Countering Propaganda and Honoring Heroes: The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory Outlines Its Core Goals.

Priority Missions of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory

According to Espreso.tv: Oleksandr Alfyorov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, has detailed the institution's primary objectives: fighting Russian propaganda, memorializing the war, and pursuing decommunization. Founded in 2006, the Institute marks its 20th anniversary in 2023. Its budget saw a tenfold increase in 2022 compared to the previous year, enabling a major expansion of its activities. This body plays a key role in shaping how Ukraine remembers its past amid the ongoing conflict.

Key Institute Initiatives

Among the Institute's major efforts is the creation of a National Pantheon of outstanding Ukrainians, involving reburials and cenotaphs. Recently, Andriy Melnyk was reburied as part of this initiative, marking a significant event in honoring notable Ukrainian figures.

As Oleksandr Alfyorov stated, 'Our Pantheon will have not only a sacred character but also serve specific practical functions.'

Additionally, Ukraine plans to send a search team to Poland to exhume Ukrainian remains. Alfyorov emphasized that 'the fight against propaganda is one of the cornerstones for the Institute' and added, 'For us, our fallen are not a political tool—our fallen are our angels.' The Institute thus continues to work on critical tasks that preserve national memory and counter disinformation.

Today, the Institute employs around 50 people who actively implement these initiatives across various historical contexts, including:

• The 20th century
• The Cossack era
• The 9th–13th centuries

The initiatives of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory reflect the state's efforts to preserve historical memory and root out the influence of disinformation, especially amid the armed conflict. The budget increase underscores the importance of these tasks for Ukrainian society, which seeks to understand and honor its history. Processes of memorialization and countering propaganda are becoming vital components of national identity, particularly relevant in today's circumstances.