The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine announced the planned conduct of the first official burials of unidentified servicemen scheduled for next May
This is an important event in the process of honoring heroes who defended the country under very difficult circumstances but, for various reasons, remain unnamed and faceless in the history of the war. According to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Leonid Tymchenko, this initiative is part of a systematic approach to establishing memorial graves for Ukrainian defenders who fell in battle and whose identities have not yet been determined. In a recent interview with "Censor.net," he mentioned that responsible agencies are already preparing the first memorial burials, which are planned to take place at the end of spring — in May. Tymchenko explained that bodies of soldiers, from which biological material can be collected and DNA testing can be conducted for identification, but for which no match has yet been found to confirm the person's identity, will be temporarily buried at a specialized military memorial cemetery. He emphasized that this approach is aimed at preserving human dignity and respect for fallen defenders. At the same time, he noted that this process involves storing biological material in relevant databases for up to a year, with the possibility of subsequent re-search and identification. The deputy minister highlighted that the practice of temporary burials was already applied in 2022 when, due to intense hostilities, there was a need to quickly bury the bodies of the fallen. During the period of active military operations in Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions, local military administrations made decisions on temporary burials due to the mass scale of losses, which complicated the exchange of information and individual identification. Regarding future plans, Tymchenko emphasized that in cases where it is impossible to identify the defender, their body should be buried with appropriate military honors in a memorial cemetery. This demonstrates respect for the heroism and self-sacrifice of Ukrainian soldiers, even if their names remain unknown. Overall, in preparation for the May events, a significant number of bodies have already been collected and are stored under appropriate conditions until a final determination of status or a decision on burial is made. It is planned that the first official burials will take place at the beginning of summer — an act of deep remembrance and utmost respect for those who gave their lives for Ukraine's independence and sovereignty. This initiative is an important step in the creation of a modern and respectful system for honoring Ukrainian heroes.