Biletsky, along with soldiers from the Third Corps, held a farewell ceremony for Yevhen Konovalets

A farewell ceremony for Colonel Yevhen Konovalets, founder of the Ukrainian Military Organization (UVO) and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and commander of the Sich Riflemen Corps, was held at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Andriy Biletsky, commander of the Third Army Corps, and military personnel from the corps took part in the event.

“Today, two generations come together here. Colonel Konovalets embodies the generation of Sich Riflemen, fighters of the UVO, OUN, and UPA. We are the generation of the Maidan, the ATO, and the great Russian-Ukrainian war. Each of these generations inherited the Ukrainian cause as unfinished. We are the first generation that has a real chance to break this heavy chain and bring the cause of the colonel and all our predecessors to a successful conclusion,” Biletsky stated.

Konovalets’ coffin was transported to the cathedral in a restored Austin armored car from the time of the Ukrainian Revolution. An artillery gun carriage was attached to it, symbolizing the highest military honor.

A 3-inch cannon of the 1917 model was also used, which had once been in service with the army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UNR), specifically the Sich Riflemen Division under Konovalets’ command.

During the ceremony, military personnel honored the colonel’s memory, recited a Ukrainian nationalist prayer, and lit ceremonial torches as a symbol of passing the struggle for independence from previous generations to Ukraine’s modern defenders.

Source: Press Service of the Third Army Corps.

The remains of Colonel Yevhen Konovalets of the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and first head of the OUN were transported to Ukraine.

As a reminder, a historic reburial ceremony took place at the National Military Memorial Cemetery for Colonel Andriy Melnyk of the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, head of the OUN, and his wife, Sofia Fedak-Melnyk.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted Bill No. 15360, “On the Ukrainian National Pantheon,” to the Verkhovna Rada. The head of state officially announced this initiative on June 28 at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra during his traditional address on the occasion of Ukraine’s Constitution Day.