Budanov to present proposals to president on creation of Pantheon of outstanding Ukrainians
Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov said he will soon submit to the President of Ukraine proposals and developments regarding the creation of a Pantheon of outstanding Ukrainians, based on the results of ongoing discussions.
In a Telegram post on Saturday, Budanov said he held a meeting with the participation of the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada, colleagues from the Presidential Office, scholars, representatives of civil society, the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory (UINM), government officials, and relevant specialized organizations.
"We discussed the idea of reburial on native soil of outstanding Ukrainians who dedicated their entire lives to Ukraine but still rest abroad," Budanov noted.
According to him, this concerns dozens and hundreds of fighters for Ukraine, prominent figures from different eras and professions, many of whom expressed the wish to be reburied in a free and independent Ukraine.
"The task is not simple, as burial sites are scattered around the world. Every step, from legal procedures to the transfer of remains, will be carried out with the consent of descendants and in compliance with legislation," Budanov said.
He stressed the importance of determining a final list of individuals and a specific location in Kyiv where the Pantheon will be built.
"Restoring historical memory is critically important right now, during the war for our independence," Budanov said.
He thanked Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk for recognizing the importance of preserving historical memory, his deputy Iryna Vereschuk for organizational work, as well as the diaspora, researchers, and all those who have studied, maintained, and preserved burial sites for decades.
"Following the meeting, we agreed on next steps with colleagues and issued the necessary instructions to accelerate the process… In the near future, based on all discussions, I will submit our proposals and developments to the president for consideration," Budanov said.
As reported, in 2024, then-head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory Anton Drobovych said that a symbolic location in central Kyiv had been identified for the National Pantheon of Ukrainian heroes, but its construction would only be possible after stabilization of Ukraine’s economy.
Former head of the UINM and Verkhovna Rada deputy Volodymyr Viatrovych (European Solidarity faction) believes it is necessary to dismantle the "Arch of Friendship of Peoples" monument and build the National Pantheon of Ukrainian heroes in its place.
Current UINM head Oleksandr Alferov believes the National Pantheon of Ukrainian heroes should be located in Kyiv on one of the islands on the Dnipro River, while the National Memorial of Ukrainian heroes should be situated on the slopes near the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
