"Attempt #2": the old/new head of the reserve announced plans to "fight the Russian world" in the Kyiv Cave Monastery

Maksym Ostapenko, who previously headed the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve from 2023 to 2025 and was reappointed to this position the day before, said he plans to actively fight the influence of the «Russian world» in the Lavra, emphasizing his commitment to preserving the Ukrainian identity of the shrine. It is noteworthy that when Ostapenko was dismissed from his post last time, he was accused of «fighting the Moscow spirit in the Lavra too weakly.»

Maksym Ostapenko, who ran the reserve from 2023 to 2025, emphasized the importance of «spiritual confrontation» in the fight against the influence that, according to him, has been «destroying everything Ukrainian in the Lavra for centuries.» He stated: «Together we must do everything to win the spiritual confrontation with the ‘Russian world’ that has been destroying everything Ukrainian in the Lavra for centuries.»

The official also noted that during his previous leadership, in cooperation with the OCU, he «launched processes that return the Lavra to its voice and openness.» Ostapenko expressed his belief that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra should become «a space of deep spirituality, dignity and historical memory.»

Earlier, the head of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi explained the reason for the dismissal of the director general of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, Maksym Ostapenko. According to Tochytsky, Ostapenko «did not fight the Moscow spirit in the Lavra.»