Pylyp Orlyk Foundation Signs Memorandum with the National Museum of the History of Ukraine

What the memorandum provides for

The memorandum between the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine provides for funding the renovation of the museum’s spaces, support for exhibition projects, and the development of new formats for audience engagement. Artem Mykolaichuk, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership:

“The history of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, and in particular the fate of Symon Petliura, shows us: without unity and inner strength, it is impossible to preserve statehood. We must rely first and foremost on ourselves. Today we must continue the efforts of those who fought for independence — preserve and worthily present our heritage for future generations. Together we must direct our main efforts toward victory and finally complete what the soldiers of the UNR began, without being distracted today by the enemy’s provocations.”

Yaryna Yasynievych, Program Director of the Foundation, explained the practical dimension of the agreement:

“The signed memorandum is not a declaration — it is a concrete plan of action. We will invest in creating modern exhibition spaces, supporting research projects, and developing new formats for museum-audience interaction. Together we are making Ukrainian history visible and accessible. For us, for the museum, for those who returned the collection to a country at war — this is about optimism and faith in victory, about responsibility toward the youth of Ukraine, whose childhood cannot be put on pause.”

Olena Zemliana, Director General of the museum, stressed the scale of the occasion:

“This is an event of historic significance for Ukrainian culture. We received not just artifacts — we reclaimed a part of our identity. It is enormously important that alongside the return of the collection, we are beginning a new stage in the museum’s development — with modern exhibition approaches and renovated spaces.”

Artifacts that returned from Canada

In total, more than 1,500 museum objects and 123 boxes of archival materials were returned from Canada to Ukraine last year — documents and photographs documenting the Ukrainian armed struggle for independence in the 20th century and the commemoration of fighters in exile. The collection had been preserved for decades by the Ukrainian diaspora, including the Ukrainian Free Academy of Arts and Sciences in Canada.

As we reported earlier, journalists were shown the banner of the Second Uman Regiment of Mounted Zaporozhians, pennants from Symon Petliura’s automobile, the passport of UNR Army Colonel Oleksandr Vyshnivsky, illustrations by Mykola Bytynsky, and the regimental bugle of the 4th Cavalry Regiment of the 4th Kyiv Rifle Division.

Exhibition curator Bohdan Patrilyak spoke about the significance of each object:

“Each of these artifacts is not merely a museum piece. The banner of the Second Uman Regiment is a symbol of honor and fighting spirit. The pennants from Petliura’s automobile evoke the memory of the Supreme Commander. The passport of Colonel Oleksandr Vyshnivsky speaks to the institutional maturity of the UNR. Bytynsky’s drawings document the appearance of the Ukrainian military of that era, and the bugle was the voice of the army that called men to battle.”

Exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of Petliura’s death

The returned artifacts will form the foundation of a large-scale exhibition, “PATH OF HEROES. In Memory of Symon Petliura,” scheduled to open at the end of May. The project marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Symon Petliura — Head of the Directory of the UNR and Supreme Commander of the UNR Army. The new museum exhibition will present the history of the struggle for Ukrainian statehood through personal belongings, documents, and symbols of the era, many of which will be seen in Ukraine for the first time.