Exhibition “Path of Heroes. In Memory of Symon Petliura” Opens in Kyiv: Personal Belongings of the UNR Supreme Commander Shown in Ukraine for the First Time

Welcome Remarks from Organizers and Partners

The Director General of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, Olena Zemlianaіa, addressed the guests at the opening ceremony. She emphasized the importance of the project and thanked all those who made it possible.

The Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshny, highlighted the significance of Symon Petliura’s legacy for Ukrainian history and the present day: “Symon Petliura said: Strength grows through struggle. These are exactly the words every Ukrainian needs to hear. We understand that our independence and sovereignty, our future and our lives require struggle. The figure of Symon Petliura inspires. Today we continue the struggle he began. And it falls to our generation — to all of us — to bring it to victory.” Andriy Pyshny thanked the museum for returning important pages of Ukrainian history and presented a commemorative coin issued by the National Bank to mark the 100th anniversary of Symon Petliura’s death. The NBU Governor donated this commemorative coin to the collection of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.

Among the distinguished guests were those currently defending Ukraine: Acting Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Yevhen Khmara, Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine Oleksandr Pivnenko, and a representative of the 152nd Separate Jaeger Brigade named after Symon Petliura, Artur Tsyhanok-Paieri. The defenders noted the symbolic significance of the exhibition, which connects the current battle for independence with the origins of Ukraine’s armed struggle, and thanked the organizers for the invitation.

The significance of the event for state memory policy was underscored by First Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Ivan Verbytsky: “Today we mark the centenary of Symon Petliura’s death. This event is part of a broad state policy of reclaiming our own history and restoring historical justice for those who gave their lives for Ukraine’s independence. At last we have the opportunity to honor their deeds with dignity, and this exhibition is one of the best ways to do so.”

The Pylyp Orlyk Foundation: Why This Project Matters

Artem Mykolaichuk, Chairman of the Board of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation, which funded the creation of the exhibition and carried out the renovation of the exhibition space, emphasized that this project is one of the most important the Foundation has undertaken: “It is extraordinarily important for us to remember our own history — to remember that 100 years ago we were unable to achieve victory, to make Ukraine free and attain independence. Today we already have independence, we have become a subject of world politics, Ukraine is known and respected around the world. And now our task is not to lose this independence, to go all the way and defeat the Russian empire. To do so, we must remember and understand what happened then, so as not to repeat those mistakes.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha confirmed that Ukraine is already reclaiming its historical memory and that this process must continue. The exhibition “PATH OF HEROES. In Memory of Symon Petliura” and the reburial of Andriy Melnyk in Kyiv both affirm this: “Today the reburial of Andriy Melnyk took place at the cemetery, at the pantheon of heroes in Kyiv. And that too is significant. I believe this is no coincidence. Ukraine must reclaim its heritage and cultural legacy from abroad.”

The Third President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, who attended the opening immediately following the reburial ceremony of Andriy Melnyk, emphasized the importance of returning all heroes to their native land: “Nothing shapes identity as much as our language, culture, national memory, our heroes, the church, customs, and traditions. Today’s reburial of Colonel Melnyk strengthens that sacred feeling for the sake of which, in truth, a person lives. It strengthens our national and state subjecthood.”

The Return of Heroes and the Restoration of Memory

The Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, Oleksandr Alforov, joined the reflections on the reburial of Andriy Melnyk and stressed that Petliura must also be brought back. He also stated that the Ukrainian state must review the investigation conducted against Samuil Schwarzbard following Petliura’s assassination, and must erect a monument to Symon Petliura in Kyiv.

The Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, Ihor Ostash, who was involved in the process of returning the collection of exhibits to Ukraine, drew attention to the fact that many more historical treasures await their return to the homeland, and that it is important to continue working in this direction.

The opening was also attended by Oleksandr Krupka, Director of Development at Meest. Meest provided the transportation of the collection from Canada and consistently supports Ukrainian cultural initiatives around the world.

Member of Parliament of Ukraine Volodymyr Viatrovych, who helped initiate the collaboration between the museum and the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation for the realization of this project, remarked: “This exhibition is yet another argument against one of the Kremlin’s main claims — that Ukraine is an accidental state that appeared after the collapse of the Soviet Union, as one of its fragments. This project is about how the Ukrainian state was built 100 years ago. About the fact that we have our own state tradition. And this state tradition makes us stronger.”

Yaryna Yasynievych, Program Director of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation, shared her impressions of working on the project, noting that it was a great honor for the Foundation to collaborate with the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in renovating the museum space and creating the exhibition. “Most importantly — we want people who visit the exhibition to leave with faith in the strength of their nation and confidence that the struggle will not be in vain,” she said.

The exhibition has been open to visitors since May 26 at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, located at 2 Volodymyrska Street.