The phenomenology of Ukrainian heroes: the dead, the alive, and the unborn

Artem Bohutskyi

postgraduate student at the Department of Cultural Studies, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv
ORCID ID 0009-0002-8983-4759

DOI:

Keywords: identity, socio-cultural practices, war, commemorative practices, cultural dimension, interdisciplinarity, cultural problems, cultural sphere, historical memory, sacredness.

Abstract.

This article examines the Ukrainian commemorative space, in particular, it analyzes commemorative practices aimed at glorifying individuals who played a key role in the development of the Ukrainian state. With the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the Ukrainian commemorative space underwent significant changes. In the context of the existential war, there was a need to reassess the historical past and those commemorative practices that were imposed on the Ukrainian socio-cultural space in the imperial-Soviet period. The pantheon of Ukrainian heroes underwent key changes: the war became a powerful catalyst for the revaluation of heroic deeds and heroes. Today, along with the heroic historical figures of the past, new heroes have appeared who fight to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national identity of the country. The very form of heroic deeds and the concept of a hero have also undergone significant changes. The contemporary struggle of the Ukrainian nation and changes in the commemorative environment confirm the need to properly honor not only the fallen heroes, but also the living.

Author‘s biography.

Artem Bohutskyi

postgraduate student at the Department of Cultural Studies, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv

arten.bogut@gmail.com

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PDF (in Ukrainian)

The article was received by the editorial office on 27.05.2026.
The article was accepted for publication after review on 10.06.2026.
The article was published on 30.06.2026.

Vol 29 No 1 (2026)

Section: UKRAINIAN CULTURE