During the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s Constitution, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the installation of a bust honoring Hetman Ivan Mazepa within the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The official announcement was made via the [President’s Telegram channel](https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/19653).
For centuries, the Russian imperial narrative attempted to denigrate Mazepa, labeling him a traitor to prevent Ukrainians from reclaiming their true history. Zelensky firmly rejected this, stating: “This is a lie. And this lie has lost, forever.” Under Mazepa’s patronage in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Lavra experienced a period of unprecedented prosperity, solidifying his role as a pivotal historical figure in Ukrainian state-building and culture.
President Zelensky proposed that Mazepa deserves a full-scale monument in Kyiv. He suggested a highly symbolic location: the boulevard where a statue of Lenin once stood. Replacing the symbol of Soviet totalitarianism with a monument to a Ukrainian state-builder represents a definitive shift in the country’s national identity. This move follows other recent de-russification efforts in the capital, such as the dismantling of the Mikhail Bulgakov monument on Andriyivskyy Descent.
This initiative is part of a broader national effort to reclaim history. In the face of ongoing Russian aggression, cultural and historical sovereignty are as vital as military defense. By honoring figures like Mazepa, Ukraine is actively dismantling the colonial distortions that defined the Soviet era. The return of Mazepa to the spiritual heart of Ukraine, the Lavra, serves as a testament to the nation’s resilience and its commitment to re-evaluating its past through an authentic, independent lens.
The act of installing this bust is more than a commemorative gesture; it is an assertion of Ukrainian continuity. As the nation continues to fight for its future, anchoring itself in the truth of its past—recognizing leaders who fought for independence—remains a cornerstone of national unity. Mazepa, once vilified by Russian propaganda, now occupies his rightful place in the national memory, reflecting a nation that is finally looking at its history with its own eyes.