--- title: "Zelenskyy approves creation of 'national shrines' registry: analysis of the bill's goals and impact on church disputes" description: "🇺🇦 Zelenskyy has instructed the government to draft a law on 'national shrines' by August 24. The document will strengthen monument protection and create a basis for reparations from the Russian Federation. Experts link the initiative to transferring the management of lavras to state control and responding to UNESCO criticism. #Ukraine #Zelenskyy #Culture #UNESCO" date: 2026-08-15T19:12:05.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-national-shrines-bill-2026-en tags: [ukraine, zelenskyy, unesco, culture, law, orthodox-church] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelenskyy approves creation of 'national shrines' registry: analysis of the bill's goals and impact on church disputes ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of an ancient icon, illustrating the creation of a registry of national shrines](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/15/zelenskyy-natsionalnye-svyatyni-zakonoproekt-2026/zelenskyy-natsionalnye-svyatyni-zakonoproekt-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Zelenskyy instructed the development of a law on 'national shrines' by August 24, 2026. - The bill could change the management of major lavras and strengthen state control. - The document will create a basis for claiming reparations from the Russian Federation for the destruction of cultural heritage. - The initiative is seen as a response to UNESCO criticism and a strengthening of sovereignty in culture. On August 15, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree instructing the Cabinet of Ministers to draft a bill on the protection of national shrines within a tight timeframe—by August 24. The document, planned for presentation on Ukraine's Independence Day, aims to establish a new legal status for key cultural heritage sites. Officially, the initiative is designed to strengthen the protection of monuments, including UNESCO sites, and create a legal basis for holding Russia accountable for the destruction of historical heritage. ### New legal status and protection criteria According to the text of the decree, the new law must define clear criteria for granting objects the status of 'national shrine.' This implies the introduction of enhanced protection measures and expanded opportunities for their restoration. Under the martial law currently in effect in the country, legislators view this status as a tool for prioritizing funding for the restoration and protection of the most significant historical sites from war damage and vandalism. ### Impact on religious institutions and disputes over lavras Within expert circles and among sources close to the Ministry of Culture, it is discussed that the bill could play a key role in resolving property disputes. In particular, analysts note that new criteria for managing objects of 'national significance' could be used to transfer administrative control over major religious complexes, such as the Kyiv-Pechersk, Pochaiv, and Svjatohorsk lavras, to state structures or religious organizations with no ties to Russia. This is seen as a mechanism capable of closing legal loopholes for challenging decisions regarding the eviction of structures linked to the Moscow Patriarchate. ### Relations with UNESCO and sovereignty in cultural matters The initiative is also viewed in the context of interaction with international organizations. In early August 2026, a UNESCO monitoring mission expressed concern over the dismantling of several monuments in the protected zones of Odesa and Kyiv. Introducing a domestic 'national shrine' status allows Kyiv to independently determine heritage protection priorities without waiting for coordination with international bureaucratic structures. This is a step towards forming a sovereign registry of objects requiring protection, based on national rather than international protocols. ### Legal basis for reparations from the Russian Federation An important aspect of the bill is the provision for holding the Russian Federation accountable for the destruction of cultural heritage. According to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, by August 2026, the Russian army had destroyed or damaged more than 1,200 cultural heritage sites. The new law introduces a methodology for assessing not only material but also spiritual damage. This data is planned to be integrated into the International Registry of Damages in The Hague, which will allow it to be used for claiming compensation from the frozen assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. ### Contradictory data There are discrepancies in the interpretation of the bill's goals. The official position of the President's Office emphasizes heritage protection and reparations. At the same time, sources in religious circles and opposition media indicate that the document is a tool for finally resolving the issue of property belonging to the UOC (MP), which could lead to an escalation of interfaith conflicts. Furthermore, the drafting timeline (9 days) raises questions among lawyers regarding the quality of the regulatory framework development and the possibility of a full public discussion. ### Political context and adoption deadlines The tight timeline for drafting the bill (by August 24) is driven by the President's desire to present it as a key element of his festive address to the nation on Independence Day. This symbolizes Ukraine's transition to 'cultural self-sufficiency' and the severing of mental ties with Moscow. The bill will become part of a broad program to strengthen national identity amidst the ongoing war. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Zelenskyy plans to create a pantheon of 'fighters for independence' in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra](https://www.ng.ru/vision/2026-07-19/5_9540_zelenskyy.html) - Источник подтверждает планы Зеленского по изменению статуса объектов в лаврах, что коррелирует с темой законопроекта о национальных святынях. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What are 'national shrines' according to the new bill? **A:** This is a new legal status for cultural heritage objects, implying enhanced protection and priority funding for restoration. ### Q: How will the law affect the UOC (MP)? **A:** The bill could change the rules for managing objects, limiting the rights of religious organizations linked to Russia to use the lavras. ### Q: Why is this law needed for reparations? **A:** It introduces a methodology for assessing damage, allowing data to be used for claiming compensation from the Russian Federation through international mechanisms.