The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has instructed to conduct the reburial of the remains of Andrii Melnyk, Colonel of the Army of the Ukrainian People's Republic and leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in 1938–1964, as well as his wife Sofia Fedak-Melnyk. This is stated in Government decree No. 460 of May 15.

Procedure for returning the remains to Ukraine

According to the document, the relevant Ukrainian authorities must obtain official permission to conduct the exhumation of the remains of Andriy Melnyk and Sofiya Fedak-Melnyk from the authorized bodies of Luxembourg. After the necessary documentation is completed, the remains of the spouses will be transported to the territory of Ukraine.

They are buried at the Bonnevoie city cemetery in Luxembourg. This step is part of a broader initiative, as the Office of the President previously reported work on the Pantheon of Outstanding Ukrainians project. This concept involves returning to Ukraine and reburying prominent political, military, and cultural figures whose graves are currently located abroad.

Historical background

Andriy Melnyk was a prominent Ukrainian military and political figure, a colonel of the UNR Army and the long-time leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. He belonged to the inner circle of Yevhen Konovalets's associates, took a direct part in organizing the Sich Riflemen formation in Kyiv, and was also one of the founders of the Ukrainian Military Organization.

Sofiia Fedak-Melnyk became the wife of Andriy Melnyk in 1929. This happened after the figure was released from Polish imprisonment. Throughout all four years that Andriy Melnyk was in prison, Sofiia Fedak regularly visited her future husband in the place of confinement.