A pantheon of distinguished Ukrainians may be built near the Dnipro River in Kyiv
No final decision has yet been made regarding the location of the Pantheon of Outstanding Ukrainians. At the same time, Kyiv—specifically the area near the Dnipro River—is being considered as one of the main options.
This was stated on television by Oleksandr Alferov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance.
“Various options for the Pantheon’s location can be considered, but we must take into account that ceremonies and receptions for foreign guests will take place there, so Kyiv is the logistical priority. It is not only the capital of Ukraine but also its sacred center, one of the centers of Christianity, and an important hub in general. Another key factor is the area associated with the Dnipro River,” said Alferov.
He emphasized the symbolic role of the Dnipro, which is viewed as a unifying element—from the times of Rus’ to modern Ukraine.
According to him, Askold’s Grave is also being discussed among the working options, but this issue requires further study and consultation.
Alferov emphasized that the Pantheon project is in the conceptual development stage. Work is currently underway on the criteria for selecting figures, legal mechanisms, and possible procedures for the reburial of prominent Ukrainians.
“This work is extremely complex. How long will it take? It’s hard to say under these conditions, but even if we complete the initial work—even at the level of theory, documents, logistics, and the project’s future architecture—that will already be a good start. As for what happens next, we will proceed according to the situation in the country,” said the head of the UIPN.
According to him, the Pantheon is not a cemetery in the traditional sense, but rather a space for historical memory and national identity. It will be a place for the best, Alferov emphasized.
"We are currently selecting the criteria, because people cannot be buried without clear principles. One of the basic approaches is that the Pantheon will cover the period from the times of Rus’ to the present. A time delay is also planned—a certain period must pass after a person’s death, approximately 25–40 years, to avoid premature assessments and situations where attitudes toward a figure may change over time,” said the head of the UIPN.
Alferov noted that a separate criterion is the contribution to the preservation of Ukrainian statehood. At the same time, approaches to reburials will be determined: if prominent Ukrainians are already buried in Ukraine and memorial sites or religious structures have formed around their graves, their reburial is not planned.
A separate area of work involves the return to Ukraine of the remains of prominent figures buried abroad. Among possible examples, Alferov cited Symon Petliura and Pavlo Skoropadskyi. He emphasized that these are complex processes requiring international coordination and sustained effort.
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