Visit to Kuyalnik Cemetery: Preserving Ukrainian Heritage
On June 19, during a working trip to Odessa, the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Mykola Tociytskyi, visited the Kuyalnik Cemetery, the largest surviving Cossack cemetery in Ukraine, located on the Hadyzhynska road.
This site stands as a testament to the resilience of the Ukrainian spirit. After the destruction of the Zaporizhian Sich, Cossacks settled here, refusing to comply with imperial orders and not moving to Kuban. Known as "nerubai", they chose to remain on their native soil. The oldest preserved grave dates back to 1791.
Approximately 200 authentic stone crosses can still be found on the cemetery grounds, carved from local shell rock. They bear inscriptions in Church Slavonic and Ukrainian, names of Zaporizhian colonels, osavuls, Cossack surnames, and symbols that hold historical and artistic value.
"Each cross here is not merely a sign of mourning. It is a stone testament to the strength of the Ukrainian spirit, loyalty, and resistance. It is the duty of the state to protect these monuments and ensure that the memory of our ancestors is preserved for future generations," stated the Minister.
This cultural heritage site has been designated as a monument of local historical significance. Currently, it is the only cemetery in the Odessa region listed in the register and officially recognized for protection. The Minister emphasized the importance of systematic safeguarding of such sites, including the installation of protective signs, continuing research, and involving local communities in heritage preservation.
Overall, the Odessa region preserves several Cossack cemeteries, including:
- The Great Usatov Cemetery in Usatove village, the burial site of Zaporizhian and Black Sea Cossacks, featuring unique crosses;
- The Cossack cemetery in Hlyboke village of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district, a historic burial site of Budjak Cossacks on the edge of the Sasyk estuary, currently rapidly eroding due to lack of protection;
- Also known are Cossack burials in Nerubayske, Kyslytsia, Sychavka, Yegorivka, Kozache, and other villages.
It should be noted that Mykola Tociytskyi also held a meeting with cultural institution leaders in Odessa.
