Scandal over the memorial project in Kryvyi Rih: families of fallen soldiers protested.

Today, January 29, families of fallen defenders in Kryvyi Rih gathered for a protest near the city council, demanding the organization of a nationwide architectural competition for a design project of a military memorial cemetery. Most families do not support the variant with red granite proposed by the city council or financial assistance for the installation of gravestones at their own discretion. The families insist on the creation of a single military memorial, rather than a regular cemetery.

According to journalist Daria Hirna, the families of fallen soldiers have been unable to achieve the organization of a competition for the design project of a military memorial cemetery in Kryvyi Rih for over a year, as the red granite planned for the gravestones does not meet their expectations.

The city council offers families financial assistance for the installation of gravestones on the graves instead of holding a competition. However, families oppose this proposal because it undermines the idea of a memorial. The gravestones for the soldiers' graves should be uniform, not varied.

According to local publication 'Na Chasi', the director of the city department of social policy, Inesa Blahun, attempted to meet with the protesters, but they were not allowed to see her, stating that she 'is not responsible for the memorial' and is not the customer. The families of the fallen complain that the local authorities do not communicate with them properly and often deceive them.

After the protest, the Kryvyi Rih city council voted to allocate financial assistance to each family for the installation of a monument 'at their own taste'. However, 90% of families do not support the proposed project. They say that if this project had won the competition, they would have agreed to it, but there was no competition.

The construction of the National Military Cemetery outside Kyiv is ongoing, as reported by Minister for Veterans Affairs Natalia Kalmykova. The families of fallen soldiers are awaiting the start of funerals and the date from the developer.