On May 25, the remains of Andriy Melnyk, a prominent leader of the Ukrainian nationalist movement, and his wife, Sofia Melnyk, were reinterred at the National Military Memorial Cemetery in Kyiv. The ceremony was attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with other high-ranking officials, including the head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Budanov, and former President Viktor Yushchenko.
During the event, President Zelensky emphasized the ongoing efforts by the Ukrainian government to bring home notable figures from the country’s past. He remarked, “People from various political backgrounds, united by their faith in Ukraine and their struggle for its independence, deserve to rest in their homeland.”
“These illustrious figures, scattered across the globe due to historical injustices, all long to be home,” he added.
Zelensky also mentioned that work is currently underway to facilitate the reburial of other significant Ukrainian figures.
He noted, “We have already begun the process to bring Yevhen Konovalets back home, along with many others. It is profoundly symbolic that today’s heroes, who are fighting for Ukraine’s freedom, will now rest alongside those from previous generations who also fought for the nation’s independence.”
“I extend my gratitude to everyone involved in the effort to return our heroes home,” Zelensky concluded.
Bohdan Chervak, the current head of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), remarked that the reburial ceremony closely mirrored Melnyk’s original burial in Luxembourg in 1964. “We effectively replicated that ceremony, and I am grateful to all who contributed to this event,” he stated.
Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the President’s Office, commented on an upcoming law regarding a Pantheon for distinguished Ukrainians, which will outline criteria for future reburials. “This law will establish guidelines for who can be reinterred in Ukraine, including age and historical significance,” she explained.
Andriy Melnyk was a military and political figure in the 20th century, serving as a colonel in the Ukrainian People’s Army. He was a close associate of Yevhen Konovalets and co-founded the Ukrainian Military Organization. His political activities led to his arrest in 1924 and subsequent imprisonment in Poland.
Following Konovalets’ death in 1938, Melnyk took leadership of the Ukrainian nationalist movement. During World War II, he initially sought collaboration with Nazi Germany but soon became disillusioned with their policies towards Ukraine. After a split in the OUN, he led a more moderate faction and organized propaganda efforts in Ukraine, which eventually led to his arrest by the Nazis.
After the war, Melnyk lived in Luxembourg, dedicating his efforts to unifying Ukrainian émigré communities and was elected as the lifelong head of the OUN in 1947. He passed away on November 1, 1964, in Cologne and was initially buried in Luxembourg.
The reinterment of Andriy Melnyk and his wife in Kyiv marks a significant moment in honoring Ukrainian historical figures. President Zelensky's remarks reflect ongoing efforts to recognize and return the remains of notable Ukrainians to their homeland.