Lviv continues the dismantling of the Soviet-era memorial complex “Hill of Glory” on Pasichna Street. As of June 2, the second entrance column has been demolished, most above-ground elements removed, and the investigation of mass graves is underway. Authorities aim to complete all work by the end of the month.
At a briefing, Pavlo Bohaichyk, head of the Lychakiv Cemetery utility, provided details:
🔹 Over 160 individual graves have been exhumed
🔹 The sandstone slabs from the entrance columns are being preserved
🔹 Decorative metal garlands from the structure and fence will be transferred to the Museum “Territory of Terror”
🔹 The eternal flame installation will also become part of the museum collection
All work is conducted with permits from the Ministry of Culture. Reburials are taking place at the Holoskivske Cemetery. The site contains more than 220 individual graves, four mass graves, and two high-profile burials believed to belong to NKVD agents Mykola Kuznetsov and Stepan Putin, which will be handled last under a separate protocol.
🔹 Executive committee representative Yevhen Boiko stated:
“This is the final stage of removing Soviet military symbols from Lviv. The Hill of Glory was the last remaining cemetery of its kind. The war has accelerated these changes.”
After exhumations, the city will carry out geological testing. Preliminary findings revealed that many burials were just 30–40 cm deep — a violation of sanitary standards. This was likely due to the rocky terrain, which made digging to the proper depth of two meters unfeasible.
🔹 Future of the site:
Once the reburials and geological surveys are complete, the city will consult with residents to determine how the land should be repurposed.
Historical note: Built between 1945 and the early 1950s, the Hill of Glory was a Soviet war memorial where Red Army soldiers, partisans, and NKVD officers were reburied. The grave of agent Mykola Kuznetsov was targeted in attempted exhumations, and his relatives have repeatedly requested the return of his remains to Russia.