On January 24, the working group on developing a unified route through memorial sites held its first meeting. The meeting was organized by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.
First Deputy Chair of the Committee, Iryna Konstankevych, shared the outcomes of the meeting:
“The unified memory route is about preserving history and drawing lessons for the future. The goal of this project is to honor the memory of the events of the Russian-Ukrainian war, create conditions to pay tribute to the fallen, and convey the true story of the Ukrainian people’s struggle.”
The memorialization of significant sites will not only serve as a tribute to the past but also as an important tool for promoting the truth about the crimes committed by the occupiers.
These sites can become part of tourist routes that attract international attention and help spread awareness about the war.
“Engaging communities in the development of the route is extremely important: synergy with local residents will allow us to create a project that meets the needs of society. Another task is to maintain harmony between the need to preserve historical heritage and addressing the needs of local communities. The route should not only serve as a reminder of tragic events but also become a space for dialogue, unity, and reflection,” the politician emphasized.
Criteria for selecting memorial sites:
- Historical significance — locations that witnessed key events, ruins of cultural landmarks, sites of battles, and tragedies.
- Honoring the memory of the fallen — memorials, burial sites of heroes, and monuments created by citizens.
- Documentary evidence — archives, personal accounts, photographs, and videos that preserve historical truth.
- Infrastructure — accessibility, interactive informational stands, barrier-free access, and spaces for reflection.
- Community involvement — active participation of local residents in preserving and developing memorial sites.
- Environmental
sustainability — developing sites with minimal environmental impact.
- Educational
component — programs aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of events.
- Unified style — a unique and consistently maintained design.
- Project sustainability — funding from state, international, or grant sources in collaboration with communities.
At the meeting, the head of the working group, First Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, Alyona Shkrum, presented the concept of a route that will unite key memorial sites, along with the idea of a digital museum that will allow everyone to learn about the events of the war online.
Next steps:
— Identifying a
list of priority locations and collecting information;
— Developing technical documentation for the arrangement of the sites;
— Implementing infrastructure solutions in collaboration with local
communities.
The route aims to integrate memorial sites into a unified system that will provide a comprehensive understanding of the events of the war, even through the visit to a single location.
The working group includes members of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy.