The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory said the ashes of Taras Shevchenko, Lesya Ukrainka, and Ivan Franko will not be moved to the future National Pantheon [1].
This decision preserves the historical and cultural integrity of existing landmarks that serve as pilgrimage sites for millions of Ukrainians. The three writers are central figures in the nation's literary and identity-forming history, and their current resting places have become symbols of national heritage.
According to the institute, the ashes of these figures will remain at their current burial sites [1]. This includes Shevchenko’s tomb on Taras Hill, Ukrainka’s grave at Baikove Cemetery, and Franko’s grave at Lychakiv Cemetery [1].
UINP said that the purpose of the National Pantheon is to honor outstanding Ukrainians. While the facility may host the reburials of some historical figures currently buried abroad, the three mentioned writers are not slated for relocation [1].
"The ashes of Taras Shevchenko, Lesya Ukrainka, and Ivan Franko are not planned to be reburied. They will remain in their current places of rest," UINP said [1].
The institute's clarification comes as the government develops the National Pantheon in Kyiv. The project aims to create a centralized space for national remembrance, but officials are distinguishing between the need for a new memorial site and the disruption of established historical graves [1].
“The ashes of Taras Shevchenko, Lesya Ukrainka, and Ivan Franko are not planned to be reburied.”
By opting not to move these specific graves, the Ukrainian government is balancing the creation of a new state symbol of memory with the preservation of existing cultural geography. Moving these figures could have sparked public controversy, as their current locations are deeply embedded in the local and national landscape.
