Authorities explained why they will not demolish Stolypin's grave in the Lavra
The director of the reserve stated that the burial place of Russian Empire Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin will remain on the monastery grounds until the end of the war.
During a press conference in Kyiv, the head of the reserve, Maksym Ostapenko, commented on the status of Pyotr Stolypin's grave, located near the walls of the Refectory Church. According to Ostapenko, the issue of relocating the remains or removing the memorial was actively discussed back in 2023, but at that time relatives of the late prime minister living in the West intervened in the situation.
“It seems that Stolypin's great-grandson, who holds a pro-Ukrainian position, appealed to the President of Ukraine and presented his arguments with a request not to touch Stolypin after all,” the official said. He clarified that the descendant considers his ancestor to be “a reformer who tried to change the Russian Empire.”
At the moment, as Ostapenko noted, the authorities are adhering to an “unspoken position” — to keep the burial untouched until the end of hostilities. “Let's not touch him until the end of the war, because there is a request from people who support Ukraine and European values and are Stolypin's relatives,” the reserve's director general concluded.
During the same press conference, the reserve's management announced a large-scale restoration of the Dormition Cathedral, during which they plan to remove all “Russian narratives” from the church interior, since the cathedral's existing paintings contain narratives that ideologically influence Ukrainians.
As SPZh reported, after his appointment, Ostapenko promised to fight the “Russian world” in the Lavra.
