On 29 September 2025, the ZMINA Human Rights Centre presented a study on the formation of national policy on commemorating the Russian-Ukrainian war — the Green and White Papers on memorialisation — at Ukrinform.
The documents contain key findings and descriptions of gaps in memory policy, the results of national surveys on public and military perceptions of this topic, as well as recommendations on approaches and tools for commemorating those who died and suffered in the war.
The presentation provided a platform for discussing how memory policy can simultaneously ensure justice, security, and shape the future of Ukraine.
Opening the event, Alona Lunova, Advocacy Director at the ZMINA Human Rights Centre, emphasised that memory policy goes far beyond the humanitarian dimension: “We see that the issue of memory is becoming a space not only for historical discussions, but also for topics related to justice. For human rights organisations that document war crimes, this is a key dimension — after all, public memory shapes the response to injustice.”
She also stressed that the lack of a clear memorialisation policy can lead to chaotic decisions and the loss of important elements of shared experience.
Alona Lunova
Roman Romanov, Director of the Human Rights and Justice Programme at the International Renaissance Foundation, emphasised that memory policy should become part of the struggle for justice: “War is the quintessence of injustice. The task is not only to record crimes, but also to develop a common understanding of these events at the societal level. In this sense, memory policy is as important a tool as justice. This is not about competition between accountability and memory policy — these approaches should complement each other. What is preserved in memory and shapes the narrative ultimately becomes society’s response to injustice.
He stressed that the issue of memorialisation should not be put off ‘until later,’ because it is now that the narrative about the war and everyone’s place in it is being formed.
Roman Romanov
Maksym Yeligulashvili, an expert with the Ukraine. Fifth Morning coalition and one of the authors of the Green and White Papers, drew attention to the practices of commemoration in communities. According to him, these often boil down to formal events — the installation of commemorative plaques, the renaming of streets, or annual flower-laying ceremonies. At the same time, society needs lively interaction, which has a therapeutic and unifying effect: “We often see formal approaches — commemorative plaques, renaming streets or laying flowers once a year. But this is not enough. People need lively interaction, which has a therapeutic effect and helps communities unite. Memorialisation is a tool that can influence mental health, support solidarity and alleviate feelings of isolation in those affected.”
He stressed that it is important that memory does not become a mechanical duty, but rather a resource for joint recovery: “It is not just about preserving facts, but about creating an environment in which people feel involved. If memorialisation does not resonate with personal experience, it risks remaining an empty ritual. And we need it to work towards the restoration of communities and to shape responsibility for the future.”
Maksym Yeligulashvili
Yeligulashvili also presented a number of recommendations: strengthening the state’s institutional capacity in the field of memory, developing an archive system, integrating memorialisation practices into social policy, and creating a ‘catalogue of practices’ so that communities can choose effective tools.
Daria Sviridova, a partner at Azones, emphasised the role of lustration as an instrument of memory and security policy, adding that memory policy can serve as a foundation for building a secure and stable future for the state.
She drew attention to society’s demand to protect the state apparatus from individuals associated with the Russian Federation: “Vetting is not an instrument of revenge, but a temporary administrative measure that helps restore trust in state institutions. It is about protecting the reputation of the state apparatus so that individuals who could compromise the system do not end up in key positions.”
Daria Sviridova
Sviridova explained that society already views the practice of lustration as a positive experience for restoring trust, but there is currently no civilised and legally regulated mechanism for its application. According to Daria, the proper implementation of lustration will include individual assessment, the right to defence and judicial appeal, as well as transparent control: ‘If the state creates a civilised mechanism, the politics of memory will become an effective shield and protection for the state apparatus, ensuring both security and a sense of justice for society.’
The full video recording of the event is available on the Ukrinform YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLUHPb9aRwc
The Green Paper can be found here.
The presentation of the study was organised by the ZMINA Human Rights Centre with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The discussion reflects the views of the participants in the event and not necessarily those of the foundation.
Source: ZMINA
