The Office of the Military Ombudsman in Ukraine has approached the parliamentary committee responsible for social policy and veterans’ rights, advocating for the removal of a legislative provision that prohibits the burial of fallen defenders at the National Military Memorial Cemetery if they had an unexpunged criminal record for a serious offense at the time of their death.
Military Ombudsman Olha Reshetylova expressed her surprise at the existence of this stipulation within the law governing burial practices, describing it as discriminatory. She stated, “We have reached out to the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada concerning social policy and veterans’ rights to seek the removal of this absurdity from the law. One cannot rank lives dedicated to the defense of the homeland.”
Human rights advocate Anna Skrypka, associated with the organization “Defense of Prisoners of Ukraine,” confirmed the Office’s initiative and noted that it officially supported the organization’s position. The Office has taken responsibility for monitoring the issue and has proposed the exclusion of the relevant clause from Article 15-1 of the law.
The provision in question stipulates that individuals who fall under the specified category cannot be buried at the National Military Memorial Cemetery if they had a criminal conviction for a serious offense that was not removed or annulled at the time of their death. This initiative is linked to the ongoing refinement of legislative bill No. 13693, which addresses burial sites for fallen defenders and was registered on August 25, 2025.
Currently, the National Military Memorial Cemetery is the final resting place for 215 defenders of Ukraine. According to the cemetery’s administration, burials have continued even after a ruling by the Cassation Administrative Court of Ukraine’s Supreme Court on January 29, 2026.
In a related context, the Cassation Administrative Court ruled on January 29, 2026, that the transfer of land in the Marhalivskyi Forest in Kyiv Oblast for the construction of the National Military Memorial Cemetery was illegal. This decision faced criticism from military personnel, representatives of patronage services, veterans, and families of the fallen, who argued that the cemetery already contained the remains of deceased heroes. The court clarified that the law prohibits the use of land designated as a natural reserve for the establishment of the cemetery.
The Military Ombudsman of Ukraine is advocating for changes to a law that currently prevents the burial of fallen defenders with unexpunged serious criminal records at the National Military Memorial Cemetery. This initiative aims to address perceived discrimination against those who served the country.