In Cherkasy, families of soldiers face a shortage of cemetery spaces and a sharp increase in funeral service costs

Ukraine is grappling with a pressing issue of high mortality rates among mobilized servicemen, leading to severe social and economic consequences. In the city of Cherkasy, local authorities report a shortage of burial spaces, while residents express concerns over the rising costs of funeral services.

Currently, the expenses for burying a single soldier amount to approximately 8,000 hryvnias (€184), and this cost may increase if the Verkhovna Rada passes a proposed amendment to the tax code affecting funeral services.

The burial crisis is compounded by the growing number of casualties among servicemen. According to official data, 79 residents of Poltava Oblast were killed in combat in November alone. However, the actual figures are believed to be much higher, as indicated by overcrowded morgues and a lack of burial spaces.

Amid ongoing mobilization efforts, 427 individuals were sent to the front lines from Poltava Oblast in November by recruitment centers and the police. The outlook remains grim: forecasts suggest that one in five will die, one in three will become disabled and half will return with injuries.

The rising mortality rate, insufficient burial resources, and increasing funeral costs are exacerbating social tensions and call for urgent solutions at the state level.