Yevhen Konovalets, co-founder of the OUN, reburied in Kyiv: Zelensky attended the ceremony

Colonel Yevhen Konovalets, one of the key figures of the Ukrainian liberation movement and co-founder of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, has been reburied in Ukraine. The ceremony took place on the territory of the National Military Memorial Cemetery with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelensky and state leadership.

During the ceremony, those present honored the memory of all fallen defenders of Ukraine with a minute of silence. The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, led the Divine Liturgy and served a memorial service over the coffin with Konovalets' ashes.

The ceremony was also attended by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi, Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Oleh Ivashchenko and other representatives of state authorities, military, clergy and the public.

"Together with him, Ukraine regained a part of itself: its memory, Ukrainian experience, our national history - the history of all those who at different times lived and fought for Ukraine, our independence and a sovereign state", - Zelensky said.

Konovalets' burial will be temporary

At the National Military Memorial Cemetery, Konovalets was reburied temporarily. After the creation of the Ukrainian National Pantheon, his remains are planned to be transferred there.

According to the President's Office, work is currently underway on the creation of the Pantheon, which should become a burial and reburial place for the most prominent figures of Ukrainian history who have made exceptional contributions to the achievement of independence and state sovereignty.

Zelensky also stated that many figures who fought for Ukrainian statehood are still buried outside Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine intends to gradually bring them back to the homeland.

Remains exhumed in the Netherlands

Earlier, Current Ukraine wrote that the remains of Yevhen Konovalets were exhumed at the Crooswijk cemetery in Rotterdam for subsequent reburial in Ukraine.

Konovalets was a commander of the Sich Riflemen of the Ukrainian People's Republic Army, led the Ukrainian Military Organization and became the first head of the Leadership of Ukrainian Nationalists. In 1938, he was killed by a Soviet secret service agent Pavlo Sudoplatov in Rotterdam.

After the reburial ceremony, the president also honored the memory of more than 300 Ukrainian military personnel buried at the National Military Memorial Cemetery.

Earlier, the leader of the moderate wing of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists ("Melnykites") Andriy Melnyk was reburied in Ukraine together with his wife. This event was condemned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial complex.

Based on materials from: Office of the President of Ukraine