MinCulture dismisses Ostapenko from position as Lavra Reserve director

Maksym Ostapenko. Photo: facebook.com/maksim.ostapenko

The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine has dismissed Maksym Ostapenko from his position as Director General of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve.

The corresponding order No. 432-k was signed on May 21, 2025, by Minister Mykola Tochytsky, as Ostapenko reported on his Facebook page..

The document states that the reason for his dismissal was “improper fulfillment of the terms of the contract” dated October 23, 2023. The decision was based on a memo from Volodymyr Shornykov, Director of the Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.

Maksym Ostapenko stated that the news of his dismissal came as a surprise. According to him, there had been no warnings or official complaints regarding his performance:

“While we were preparing a large-scale exhibition in the Lavra, I received news that came as a surprise – I was dismissed from my position as head of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve.”

He also noted that in recent weeks, he had felt pressure and had heard rumors of behind-the-scenes power struggles over control of the Lavra.

“Clearly, someone was made uncomfortable by the fact that we spoke openly about the need to cleanse the Lavra of imperial narratives,” Ostapenko wrote.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Maksym Ostapenko, imperial-style murals in the Lavra had been part of preparations for occupation.

Read also