Ukraine's National Pantheon: What We Know So Far
The National Pantheon is designed as a national memorial to figures who shaped Ukraine's long struggle for statehood. At the 11th International Veterans Forum, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced its creation, stressing that the choice of honorees will rest with the Ukrainian people. Parliament has passed the necessary law, and work is already underway to return and rebury the remains of Ukrainian leaders, including Andriy Melnyk and Yevhen Konovalets.
The legislation was submitted by President Zelensky and approved by the Verkhovna Rada on July 1. It establishes a Pantheon to honor the most outstanding representatives of the Ukrainian nation. As Zelensky put it,
“the Ukrainian pantheon will definitely be created, and only Ukrainians themselves will decide who our heroes are.”
Bringing Heroes Home: Reburials and Negotiations
Earlier, on April 30, parliament passed a separate law permitting the reburial of 20th-century independence fighters at the National Military Memorial Cemetery. Under that process, the remains of Andriy Melnyk and his wife, Sofia Fedak-Melnyk, were brought back to Ukraine and reburied on May 25. Melnyk is later expected to be reinterred at the National Pantheon.
Oleksandr Alfiorov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, says negotiations are ongoing for the return of remains belonging to other prominent historical figures:
- Yevhen Konovalets
- Symon Petliura
- Pavlo Skoropadskyi
Konovalets, the first head of the OUN, has already been reburied at the National Military Memorial Cemetery near Kyiv. President Zelensky attended the ceremony, alongside representatives of the government, parliament, the Presidential Office, and security services.
Zelensky also urged state officials and representatives of Crimean communities to bring the public more actively into the policy of honoring heroes.
“This is yet another confirmation that Ukrainian heroes from different eras, who fought for Ukraine and its independence, now inspire Ukrainians to be strong. And being strong means being free,”he said.
The process of building the National Pantheon and commemorating Ukrainian heroes is ongoing, with citizens taking part in deciding who deserves a place there.
This initiative underscores the importance of preserving the memory of those who fought for Ukraine's independence and of letting Ukrainians themselves shape their national pantheon. At a time when Ukraine is defending its sovereignty in war, such efforts carry particular significance for national unity and patriotism. Honoring the past is increasingly seen as a foundation for building the country's future.
As the process of honoring Ukraine's historical figures progresses, the recent return of Yevhen Konovalets' remains marks a significant moment in this national initiative. His reburial, celebrated with great respect, highlights the importance of recognizing those who shaped Ukraine's identity. For more details on this ceremonial event and its implications for national memory, you can read about the return of Konovalets' remains.