citizens, foreigners, and stateless persons by presidential decree.
Musk became one of the foreigners awarded the Order of Freedom by President Zelenskyy in 2026. Earlier, on August 21, the state award was presented, in particular, to the presidents of Estonia, Alar Karis, Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, and Finland, Alexander Stubb, as well as Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.