The President is urged

The official portal of e -petitions has published an initiative that proposes to consolidate at the level of laws, decree and government acts the only state standard of honoring every fallen defender – the National Ritual of Honor. Petition №22/253354-EP was registered on September 25, 2025, the author-the chairman of NGO “Last Bastion” Gennady Sikalov. The initiative calls for a clear mechanism instead of impersonation of losses, which will be guaranteed to provide attention and respect for society, gratitude and specific concern for the families of the dead.

The document provides for the participation of the state leadership in farewell ceremonies. The first persons, the President, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and the Prime Minister have to “set the tone” of the performance of the ritual, as the leaders of Western countries do; The presence or personal attention (including through authorized representatives or appeals) is especially appropriate when farewell to several military or a prominent hero. Public coverage of such ceremonies, with the consent of families, should become a controlling factor and a sign of solidarity of the state with society.

The petition proposes to give the ritual the status of a compulsory standard for all authorities and local self -government – with a clear coordination between agencies, guaranteed financing and personal responsibility of officials for observance. It is not about formality, but about the “ethical standard of the state”: on how the country spends the last way of its defenders, depends on the trust in the institutions and the motivation of those who now defend Ukraine.

The proposed elements of the ritual cover the entire path: from “road home” to the place of burial to further honoring memory. Among the key: guardian, military orchestra or trumpeter, covering the coffin by the state flag, official formula for farewell on behalf of the state, allowing flags on the day of burial, as well as the duty of local self -government bodies and the National Police to ensure safety and solemn support.

A separate block is dedicated to the support of the families of the dead. It is assumed that a personal curator -the only point of contact on the principle of “single window” should be fixed for each family: from the organization of ceremony and logistics to payments, certificates and psychological assistance. Families are guaranteed the right to privacy, and in public statements of the state the names, titles, units of heroes instead of impersonal formulations should sound. Respect for the family, according to the authors, should become a “public axiom” and part of public policy.

The authors substantiate the need for a ritual already existing but “scattered” decisions: a military funeral in the statute of the garrison and guard service, the concept of commemoration of the dead in the MOU system and a daily national moment of silence introduced by Decree No. 143/2022. The proposed standard should combine these norms into a single frame with inevitable responsibility for non -compliance, so that “indifference” and “different reading” do not replace honor.

The petition emphasizes that the culture of memory of fallen defenders should become an integral part of national identity, as is in the developed countries of the world.

“When every citizen see that the state gives the highest honorable to its heroes, trust in state institutions and a sense of community before challenges will be strengthened. The ritual of respect will cultivate patriotism and willingness to sacrifice – because examples of courage and heroism will receive proper respect.”

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