Ministry of Culture Criticizes Lavra Management for Neglected Monuments and Inefficient Budget Use

During a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy on June 4, 2025, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Serhiy Bilyaiev criticized the findings of a ministry commission that had been working on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve since March. This was reported by the Ukrainian online outlet Ukrainska Pravda.

According to Bilyaiev, the commission identified a number of violations and shortcomings in the administration’s operations. Specifically, former director general Maksym Ostapenko failed to ensure the full scope of necessary work to preserve the site’s historical and architectural heritage.

The report notes that 21 cultural heritage sites are in unsatisfactory technical condition. Among them is the Trinity Church, where recent restoration work was reportedly carried out with violations. Other concerns include a leaking roof at the Florian Library, air conditioners installed on historical facades, lack of technical documentation (BTI passports), and misallocation of budget funds.

Bilyaiev cited financial data for 2024: of the reserve’s total budget of 248 million UAH, 184 million were spent on salaries, while only 17 million were allocated for restoration and preservation efforts.

Earlier, it was reported that former director Maksym Ostapenko explained why he was unable to evict the monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery. He stated that such actions are not provided for under the law, a position he had repeatedly communicated to the Ministry of Culture — but which, he claimed, was ignored.