Ukrainian pop star Ruslana, the Eurovision winner who spent months singing to pro-European protestors in Kiev, is among 10 women honoured by the US for their bravery.
"It's very important to be here right now as a voice of my country," Ruslana Lyzychko said after receiving the 2014 International Women of Courage award by First Lady Michelle Obama.
"We fight a dictatorship, and now we can see the face of this dictatorship. Sorry, it's Putin," the petite singer said, speaking in English and clutching a blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag which she called her "good luck charm".
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned he is ready to send troops into Ukraine, triggering a deep crisis with both Europe and the United States.
Michelle Obama paid tribute to the 10 activists chosen for the 2014 International Women of Courage award, saying the winners should be an inspiration to women everywhere.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"When we see these women raise their voices, and move their feet and empower others to create change, we need to realise that each of us has that same power, and that same obligation," Obama said at the State Department ceremony.
The event comes ahead of International Women's Day on Saturday.
Ruslana, who won the 2004 Eurovision song contest, was honoured for joining the pro-democracy demonstrations in Kiev and singing to them night after night, even on one occasion helping to end a tense standoff with police.
The nine others at the ceremony included a young Indian, Laxmi, who when she was 16 had acid thrown in her face after she rejected the advances of a 32-year-old friend of her brother's.
Instead of hiding her disfigured face "she became the standard-bearer in India for the movement to end acid attacks", Deputy Secretary Heather Higginbottom said.
