by Viktor Yushchenko, Ukrainian politician, statesman, third President of Ukraine (2005–2010), and one of the leaders of the Orange Revolution.
Source: Yushchenko on Facebook
Dear fellow citizens,
Today I attended an event whose significance our nation will come to understand even more deeply with time.
To their native land, to the heart of Ukraine – sacred Kyiv – have returned Colonel of the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and Head of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists Andriy Melnyk and his devoted wife and comrade Sofia Fedak-Melnyk.
They have come home.
They have returned to Ukraine for which they fought, which they carried in their hearts even in exile, for which they prayed and for which they sacrificed their lives.
This is not merely reburial. It is an act of profound historical justice. It is the return of memory. The restoration of our state continuity. The return of names without which it is impossible to write a complete history of the Ukrainian nation.
For centuries, Moscow has sought not only to occupy Ukrainian land – it has sought to sever our historical roots, scatter our memory across the world, and ensure that Ukrainian heroes remained exiles even after death. That is why today’s event carries not only symbolic but also profound state-building significance.
We must recognise a simple truth: the Ukrainian Pantheon of national glory cannot be complete while our great sons remain in foreign lands.
Ukraine must bring its Heroes home.
We must return the remains of the great Hetman Ivan Mazepa, the creator of the first Ukrainian Constitution Pylyp Orlyk, Chief Otaman Symon Petliura, Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky, Colonel Yevhen Konovalets, Leader Stepan Bandera, and thousands of other Ukrainians who built our statehood and whose graves are now scattered across the world.
For a nation that does not honour its Heroes has no future. And a nation that restores its memory becomes strong, whole, and invincible.
Today, Ukraine is reclaiming not only names – it is reclaiming its state memory.
Ukraine is bringing its people home.
Ukraine is reclaiming its history.
Ukraine is reclaiming itself.
Glory to Ukraine!
Cover: Yushchenko on Facebook
