Kyrylo Budanov Held a Meeting on the Establishment of a Pantheon of Prominent Ukrainians

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Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov held a meeting on the establishment of a Pantheon of Prominent Ukrainians.

The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Vereshchuk, members of parliament, government representatives, officials from the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, as well as members of civil society and academics.

The Head of the Presidential Office stressed that the reburial of prominent Ukrainians is directly linked to the restoration of national heritage.

"This is about the reburial on the territory of Ukraine of prominent Ukrainians who passed away abroad. This is not an easy task, as they are scattered across the world - in both friendly and unfriendly countries. We must begin as soon as possible, because the restoration of historical memory is a very important matter, especially in times of war for sovereignty and independence," Kyrylo Budanov said.

According to him, it is important to compile a list of prominent figures, develop a mechanism for repatriation, and determine a specific location where the Pantheon of Prominent Ukrainians could be established. The National Military Memorial Cemetery should play a significant role in this process.

Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized the need to also analyze Ukrainian and foreign legislation regarding reburials.

"I am convinced that we will also face the issue of returning historical artefacts currently held in foreign museums back home to Ukraine, as well as matters related to documents that are important for Ukraine's state-building. These are things that must be returned to Ukraine. This is a major comprehensive program," the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada said.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariana Betsa noted that diplomatic missions have identified the burial sites of 98 Ukrainians in 21 countries. According to her, these include political, military, cultural, and public figures from the Ukrainian People's Republic, the West Ukrainian People's Republic, the OUN-UPA, the government-in-exile, and the national liberation movements.

Historian Yurii Yuzych stressed that priority should be given to burial sites that are left without the care of local communities or diplomatic missions. According to him, due to local legislation, such graves may simply disappear.

"The first thing that needs to be done is to identify as many graves as possible in places where they may be liquidated, particularly in European countries. This is an enormous research effort - not for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not even for civil activists, but primarily for the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance," Yurii Yuzych said.

Following the meeting, the Head of the Presidential Office instructed government representatives to discuss the main proposals with civil society and academics within specific deadlines and report on the results.

The agreed draft for the creation of the Pantheon of Prominent Ukrainians will be submitted to the President of Ukraine for consideration.