The Ministry of Culture Extended the Inspection of the Director General of the National Reserve “Sophia of Kyiv”

According to Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Serhiy Belyaev, the Ministry has extended the work of the commission investigating certain activities of the Director General of the National Reserve “Sophia of Kyiv” until June 22, 2025. This was reported by Detector Media.

The commission was established by an MCSC order dated February 20, 2025, to examine the condition of protection and use of cultural heritage monuments on the reserve’s territory. The inspection is carried out in accordance with established procedures without pressure on staff.

By an order dated April 24, 2025, the Director General, Nelya Kukovalska, was temporarily suspended from her duties. The commission is reviewing the efficiency of property use, financial resources, compliance with the charter, and contract requirements for the period from January 1, 2021, to April 24, 2025.

The decision to initiate the inspection followed the discovery of a private event held on the reserve’s territory with loud music and alcohol consumption, which did not comply with the statutory objectives. The event took place on April 18, 2025 — Good Friday and the International Day for Monuments and Sites.

At the same time, the ministry reported that as of May 29, Nelya Kukovalska continued to perform the duties of the Director General.

Recall that on April 18, 2025, Good Friday — a day of special fasting and mourning for Christians — a wedding celebration was held on the territory of the National Reserve “Sophia of Kyiv.” According to Oleksiy Zhukov, Head of the Department of Control and Supervision of Compliance with Cultural Heritage Protection Legislation at the Ministry of Culture, another similar event took place there the next day, Holy Saturday.