President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the reburial ceremony of Colonel Yevhen Konovalets, an exemplary warrior and a prominent Ukrainian statesman, at the National Military Memorial Cemetery.
The ceremony was also attended by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi, Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Oleh Ivashchenko, First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Acting Minister of Defense Yevhenii Khmara, Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Vyhivskyi, Minister for Veterans Affairs Vitalii Kim, members of parliament, military personnel, clergy, and representatives of the public.
Those present observed a moment of silence in memory of all fallen defenders of Ukraine. Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, presided over the Divine Liturgy and held a memorial service over the coffin containing the remains of Yevhen Konovalets.
The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine is once again restoring the highest form of historical justice – justice for itself: bringing home an outstanding son of the Ukrainian people.
“Together with him, Ukraine has regained a part of itself – its memory, Ukrainian experience, our national history – the history of all those who, at different times, lived and fought for Ukraine, for our independence and our sovereign state. Colonel Yevhen Konovalets is such a figure. His fate – heroic and tragic at the same time – is like a symbol of that entire period of our history,” the President said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Yevhen Konovalets was born at a time when foreign states and empires ruled over our land, and therefore his struggle for a free Ukraine lasted throughout his conscious life. According to the President, unfortunately, at that time Ukraine was unable to establish itself, but now its time has come: independence was restored, its right to be itself was defended, and no one will ever remove the blue-and-yellow flags from Kyiv again – Ukraine alone will choose its national path.
“Now, remembering Ukraine’s struggle for liberation, we all know with absolute certainty what mistakes must not be made. We know what Ukraine needs and where we must focus our attention and efforts. We know what national priorities our state must have. Colonel Konovalets has returned to the very Ukraine he fought for and wanted to see. A strong, sovereign, independent Ukraine,” the Head of State noted.
The President thanked the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada, the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada, and all Ukrainian patriots who for decades preserved the memory of Yevhen Konovalets and his burial place. The Head of State expressed separate gratitude to everyone in Ukraine who has now come together so that our national history and statehood can have, here in Ukraine, such places where Ukrainian heroes are honored.
“I thank the entire team of the Office of the President, our historians, diplomats, and hundreds of caring and proactive people for whom bringing Colonel Konovalets home to Ukraine was a matter of honor,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State emphasized that there are still many people who fought and created for Ukraine but are buried outside its borders. The President is convinced that, step by step, our country will bring each and every one of our true Ukrainian heroes back to their native land.
Yevhen Konovalets has been reburied at the National Military Memorial Cemetery on a temporary basis. Once the Ukrainian National Pantheon is established, Colonel Konovalets will rest there. Work is currently underway on this site, which is intended for the highest honors, burial, and reburial of the most outstanding figures in Ukraine’s history who made an exceptional contribution to achieving Ukraine’s independence and sovereign statehood.
The President also honored the memory of more than 300 Ukrainian defenders buried at the National Military Memorial Cemetery.