Today, 21 July, Olena Zemliana was appointed Director General of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine – a lawyer and specialist in cultural policy and heritage protection with many years of experience in the cultural sphere, including museum work and the publishing sector.

Before taking up this position, Olena Zemliana headed the Legal Support Department of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine for nearly five years. During her time at the Ministry, she facilitated the return of nationally significant heritage sites in Chernihiv, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Kaniv, and Pereiaslav to state ownership.

Olena Zemliana also contributed to the international legal proceedings aimed at returning to Ukraine the collections of Crimean museums known as «Scythian Gold». It should be recalled that specialists from the National Museum of the History of Ukraine were likewise involved in the return of these artefacts, which are now on display in the Treasury of the NMHU.

Olena Zemliana worked on legislation supporting culture, publishing, and the creative industries, as well as on laws concerning the removal from the heritage register of monuments that serve as symbols of Soviet and imperial policy. She is a co-author of draft laws on the National Holodomor-Genocide Museum, on cultural patronage, and on recognising culture and cultural heritage as elements of national security.

In 2017, Olena Zemliana took part in establishing the Ukrainian Book Institute, where she later served as Deputy Director. She co-authored and implemented several important programmes, including the replenishment of public library collections, the Translate Ukraine translation support programme, and the preparation of the 14-volume academic edition of Lesia Ukrainka’s works.

Olena Zemliana’s areas of professional expertise include cultural heritage protection, the preservation of national memory, support for publishing, international cultural cooperation, and the regulatory framework for cultural institutions.

In her new role, she will focus on developing the National Museum of the History of Ukraine as a modern space for open dialogue and cultural self-identification, as well as on strengthening the museum’s research, educational, and international activities.