Ukraine cannot build pantheon of heroes at Lavra without UNESCO's approval

The initiative to establish a Ukrainian National Pantheon on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to honor the most distinguished figures of the Ukrainian nation, also known as the “Pantheon of Heroes,” may not come to fruition if UNESCO does not grant the necessary permission for construction work. It was reported by the Ukrainian News agency.

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and as such is subject to certain restrictions that Ukraine accepted when it ratified the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. These include restrictions on construction and alterations to sites under UNESCO protection.

Thus, according to the guidelines for implementing the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, it is stated that Ukraine must not only obtain prior approval from the organization for anywork at a site but must also comply with the recommendations provided by UNESCO.

“The recommendations of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee regarding urban planning, architectural, and landscape transformation projects, as well as land reclamation, road construction, and earthworks at a World Heritage site its territory, and in the buffer zone are mandatory when carrying out such work,” the document states.

There has been no report so far regarding obtaining permission from UNESCO to make changes to the construction plans for the pantheon.

As is known, Poland previously reacted sharply to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement regarding the creation of the Ukrainian National Pantheon of Heroes, which, according to the Ukrainian President, will include, among others, representatives of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Warsaw viewed this initiative as yet another step toward political tension in relations between the two countries.