First burials started at the National Memorial Cemetery near Kiev (photo)

The first ceremony of burying unknown soldiers with military honours took place on the territory of the memorial. A separate sector has been allocated for them, where the defenders and defenders whose names have not yet been established will be buried, RBC-Ukraine reported.

The opening was attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, Veterans Affairs Minister Natalia Kalmykova and other officials.

The idea of creating a national memorial has been discussed for a long time, but real steps began in 2021, when the Verkhovna Rada approved the military ceremony. In 2022 the state institution "National War Memorial Cemetery" appeared, and in 2023 the location was finally determined. In August 2024, construction work began, and by May 2025, the sectors for burials (up to 6 thousand places out of the planned 120 thousand) were already arranged, two columbariums, an access road and engineering networks were built.

Now the construction of the second stage continues: the foundations of the administrative building and the House of Mourning are laid, the economic block, the Central Square with the Memorial Garden, recreation areas and landscaping are being built. This stage is planned to be completed in 2026.

The main feature of the cemetery is a uniform standard of burials. At first, a temporary tombstone in the style of the Cossack cross of the XV-XVI centuries is installed, and after a year it is replaced by a permanent one - a cross or a plaque at the choice of the family of the deceased.

The way to the creation of the memorial was accompanied by numerous disputes. Initially it was planned to be built on Lysa Gora, but due to the protected status of the territory the project was cancelled. The next location was Bykivnia, but due to the neighbourhood of mass graves of victims of Stalinist repressions, the idea was also not implemented. In the end, a place near the village of Markhalovka was chosen. But even here, the construction faced protests from local residents and activists who opposed deforestation. These delays pushed back the deadline, and the first burials could only take place now.