Struggle for Memory: The construction of a national military cemetery is underway, with burials set to begin soon.

Since 2022, Ukraine has been planning a national military memorial cemetery that will serve as a symbol of honoring heroes. What challenges have arisen in the creation of this site, and what will the memorial complex look like? – in the article by RBC-Ukraine.

How the location for the military cemetery was chosen

The establishment of a memorial complex where the defenders of Ukraine could find peace was discussed even before the full-scale war. The first steps towards creating a significant memorial site for Ukraine's defenders were taken in 2021 when the Verkhovna Rada voted for bill 4225, and in May 2022, the Rada adopted a law to create the National Military Memorial Cemetery.

They aimed to place it in the Lysa Hora area of the Holosiivskyi district in the capital. This sparked a wave of protests, particularly from environmental organizations. It was argued that the area has protected status, and the law prohibits construction or other actions that may harm it. The decision was made to abandon the construction on Lysa Hora and instead select Bykivnia near Kyiv for the complex.

"When Bykivnia was chosen, many involved in the project breathed a sigh of relief," – said an RBC-Ukraine source familiar with the events.

However, plans for Bykivnia were also not realized. Nearby are the "Bykivnia Graves," where victims of Stalinist repressions are buried. There were concerns that new burials might be discovered during construction, which would halt work for an extended period to conduct research and exhumations. After taking sanitary and buffer zones into account, the area available for burials would be reduced to 50 hectares, which is insufficient for the scale of the planned memorial.

Following the halt of the project in Bykivnia, many families of fallen heroes expressed outrage, primarily criticizing the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, although many institutions were involved in the decision regarding the construction site. After the process was paused in Bykivnia, there was a communication hiatus, as no one could say where the new location would be.

Subsequently, it was decided to move the construction to the village of Hatne near Kyiv: in 2024, the government selected a forest near the village of Marhalivka in Kyiv Oblast as the site for the NMMC.

Why construction was blocked in Marhalivka

The decision to establish the burial site in the forest in the Hattian OTG area caused outrage due to the planned logging of part of the forest. Some even joined in blocking the construction. It later became clear that some of the protesters were not local residents.

From the very first days of work at the site in Marhalivka, there were regular physical obstructions for the contractor in carrying out the work, as reported by RBC-Ukraine from the state institution "NMMC."

"Unknown outsiders, who expressed their opposition to the construction of the country's main military cemetery, blocked access roads, equipment, attempted to break the temporary construction fence, and prevented contractor workers from entering, hindering the delivery of materials to the construction site. Consequently, police had to be called multiple times," – they added in the state institution.

A significant number of such actions were documented on video and photo. After police intervention, access for workers and equipment was restored on November 1, 2024. However, due to the protests, the optimal time for construction before the onset of seasonal precipitation was lost, according to "NMMC." The first burials of fallen soldiers, planned for the second half of 2024, were postponed.

Some residents of the village support the establishment of the Military Memorial but request that it not be located right next to their settlement. "We have said this many times. Couldn't a site be chosen where trees wouldn't need to be cut down? Surely there were alternatives? I just don't understand this. It's clear that such a cemetery is needed. But why here?" – one of the protesters against the construction told RBC-Ukraine.

It is unacceptable to place any interests above national memory, commented Alena Skuybida, co-founder of the "Marine Corps Power" association and wife of a captive marine from the 501st OBMP, who defended Mariupol, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

"Some seem to have forgotten why all this is happening. Why there is a war in the country and why it's important to create this cemetery. Many soldiers have lost their homes, and their relatives have too. They simply have nowhere to go, no place to bury their loved ones. And such a place serves as a symbol of heroic spirit for all the warriors who will also gather there to be among their comrades and pay their respects," – she said.

Critics have pointed out that the Marhalivka forest area has a high groundwater level, which supposedly makes it unsuitable for burials. The contracting organization faced certain technical challenges related to drainage, acknowledge NMMC representatives. Technical experts have agreed on several solutions to improve the installation of the drainage system and stormwater networks.

"Earlier, we informed that such works were beginning on the NMMC site, including soil excavation, the installation of inspection wells, and the laying of pipes at depths of up to 4 meters. Furthermore, to preempt any potential manipulations, even before these works began, the GOU "NMMC" warned about the high likelihood of temporary water standing in areas of soil excavation and clarified that this situation is entirely normal for this technological process," – they explained in a comment to the publication.

The state institution assures that the drainage system and the stormwater network of the first phase of construction are fully operational. It is already visible that the artificial reservoir on the cemetery grounds is gradually filling with water, draining it from the construction site.

"Monitoring shows that the system is functioning effectively, and water is gradually receding from those areas that are not yet fully prepared," – the respondents added.

Tender for construction

Another complaint concerned the company that began receiving funds for construction. The consortium "Building UA" was formed on July 4, 2024 – the day after the tender for construction was announced. It became the sole participant in the tender and received an advance of 122.1 million UAH.

One of the founding companies of the consortium was linked to an investment fund owned until August 2024 by the daughter of sanctioned businessman Vadim Yermolaev. In September, the SBU confirmed that Yermolaev himself had connections with the builders of the NMMC.

One source familiar with the tender announcement process explained to RBC-Ukraine that regarding the claims that a "one-day firm" was allegedly created – the consolidation of companies is an acceptable practice when it comes to large-scale projects. This is intended to simplify operations and make the process comprehensive. Sometimes this is done when there is a need to conduct one large tender to bring all contractors together.

"I think, overall, there isn't a strong betrayal there," – he said.

Has the issue regarding the tender been resolved? In "NMMC," they say that there are no questions from law enforcement agencies regarding them as the construction customer. They are also unaware of any remarks regarding this issue directed at the consortium, its members, or founders.

"Accordingly, there are grounds to consider the raised issue irrelevant," – they concluded in the state institution.

When will the first burials begin

"Many guys and girls are dying, many of their families are forced displaced persons. They cannot bury their loved ones at home. They keep the ashes with them, living with it. There are many bodies in refrigerators. This issue needs to be addressed," – said former acting Minister for Veterans Affairs Oleksandr Porkhun in an interview with RBC-Ukraine in the fall of 2024.

This year, the national military memorial cemetery is expected to be opened for the burial of fallen defenders, which is a priority task for 2025, according to "NMMC."

"The first burials and reburials will take place immediately after the completion of construction work, commissioning of the first launch complex of the first phase of NMMC, and receipt of the acceptance certificate for the completed construction object," – they reported in the GOU press service.

In 2025, they also plan to complete the entire first phase of construction and begin the second phase. The first phase is divided into two launch complexes.

The first consists of burial sectors, columbarium walls, an open parking lot, access roads, an artificial reservoir, a local treatment facility, and waste collection areas. The second includes burial sectors, an administrative building, a memorial, a mourning house, public transport stops, a ritual attributes shop, a hangar, a central square, a parking lot, and engineering networks.

As part of the second phase, they plan to arrange burial sectors and construct a crematorium, columbarium walls, monuments, parking lots, as well as a memorial building and engineering networks.