--- title: "Ukrainian National Pantheon: New Law on Memory and Eternal Glory of Heroes" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ President Zelenskyy submitted a law to the Verkhovna Rada on the Ukrainian National Pantheon. The project provides for the creation of a memorial in Kyiv at the expense of the state budget with clear criteria for selecting heroes. In parallel, a program for the 1000th anniversary of the Lavra and the installation of Mazepa's bust were announced. πŸ›οΈπŸ“œ" date: 2026-06-29T12:17:22.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-national-pantheon-new-law-on-memory-and-eternal-glory-of-heroes tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukrainian National Pantheon: New Law on Memory and Eternal Glory of Heroes ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a green T-shirt gestures with his finger pointing up while discussing the new law on the national pantheon and memory of heroes](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/29/ukrainskiy-natsionalniy-panteon-zakon-o-pamyati-i-vechnaya-slava-geroev/ukrainskiy-natsionalniy-panteon-zakon-o-pamyati-i-vechnaya-slava-geroev-1.webp) On June 28, 2026, an event occurred on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve that could radically change the landscape of state memory policy in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking as part of events commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Constitution, officially announced the submission of the draft law "On the Ukrainian National Pantheon" (registration number 15360) to the Verkhovna Rada. The initiative, announced against the backdrop of the historic walls of the ancient monastery, aims to move the issue of commemorating outstanding compatriots from the realm of spontaneous initiatives into a strictly regulated legal field. This is not just the creation of a new memorial, but an attempt to systematize national historical consciousness through legislative norms. ### Architecture of Memory: How the Pantheon Will Be Created According to the explanatory note, the draft law provides for the creation of a single public memorial complex in Kyiv. The key factor determining the scale of the project is the funding source: the design, construction, protection, and maintenance of the future Pantheon will be carried out exclusively at the expense of the State Budget of Ukraine. This underscores the status of the object as a priority for the state. The question of what the building will look like will be resolved through an open competition. The development of the architectural concept will be conducted on a competitive basis, which should guarantee a high artistic and symbolic level of the future structure. The selection of a specific plot of land in the capital will also be determined based on the results of this same competition. ### Who Will Enter the Hall of Fame: Selection Criteria The most controversial aspect of any pantheon is always the question: "Who is worthy?". Draft Law No. 15360 clearly outlines the legal criteria for including historical figures in the memorial registry. The authors of the document identified three key categories of candidates for immortality: - State leaders and supreme commanders of various historical eras. - Persons who made an exceptional contribution to the acquisition, restoration, or defense of state independence. - Nobel Prize laureates in science or literature, as well as figures of science and culture of world stature, whose life path or citizenship is institutionally linked to Ukraine. Such an approach allows for covering a wide spectrum of merits β€” from military valor and state governance to intellectual achievements recognized on the world stage. ### Ideology and Sovereignty of Memory In his address, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the ideological component of the draft law. The adoption of this regulatory act is viewed as laying new elements of state-building. The main goal, according to the head of state, is to fix the sovereign right of citizens to independently shape the national historical narrative, excluding external regulatory or political pressure. Experts note that the project correlates with the long-term strategy of reforming the system of state awards and commemorative signs. The legal basis for such an initiative is Article 11 of the Constitution of Ukraine, which obliges the state to assist in the consolidation and development of the Ukrainian nation, its historical consciousness, and traditions. ### Protection and Implementation: Who Is Responsible for the Project To ensure the implementation of this large-scale task, responsible bodies have been identified. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will oversee the selection of the location, the Ministry of Finance will allocate funds, and relevant law enforcement agencies will take responsibility for the security of the facility. The draft law provides for a 24-hour honor guard for the complex, which underscores its highest status. ### Context: 1000th Anniversary of the Lavra and Ivan Mazepa The announcement of the Pantheon was not the only innovation in the field of historical memory on this day. In parallel, as part of the solemn events, the launch of a large-scale state program to prepare for the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was announced. Particular attention was drawn to the decision to install a bust of Hetman Ivan Mazepa directly on the territory of the Lavra. This decision, made on the day of the presentation of the draft law on the Pantheon, symbolizes the state's desire to systematize memorial activities and return to the public space figures whose role in the history of Ukraine requires re-evaluation and recognition. Thus, Draft Law No. 15360 becomes not just a document about building a structure, but a tool for forming national identity, where history, law, and state will unite to create a space of eternal memory.