Photo: Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted a bill to parliament proposing the creation of a Ukrainian National Pantheon, a memorial dedicated to honoring outstanding figures in the nation’s history.
According to the bill’s registration in the Verkhovna Rada and a statement from the Head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Budanov, the initiative is intended to restore historical justice and strengthen national unity.
“President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada the draft law ‘On the Ukrainian National Pantheon.’ This is a decisive and much-needed step toward restoring historical justice, consolidating our society, and laying the foundation of national memory for future generations. This document reflects our country’s institutional maturity,” Budanov said.
He stressed that the memory of those who gave their lives for Ukraine—both historical leaders and today’s defenders—must be preserved permanently.
“No one will ever again dictate to Ukrainians which heroes to honor, which holidays to celebrate, or what history to study. Our ancestors fought for centuries for the right to make these choices freely, and today our soldiers continue that struggle,” Budanov added.
The Presidential Office expressed hope that parliament would approve the legislation without delay.
Zelensky first announced plans to create a National Pantheon of prominent Ukrainians in April 2026. The project began with the reburial of Andriy Melnyk and his wife, Sofiia, whose remains were returned to Ukraine from Luxembourg.
