Amidst the ongoing war and the systematic destruction of cultural heritage, Ukraine is betting on creating a new legal mechanism to protect its historical values. On August 15, 2026, marking the anniversary of the tragic strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the adoption of Decree No. 726/2026. The document initiates the process of introducing a separate status of 'national shrine' for key sites, which is intended to become a powerful tool for their preservation.
New legal status and selection criteria
According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers is tasked with developing a draft law by August 24, 2026, which will clearly define the list of sites eligible for this elite status. The selection criteria will be strict: the list will include only outstanding centers of historical memory and spirituality that already have the status of a monument of national significance or are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The legislator's goal is to secure not only symbolic but also legal priority for these sites, ensuring their maximum protection at the legislative level.
Liability for destruction and international protection
One of the key provisions of the future law will be the tightening of liability for the destruction and damage of national shrines. President Zelenskyy emphasized that the new status should expand the financial and legal capabilities of those engaged in heritage preservation. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to intensify its work on the international stage: to seek accountability from Russia for crimes against culture, attract international funds and reparations for the restoration of damaged sites, and promote new UNESCO nominations for Ukraine.
Context: The strike on the Lavra and the creation of a Pantheon
The initiative gained resonance against the backdrop of the tragic events of June 2026. On the night of June 15, a Russian drone hit the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra — the main church of the complex and a World Heritage site. It was on this day, August 15, during a ceremony marking the 975th anniversary of the Lavra, that the President announced plans to strengthen protection. In parallel, the Verkhovna Rada has already supported the initiative to establish a Ukrainian National Pantheon this year, with the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra designated as the site.
Contradictory data
Although the President's initiative has found broad support in society, questions have arisen in the expert community and among human rights defenders regarding the constitutional aspects of introducing the term 'shrine' in a secular state. In particular, sources cite opinions that the use of religious terminology in state law could cause controversy. However, as noted by a source from Abkhazia (apsny.ge) in their commentary, there is nothing unconstitutional in the protection of national shrines if the issue concerns the preservation of historical memory and culture, rather than the imposition of religious dogma. President Zelenskyy, for his part, insists that the document is necessary to clearly define what exactly we are protecting as a nation.
