The Ministry of Culture has dismissed the director of the 'Kiev-Pechersk Lavra' national reserve, Maksym Ostapenko.

The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine has dismissed the director of the 'Kiev-Pechersk Lavra' national reserve, Maksym Ostapenko

Maksym Ostapenko was preparing for a large exhibition in the Lavra when he learned that the Ministry of Culture had decided to dismiss him from the position of head of the National Reserve 'Kiev-Pechersk Lavra'.

According to him, he was dismissed 'without explanations, warnings, and any official comments regarding his work'.

In recent weeks, rumors have circulated about a behind-the-scenes struggle for control over the Lavra. We felt pressure. Obviously, someone became uncomfortable with the fact that we spoke loudly about the need to cleanse the Lavra of imperial narratives. Someone was bothered by the truth. Someone - our principle. But this news is not a defeat. It is further confirmation that we are moving in the right direction. I hope that tomorrow I will at least receive an explanation for myself personally and for the team about what is happening, - Ostapenko noted.

New Acting General Director of the 'Kiev-Pechersk Lavra'

On April 14, 2023, the National Reserve 'Kiev-Pechersk Lavra' was given a new acting general director. He is Maksym Ostapenko, who previously headed the 'Khortytsia' reserve. The corresponding order was signed by the Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko.

«I would like to congratulate the new acting general director of the National Reserve 'Kiev-Pechersk Lavra', Maksym Ostapenko. I signed today the corresponding order for his appointment», - Tkachenko wrote.

After the dismissal of Maksym Ostapenko from the position of director of the 'Kiev-Pechersk Lavra' national reserve, it became known about his unexpected end in this position in the context of the upcoming exhibition. At the same Time, Ostapenko's appointment to the position of acting general director of the same reserve was announced.