National Military Cemetery Holds Its Inaugural Burial of Unidentified Ukrainian Soldiers

In the Kyiv region, the first military burial ceremony of unknown soldiers took place at the National Military Memorial Cemetery. The fallen defenders, whose names have not yet been identified, were laid to rest with military honors, according to UNITED24 Media on August 29.

The National Military Memorial Cemetery is designed to become a place of remembrance and an important step in forming a new national culture of commemoration.

The idea of establishing the cemetery was enshrined in law in 2021. In October 2022, the state institution “National Military Memorial Cemetery” was founded, and in August 2023, the final location was chosen.

”It is very important that the burials here are carried out at the state’s expense. This means for every family that the state assumes the responsibility of care for as long as the state of Ukraine exists,” the Minister of Veteran Affairs Natalia Kalmykova stated.

Construction of the first stage began in 2024. As of May 2025, honorary burial sectors for 6,000 places (out of a planned 120,000) have been arranged, two columbaria built, and engineering networks, a parking area, and access roads prepared. Work is ongoing: the Central Square with a Memorial Garden, administrative buildings, the House of Mourning, and other facilities are under construction. The completion of the second stage is scheduled for 2026.

Future stages will include architectural and sculptural competitions for the construction of a museum and exhibition complex, a chapel, the Central Memorial, and other structures.

A distinctive feature of the cemetery is the unification of burials: all graves will have the same appearance and layout. A temporary Cossack-style cross is installed first, later replaced by a permanent headstone — either a cross or a plaque, chosen by the family. This approach symbolizes unity and order characteristic of military tradition.

A linden alley has been planted on the grounds, which will eventually include 100 trees. The built columbaria serve as walls of remembrance for urns with the ashes of service members.

A separate sector has been designated for the burials of unknown defenders. Once identification is completed, their names will be engraved on the headstones.

The Minister added that only combatants are buried at the cemetery and all ceremonies would be held with military honors. She noted that each body, burried today, was sealed with a number that matched the number on the coffin and in the burial register, ensuring that once identification is completed, it will be clear who is buried in each grave.

The National Military Memorial Cemetery is only beginning its work but already plays an important role in creating a unified space of remembrance for all who gave their lives for Ukraine—regardless of the location of their last battle or whether their names are known.

Earlier, Ukraine brought home the bodies of 1,000 soldiers in a large-scale repatriation operation, returning those previously reported missing or killed in the war with Russia.

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