Identical monuments for the fallen Defenders will be installed at Balabanivske Cemetery: the procurement procedure is underway
A substantial update to the appearance of the honorary burial section is expected by the end of May
1 May 2026 under the leadership of the first deputy mayor Vitalii Lukov, a regular meeting of the coordination council on veteran policy and interaction with families of the fallen (deceased) Defenders of Ukraine took place.
One of the key issues was the installation of uniform grave monuments in the military section of the Balabanivske Cemetery. Procurement procedures are currently underway, and a significant update to the appearance of the honorary burial sector with the installation of headstones featuring appropriate inscriptions and images is expected by the end of May. Vitalii Lukov emphasized that the purchase must take place in May.
Significant attention was paid to social support for families of fallen servicemembers. In particular, the introduction of free travel on electric transport for widows, widowers and children of the deceased was discussed. While such a benefit is already provided in the city’s bus transport, corresponding mechanisms for electric transport are still being developed. A decision is expected as early as next week, with full implementation taking about a month. The coordination council also decided to appeal to the Ministry for Veterans Affairs with a proposal to enshrine these privileges at the legislative level.
During the meeting, the issue of sanatorium-resort treatment for war veterans and persons with disabilities was also discussed. According to Serhii Vasylenko, director of the Department of Labor and Social Protection, the state has completely suspended funding of vouchers for servicemembers for the duration of the full-scale invasion. From the city budget this year, UAH 890,000 is allocated for vouchers for civilian people with disabilities, including those acquired as a result of the war, who have priority rights to treatment. This will allow about 55 people to undergo rehabilitation.
The average cost of a voucher is 18,000 hryvnias, and the duration of treatment – from 18 to 21 days. The mechanism follows the principle “money follows the person”: the applicant chooses the sanatorium. The council also proposed expanding the list of beneficiaries to include persons with disabilities who receive a military pension. The corresponding proposal will be put before the next executive committee meeting.
A separate block concerned physical rehabilitation and sports for veterans. At the Zorya sports complex there is already a pool with free hours for war veterans and persons with disabilities: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 13:00 to 14:00, and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 12:00 to 13:00. The facility is undergoing modernization. Elevator repairs are currently being completed and it will be operational soon.
Funds have also been allocated to renovate the gyms, entrance area, changing rooms and restrooms to ensure accessibility. The council decided to also consider the possibility of free admission to city pools for families of fallen defenders.
Previously we wrote:
- Up to 20,000 veterans will be able to receive assistance: a new center will be built in Mykolaiv
- The project for a memorial to the fallen in Korablenyi is completed: Mykolaiv is looking for funds for construction
- Five nameless Heroes: soldiers from Mykolaiv region buried at a memorial cemetery in Kyiv region
- The war takes the best: Mykolaiv bid farewell to three Heroes
