The National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity and the Ukrainian Association of Developers signed an agreement to carry out design work for a memorial stele on the Alley of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred

The Ukrainian Association of Developers is joining the effort as a partner of the Maidan Museum and will cover the costs of the design work necessary for the further implementation of this phase of the memorial space.

This phase is intended to be part of the creation of a memorial space dedicated to honoring the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.

The memorial stele will take the form of a semicircular arrangement of individual vertical columns bearing the names of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.

The memorial space is planned to be a modern, accessible, and dignified place of remembrance, suitable for hosting state ceremonies, commemorative events, educational programs, and public gatherings. It is intended to serve as an open space for remembrance and dialogue, and will bring society together around the values of freedom, human dignity, and democracy.

The document was signed by Ihor Poshyvailo, Director General of the Maidan Museum, and Yevhen Favorov, Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Developers.

“Honoring the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred is a shared social responsibility. That is why it is extremely important that various sectors—the government, the public, professional communities, and philanthropists—come together around such projects. We are grateful for the support of the project work, as it is precisely this work that paves the way for the creation of the memorial space. As long as the war continues, the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred takes on even deeper meaning. It was the Maidan activists who lost their lives who were the first to defend Ukraine’s European choice, freedom, and independence. Today, Ukrainian soldiers continue to defend these values, and our task is to create a dignified place that will affirm the continuity of this struggle,” says Ihor Poshyvailo, CEO of the National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity. 

The project is being carried out under the leadership of the Maidan Museum, with respect for the families of the heroes, the creators of the architectural concept, and the historical significance of this site. 

The signing of the agreements was preceded by an official request from the Maidan Museum to the Ukrainian Association of Developers asking for charitable support for the design and construction of the facility. 

“We responded to the appeal from the National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity because we understand the significance of this project for the city and the country. For us, this is a matter of responsibility. After all, it is the developers’ task to develop the city, make it a comfortable place to live, and foster a respectful attitude toward the city, its history, its memory, and its people. The heroes of the Heavenly Hundred gave their lives for Ukraine’s freedom and dignity. I believe it is right for responsible businesses to contribute to preserving this memory. This agreement is an important step forward; the next stages are the start of funding and design,” said Yevhen Favorov, chairman of the Ukrainian Association of Developers.

Natalia Degdalovich, chairwoman of the nonprofit organization “Families of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred,” emphasized the importance of honoring the memory of the heroes:

“For the families of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, the creation of a memorial stele is a testament to the fact that the heroic deeds of their loved ones—sons and daughters, husbands, parents, brothers, and sisters—have not been forgotten. It is a testament to the fact that the state and society continue to honor the memory of those who changed the course of Ukraine’s history and stood up for freedom and dignity. That is precisely why supporting the creation of this memorial stele is not merely a contribution to urban beautification or the development of public spaces. It is a gesture of respect toward the families of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and a reaffirmation that preserving the memory of their loved ones is a shared responsibility of Ukrainian society. After all, a nation lives on as long as it remembers its heroes.”

The project to create the Heavenly Hundred Heroes Memorial Complex has been under discussion for many years. In 2017, an architectural competition was announced to select the best design proposal for the site. The winner in the “Memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred” category was the design submitted by the architectural firm MIstudio. Its full implementation is currently impossible due to the seizure of the land plot, as investigations and court rulings in the Maidan cases remain pending.    

After a lengthy process of public discussions, approvals, and the search for optimal solutions, the project is finally moving into the practical implementation of its individual components. The signing of agreements between the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity and the UAD will accelerate the creation of a fitting memorial space.

We will provide further updates on the project separately once the project and technical phases are complete. Additional information will be published on the Museum’s and the UAD’s websites.

‍

Context: How the Memorial Project Developed

The idea of creating the National Memorial Complex to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred—the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity—has a long history. However, its construction was initially halted by the investigation into the events on the Maidan and the seizure of the site, and later by the full-scale war.

Back in 2017, the government launched the process of selecting an architectural design for the future complex. To this end, an international open architectural competition was held, organized in collaboration with a professional firm from Germany—[phase eins].

The competition featured two categories: “Memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred” and “Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.” The winner in the “Memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred” category was a project by the architectural firm MIstudio, designed by Iryna Volynets and Maria Protsyk. The results of the competition were approved by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

In 2018, the Museum was designated as the client for the design and construction of the Memorial Complex. That same year, practical preparations for the construction of the Memorial began: a general contractor was selected, key construction materials were purchased, and the opening was scheduled for August 2019.

Further work on part of the site was suspended due to the need to preserve the site of the Revolution of Dignity for investigative proceedings related to the Maidan cases. That is why the implementation of the full project could not proceed according to the initial schedule for a long time.

The Museum is currently working to gradually move forward with the creation of a memorial space. The signing of an agreement with the Ukrainian Association of Developers is one of the practical steps that will help move on to the design phase of a specific component—the memorial stele on the Alley of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.

‍

For Reference

The National Memorial Complex of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred—the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity (or the Maidan Museum)—is a state institution dedicated to preserving the memory of the events of the Revolution of Dignity, the Orange Revolution, and the Revolution on Granite, as well as to fostering a culture of remembrance and civil society in Ukraine.