Historians launch effort to restore memorial honoring first Ukrainian regiment on Kyiv’s Castle Hill

Ukrainian historians have announced a new initiative to restore a long-neglected burial site on Kyiv’s Castle Hill, or Zamkova Hora, where soldiers of the First Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Ukrainian Regiment (1917–1921) were laid to rest during the short-lived Ukrainian People’s Republic. The project aims to reclaim the site’s historical significance and honor the early defenders of Ukrainian independence.

Speaking at a briefing hosted by Media Center Ukraine, Roman Malenkov, a local historian and head of the State Historical and Architectural Reserve “Ancient Kyiv,” emphasized the importance of preserving what remains of the memorial. According to Malenkov, Soviet authorities systematically destroyed burial grounds for Ukrainian People’s Republic fighters across the capital, including those at Askold’s Grave, Mariinskyi Park, the Spivoche Pole (Singing Field), and Zamkova Hora, as part of a broader campaign to erase the memory of Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty.

Zamkova Hora became the final resting place for members of the Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Regiment, considered the first organized Ukrainian military formation following the fall of the Zaporozhian Sich. Despite early losses, the regiment regrouped and continued its campaign against russian forces during Ukraine’s struggle for independence in the early 20th century.

Today, the burial site is in disrepair, overgrown and largely forgotten. Historians argue that restoring the memorial is not just about preserving the past, but about underscoring a centuries-long fight for Ukrainian statehood.

“This is about historical justice,” Malenkov said. “We must remember that the war for Ukraine’s independence did not begin in 2014 or 2022, it has been going on for generations.”

The initiative is being led by a coalition of public historians and researchers, including political scientist and General Staff spokesman Andrii Kovaliov; Oleksandr Alfiorov, director of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance; journalist and historian Yevhen Buket; Yaroslav Tynchenko, deputy director of the National Military History Museum; and Malenkov himself.

Beyond restoring the gravesite, the group hopes to revamp the surrounding area, turning Castle Hill into a public memorial park with an observation deck, informational displays, and a redesigned memorial cross. 

“We’ve enlisted architect Mykola Vikharev to help draft plans for a modern memorial complex. The issue is that Zamkova Hora is hardly maintained at all,” Malenkov said. “We’ve reached out to Zelenbud [Kyiv’s public utility company responsible for greenery] just to have the grass mowed. The next step is installing educational signage and updating the cross so people understand whom they are honoring.”

A public cleanup of the site is scheduled for August 2, with organizers encouraging residents and volunteers to participate.

Historians involved in the project believe that Ukraine’s current war will only come full circle when the country’s earliest heroes are properly recognized.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news