Zelenskyy Honors Fallen Heroes

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine participated in the inaugural burial ceremony for Ukrainian warriors at the newly established National Military Memorial Cemetery in the Kyiv region. The event marks a significant step in honoring the nation’s defenders, with the cemetery designed to provide a dignified resting place for both known and unknown soldiers.

The ceremony, held on August 29, 2025, was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, and Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal and other key figures also paid their respects. The ceremony included a moment of silence to honor the memory of the fallen warriors.

The National Military Memorial Cemetery features sections for honorary burials and columbaria, alongside infrastructure to accommodate visitors. A distinctive aspect of the cemetery is its standardized burials, with temporary Cossack-inspired crosses marking graves initially, to be replaced by permanent gravestones chosen by the families of the fallen after one year.

President Zelenskyy, who arrived at the ceremony using the cemetery’s shuttle service, acknowledged the cemetery’s role in preserving the memory of Ukraine’s heroes. The cemetery also includes a Linden Alley, a symbolic road of memory, and a dedicated area for the burial of unidentified warriors. The event saw the burial of five unknown defenders, with plans for further ceremonies to continue.