PHOTO: a large Orthodox cross marks the spot, where the remains of Nicholas II, Empress Alexandrovna, three of their five children and four faithful retainers were discovered in May 1979, and exhumed in 1991. The remains of Alexei and Maria were discovered in 2007, in a separate unmarked grave, situated about 60-70 meters from the main grave

Activists of the Romanov Memorial Foundation have sounded the alarm, that the territory near Porosenkov Log, is again under threat . . . yet again! Heavy machinery has been moved into the area, and trees are being felled near the Romanov Memorial, to make way for a new cemetery.

Ilya Korovin, the head of the Romanov Memorial Foundation fears that the development of the cemetery will affect the area near the memorial, where the remains of the Imperial Family and their four faithful retainers were discovered in two separate graves in 1979 (exhumed in 1991) and 2007 respectively.

According to the press service of the Foundation, in May 2026, representatives of the Ural Forest Group visited the Romanov Memorial. By order of the City Cemetery Service (MKU), clear cutting of the forest was approved on land near the memorial for the expansion of the city cemetery.

PHOTO: Trees are currently being felled near
the Romanov Memorial at Porosenkov Log

Korovin believes that the expansion of the cemetery threatens the existence of the Romanov graves in their original form. Activists of the Foundation are more concerned about the fact that, according to official documents, 70 hectares of land adjacent to Porosenkov Log have already been transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church – who have yet to recognize the Ekaterinburg Remains as those of the Imperial Family. This suggests that the ROC have plans to construct a large cathedral or another monastery, similar to that at Ganina Yama.

The Foundation has expressed concerns that construction work will irreversibly change the appearance of a cultural heritage site. The legal department of the Foundation regularly sends complaints to supervisory authorities and courts, demanding that they prohibit changing the boundaries of protected lands and stop any construction.

To date, the Romanov Memorial, aka Porosenkov Log, remains the only authentic place associated with the final days of the Imperial Family in Ekaterinburg. Recall that the Ipatiev House, where the Tsar and his family were murdered, along with their four faithful retainers was demolished in 1977.

PHOTO: Paul Gilbert standing at the entrance to the Romanov Memorial in July 2018

“Over the years, we fought for the Romanov Memorial, and we maintained the grounds and the graves, and we will not abandon our cause, we will not give up! The Romanov Memorial should become a historical and cultural reserve in the interests of the whole country, it should be a collegial body on a completely different, new level. Under no circumstances, should the Memorial be monopolized by an institution, such as the Russian Orthodox Church, who will pour concrete here, build up there, dig here, cut down trees there. The Romanov Memorial must be preserved in its natural state, something which the Russian Orthodox Church has never been able to achieve at other sites connected with the last Tsar and his family, which have been transferred to them, and not only in Ekaterinburg,” said Ilya Korovin.

“Over the years, two sites have been created near Ekaterinburg: one, a religious site – the Monastery of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers at Ganina Yama; the second, a historical site situated 5 kilometers away – the Romanov Memorial at Porosenkov Log.

Activists of the Romanov Memorial Foundation advocate that both the faithful and other visitors should be free to visit both Porosenkov Log and Ganina Yama, to pray, to pay their respects, and to reflect, without interfering with each other.

Social activists hope to expand the protected zone of Porosenkov Log and create a historical and cultural reserve. They are sure that this is the only way to preserve the graves of the Holy Royal Passion-Beaers.

*The Romanov Memorial Foundation

NOTE: the Romanov Memorial Foundation is a Russian-language site. If you do not read Russian, do not allow that to deter you from perusing the many interesting articles and photos on this very important news forum. Use your Google Translate to provide you with your respective language – PG

© Paul Gilbert. 3 July 2026