Reburial of Bandera, Petliura, and Skoropadskyi Hinges on Upcoming National Pantheon Law, Says Budanov

Reburial of Prominent Ukrainian Figures

According to Главком: The future reburial of Stepan Bandera, Symon Petliura, and Pavlo Skoropadskyi depends on a forthcoming law establishing a National Pantheon of Heroes. Kyiv Office of the President Head Kyrylo Budanov stated that the final stage of drafting the relevant bill is currently underway. He made these remarks during the 'Security Architecture' forum, a key event for discussing national defense and historical policy.

As of now, no definitive decision has been made regarding the reburial of these historical figures. Budanov noted that two approaches are being considered for shaping the pantheon:

• approving a separate list of historical figures, which could be attached as an appendix to the law;
• establishing a special commission to select candidates after the law is passed.

“The first option is to immediately include, as the first appendix, a list of a certain number of individuals. The second approach is to skip that appendix and instead create a special commission tasked with choosing who deserves to be immortalized in this pantheon of heroes,” Kyrylo Budanov explained.

Other Historical Figures

Regarding other historical figures, on May 25, a reburial ceremony was held for Colonel of the Ukrainian People's Republic Army and OUN leader Andriy Melnyk, along with his wife Sofia Fedak-Melnyk, at the National Military Memorial Cemetery. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also addressed the initiation of efforts to repatriate historical figures buried across Europe and the Americas. On April 22, he announced the start of work on creating a Pantheon of Prominent Ukrainians.

“One of these options will be chosen. We’ll see later,” Budanov concluded, confirming that the reburial issue will remain relevant until the bill is adopted.

The list of historical figures slated for potential reburial includes Stepan Bandera, Symon Petliura, and Pavlo Skoropadskyi, though the final structure of the National Pantheon of Heroes has yet to be determined.

The reburial process for these prominent Ukrainian figures represents a significant step in recognizing their contributions to the nation's history. Establishing a National Pantheon of Heroes could serve as a powerful symbol of national identity and remembrance of Ukraine’s heroic past. Amid ongoing historical shifts and political challenges, this issue remains a pressing concern for a society seeking to honor its heroes and preserve their legacy for future generations.

As the discussions around the reburial of historical figures gain momentum, it's essential to understand the broader context of Ukraine's efforts to honor its prominent individuals. The establishment of a National Pantheon is a significant step in this direction, paralleling recent initiatives aimed at recognizing the contributions of notable Ukrainians. For more insights into this ongoing project and its implications for the nation's historical narrative, read more about the creation of a Pantheon for Ukraine's distinguished figures.