Draft Law on the Ukrainian National Pantheon
On Constitution Day, marking the 30th anniversary of the document, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted a draft law to the Verkhovna Rada titled "On the Ukrainian National Pantheon." This legislation calls for the establishment of a public memorial complex in Kyiv, designed to serve as a place of remembrance and tribute to outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to Ukraine’s history. The proposal comes amid a diplomatic dispute with Poland, where Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoked Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle after a Ukrainian military unit was named after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). In response, on June 20, Zelenskyy returned the award.
Plans for the Pantheon
The envisioned pantheon will be a publicly accessible memorial complex located in Kyiv. The government will designate the project’s client, and the design will be selected through an open competition. Both construction and maintenance will be funded from the state budget. Additionally, the document stipulates that a round-the-clock honor guard will protect the monument.
The draft law defines six categories of individuals eligible for recognition in the pantheon:
- Those who held the position of head of state or equivalent roles in various historical periods;
- Presidents of Ukraine, except those removed from office through impeachment;
- Individuals who served as commanders-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces;
- Commanders-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during wars for independence;
- Those who contributed to state-building and the defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty;
- Nobel Prize laureates in science or literature who are Ukrainian citizens or lived on its territory.
“The names of all heroes who, across centuries and eras, fought for Ukraine and inspired Ukraine will be united and forever inscribed in our history with capital letters, with great respect and attention from the state—Ukraine, which respects itself, values its own, and defends its own—its right to be Ukrainian.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The explanatory note to the draft law emphasizes that its adoption will help restore historical justice and shape national memory.
For reference, the document cites famous pantheons worldwide, including those in Rome, France, Portugal, and Brazil. The Roman Pantheon, built over 2,000 years ago, became a Christian church in 609 AD and now houses tombs of notable figures such as Raphael and Victor Emmanuel II. The French Pantheon, located in Paris’s Latin Quarter, was constructed in the 18th century and serves as a burial site for figures like Voltaire and Marie Curie.
Thus, the creation of the Ukrainian National Pantheon represents a key step in honoring the history and memory of distinguished Ukrainians, aiming to unite society around shared values and heritage. This project could become not only a symbol of national pride but also a platform for forging a new cultural identity amid the modern challenges facing Ukraine.
The establishment of the Ukrainian National Pantheon is expected to influence various aspects of national memory and commemoration. As noted by Budanov, the implementation of this law could pave the way for the reburial of prominent historical figures such as Bandera, Petliura, and Skoropadskyi. This development highlights the significance of the proposed pantheon in shaping Ukraine's narrative and honoring its heroes. For more insights on how this legislation could impact the reburial process, read more about the conditions for reburial of key historical figures.