Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, emphasised the right of Ukrainians to determine their own historical path and to choose their national heroes. This right, he said, is being defended today on the front line by Ukrainian soldiers.
- Budanov emphasised the right of Ukrainians to choose their own heroes.
- The war has acted as a catalyst for mental independence from the Russian Federation.
- Ukraine has finally shaken off the influence of Russian ideology.
- Ukraine’s true heroes shape the nation’s collective memory.
- Decolonisation and derussification are continuing in Ukraine.
Defining identity
Kirill Budanov He emphasised that the Ukrainian people’s right to self-determination is the foundation of sovereignty. «No one will ever again dictate to Ukrainians which heroes they should honour,» he said. This right, he said, is being defended today on the front line, where the blood of Ukrainian defenders is being shed.
The Struggle for True Memory
Budanov’s statement came against the backdrop of large-scale processes of decolonisation and derussification in Ukraine. For decades, Russia has sought to impose distorted historical narratives on Ukrainians, using the shared Soviet past as a tool of influence. Today, however, a return to Ukraine’s own roots is becoming part of a nationwide resistance movement. «The right to self-determination is not merely a political slogan, but a freedom won at an immense cost,» Budanov emphasised.
Breaking away from Russian influence
Budanov noted that Ukraine has finally shaken off its status as a target of foreign ideological influence. The Kremlin’s attempts to rewrite Ukrainian identity have failed. Every decision regarding the commemoration of significant dates or the study of history has been paid for with the lives of Ukrainian servicemen on the front line.
The formation of new values
Modern Ukraine recognises who its true defenders are and is independently building a system of national values for future generations. Experts point out that Budanov’s words reflect profound changes in Ukrainian society. The war has fostered a desire for complete mental independence from Moscow, and Ukrainian history must be written in Kyiv, not in the Kremlin.
The Office of the President’s position
The Office of the President of Ukraine continues to stand firm on the ideological and conceptual fronts. This demonstrates to the international community that victory in this war is also a victory for Ukrainian identity, freedom of choice and historical truth.
