Ukraine cannot build pantheon in Lavra without UNESCO approval, media says

UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Photo: Charles Platiau

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra cannot become the site of the Ukrainian National Pantheon without prior approval from UNESCO, as it is a World Cultural Heritage site, said Denys Horokhovskyi, editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian News website.

On July 4, 2026, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers designated the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve as the location for the Ukrainian National Pantheon. The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy is required to announce an architectural competition for the best design of the complex. Horokhovskyi stressed that the Lavra’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List obliges Ukraine to undergo an international approval procedure before any construction work begins.

According to the expert, building the pantheon without UNESCO approval would violate the country’s international obligations. When choosing a specific site and architectural design, the Ministry of Culture must take into account UNESCO directives on the protection of heritage sites.

The Verkhovna Rada passed the law “On the Ukrainian National Pantheon” on July 1, 2026. The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990. Under UNESCO rules, member states must notify the World Heritage Committee of planned projects that could affect the outstanding universal value of a protected site.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to former MP Ihor Mosiychuk, building the pantheon in the Lavra would mean its destruction.

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