A Revolt is Brewing Among the Staff of the "Sophia Kyivska" Reserve Following the Dismissal of Their Director by the Ministry of Culture

A serious conflict has arisen at the National Reserve «Sophia Kyivska» after the removal of its General Director, Nelya Kukovalska. The institution’s staff, numbering over 230 employees — historians, architects, archaeologists, and other specialists — have appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanding protection of the museum complex and support for their director. This was reported by the Ukrainian online publication Censor.NET.

According to the employees, since December 2024, the reserve has undergone numerous inspections initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine (MCSC). Although the first inspection by the State Audit Service found no violations, further inspections have continued, and during the latest one, Nelya Kukovalska was suspended from her duties while she was on sick leave.

The staff emphasize that they do not oppose inspections and consider them an important part of their work. However, the constant and varied inspections, along with pressure from the Ministry of Culture, have destabilized the institution’s operations and distracted employees from their primary task — preserving the unique cultural heritage amid wartime conditions.

The employees note that more than three thousand pages of documents were submitted for the latest inspection alone, the preparation of which took significant time and resources.

The staff is appealing to the president to support their position and to renew Kukovalska’s contract.

It is also worth recalling that former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Integration, Olena Zerkal, stated that the Ukrainian church issue will be one of the elements in peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The diplomat stressed that Ukraine is willing to concede territory but not on fundamental issues such as the army, language, and faith.