Preparations Underway for Branches of the National Military Memorial Cemetery
Starting in 2027, project planning will commence for five new branches of the National Military Memorial Cemetery (NMMC). Proposals have been submitted from eight regions — Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv — identifying potential land sites for these expansions. Funding for the design phase is secured within the 2027 budget, with construction to follow once all design and cost documentation is finalized. These branches will be state-managed, adhering to uniform burial standards and grave maintenance protocols.
On March 15, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine officially confirmed the location for the main NMMC site. However, the planned construction has sparked protests among local communities concerned about potential contamination of surface water sources. Environmental groups have also raised alarms, pointing out that the cemetery is intended to be built in an area with a high groundwater level, raising ecological risks.
Back in November 2022, a petition opposing the memorial’s placement on Lysa Hora was submitted to the Kyiv City Council but was ultimately rejected.
Initial Burials and Project Progress
The first interments of unidentified soldiers took place on August 29, 2025, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attending the solemn event. By 2025, construction of the first phase’s initial complex was completed, providing 6,000 burial spaces out of the planned total of 120,000 to 130,000. The site includes two columbaria, a parking area, installed utilities, a road interchange, and access roads.
Construction of the NMMC began in 2024 after extended public protests and appeals. The 2027 budget allocates 1 billion hryvnias to finalize the first and second phases of the cemetery.
“Minister Vitaliy Kim shared these updates during a presentation on the Ministry of Veterans Affairs’ priorities.”
The ongoing development of the National Military Memorial Cemetery represents a significant effort to honor those who sacrificed their lives for Ukraine’s independence. Nonetheless, the project faces ecological and social challenges that demand careful consideration of public opinion and expert advice. The upcoming stages of branch construction may have notable environmental impacts regionally, underlining the importance of transparent communication and cooperation between authorities and local communities.