of the Ministry of Veterans on the court’s decision regarding the military cemetery: The burial places of the fallen are inviolable

NATALIA KALMYKOVA, PHOTO: MINVETERANIV

Minister of Veterans Affairs Nataliya Kalmykova said that the burial places of fallen defenders are inviolable, and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs is developing a legal mechanism to respond to the decision of the Supreme Court regarding the territory of the National Military Memorial Cemetery (NVMK).

Source: Kalmykova’s speech in the Verkhovna Rada on February 3

Details: Kalmykova emphasized that the court decision caused a significant public resonance and indignation of servicemen and the families of the dead.

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Direct speech: “We record a significant public resonance and indignation of servicemen and families of the fallen in connection with the court decision regarding the territory of the National Military Memorial Cemetery, which is perceived as putting environmental restrictions above the right to dignify the fallen defenders.

I emphasize that the burial places of our fallen are inviolable. That is why the Ministry of Veterans Affairs is developing a legal response mechanism, mechanisms for prioritizing commemoration when making decisions about nature protection zones, and also ensures proper protection and constant care for the territory and graves of 214 defenders buried at the National Military Memorial Cemetery.

Details: The minister also reported on the personnel situation in the state institution NVMK. According to her, the full-time staff of the institution is 175 positions, while 52 people actually work, which indicates a significant personnel deficit.

According to her, it is primarily about worker and infrastructural positions necessary for the daily functioning of the cemetery and funerals.

She noted that it is these workers who provide physical presence on the territory, maintenance of the facility and conduct of ritual procedures. Given the functions of the NVMK to ensure the burial of fallen defenders, the organization of honorable funeral ceremonies and the maintenance of memorial facilities, the institution performs continuous tasks of national importance and is therefore determined to be critically important in the conditions of martial law.

Kalmykova emphasized that all personnel decisions, appointments, dismissals, transfers of employees and the formation of reservation lists are the exclusive competence of the management of DU NVMK.

At the same time, she reminded that after information about a possible illegal booking appeared, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs reacted within its powers.

Direct speech: “Therefore, in connection with the public outcry and in order to comply with the principles of transparency and legality, an order of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs was issued to conduct an official investigation against the director of a state institution in accordance with the procedure established by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 950, in order to determine the degree of guilt, the nature and severity of the offense in connection with the possible improper performance of official duties, exceeding one’s powers, as well as non-compliance with the requirements of the legislation during the formation lists of conscripts offered for reservation for the period of mobilization and wartime.

As of today (February 3 – ed), three meetings of the commission have been held, additional documents have been requested. The next meeting is scheduled for February 4, 2026.”

What preceded:

Commander, Unmanned Systems Forces Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, Ground Forces and Air Assault Forces criticized the decision of the Administrative Court of Cassation as part of the Supreme Court dated January 29, which blocks the creation of the National Military Memorial Cemetery.

On February 2, the Supreme Court explainedthat the law prohibits the use of the lands of the nature reserve fund for the creation of the National Military Memorial Cemetery.

We will remind:

• On January 12, People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyakpublished the materialin which he stated that the co-hosts of the YouTube channel “Iceland” Volodymyr Petrov and Serhii Ivanov received bookings from mobilization. According to the deputy, Petrov has been working at the state institution “National Military Memorial Cemetery” since July 31, 2025 and has a corresponding booking from mobilization until January 21, 2026.
• On January 15, the Verkhovna Rada made a second attempt caused to the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs Nataliya Kalmykova for a report on the issue of bookings from mobilization at the National Military Memorial Cemetery (NVMK).
• On January 16, Kalmykova reported that the Ministry of Veterans had started official investigation according to information about reservations from mobilization at the National Military Memorial Cemetery.
• On the same day in NVMK confirmedthat political technologist Volodymyr Petrov works in the institution.
• January 19 at the state institution “National Military Memorial Cemetery” declaredthat personnel decisions in the institution are made by the manager without the approval of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
• On January 20, the state institution “National Military Memorial Cemetery” announced that Volodymyr Petrov, a political technologist and co-host of the YouTube channel “Iceland” resigned from the position of the leading specialist of the department for communications and information technologies.

Read also: “We love and respect the military, but the forest is our water.” UP report from Markhalivka, where the construction of a military cemetery is being blocked

Learn more: What’s wrong with the National War Memorial?