Cenotaphs for Fallen Defenders to Be Established at the National Military Cemetery

According to Ukrinform, the official page of the state institution "National Military Memorial Cemetery" on the social network Facebook has announced an initiative to establish cenotaphs for the fallen defenders of Ukraine. This project aims to create a memorial space where families, comrades, and sisters can come to pay tribute to their heroes in cases where their burial sites are absent or unknown.

It is important to note that the location for the cenotaph, as well as the construction of the memorial itself and its installation on the territory of the National Military Cemetery, will be provided free of charge. This decision is the result of state efforts aimed at supporting the families of fallen defenders and preserving the memory of their heroism.

The initiative to establish a cenotaph can be initiated by the closest relatives of the deceased, including spouses, parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, or other individuals entitled to do so. To proceed, they must contact the state institution "National Military Memorial Cemetery" with a request and necessary documents, indicating that a cenotaph for the fallen defender has not been established in other cemeteries.

If the application is submitted electronically, the applicant must provide scanned copies of the documents. The application, whether in paper or electronic form, must include certain documents that confirm the status of the fallen defender.

Documents submitted to the institution will be reviewed within 10 working days after receiving a response from the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding the absence of any unserved criminal sentences. In the event of a denial, a reasoned explanation will be provided, and a resubmission to the "NVMK" institution is allowed after the reasons for the denial have been addressed.

To conclude a contract for the installation of a cenotaph, the applicant, who is a family member or close person of the deceased, should approach the state institution "NVMK" with the appropriate request and a package of documents confirming the status of the fallen defender. Among these documents must be originals that confirm their status, as well as a court decision declaring them deceased. After verifying the documents and obtaining a positive decision, an official contract is concluded between the state institution and the applicant.

This contract will serve as the basis for the free manufacture and installation of the cenotaph by the state institution at the expense of budgetary funds. It also guarantees the right to further burial of the hero's remains at the same location if they are discovered.

The "NVMK" institution noted that if the body of the defender is found and returned, there are two possible options: burial of the coffin with the hero's body at the site where the cenotaph is installed, or placement of the urn containing the hero's ashes in an appropriate columbarium niche.

In the event of the annulment of the court decision declaring the person deceased or the burial of the body in another location, the cenotaph is subject to dismantling. This is an important aspect, as it emphasizes that the memory of the hero must remain true and reflect the actual state of affairs.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Natalia Kalmykova, stated that by the end of the year, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs plans to identify five pilot sites for the establishment of branches of the National Military Memorial Cemetery and approve the corresponding project and budget documentation. This indicates active steps by the state towards honoring the memory of fallen defenders and supporting their families.

Join our channels on Telegram, Instagram, and YouTube to stay updated on the latest news and events.