What you need to know about the National Memorial Military Cemetery in Kyiv region

In the construction project National Memorial Military Cemetery in Kyiv region it is assumed that no more than 10% of the forest will be felled, which can be compared with the usual “maintenance” felling of trees.

About this reported Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi at the press conference of the Ukraine-Ukrinform Media Center on April 12.

“If we analyze the activities of the previous land user, the Boyar Forestry Research Station, during 2020-2023, they carried out felling on a total area of ​​30 hectares. That is, an even larger area was felled (than the construction of NMVK envisages – ed.). And this had absolutely no effect on ecosystem

If we talk about forest care, it needs to be thinned somewhere, old trees must be removed. I also want to draw your attention to the fact that this area is not a natural, but a man-made forest. Natural forests that are more efficient and resistant to climate change are valuable.” Oleksandr Krasnolutsky noted.

The discussion about the location of the NMVK in the Gatna community and its impact on the forest flared up again when residents of the village of Markhalivka came out to proteststating that the cemetery would allegedly cause groundwater pollution and forest destruction.

However, the Ministry of Environment dispelled this myth. Krasnolutsky assured that the project envisages no more than 10% felling, which can be compared to maintenance felling – they are carried out regularly, they do not harm nature.

According to him, last year in the same Kyiv region, all forestry enterprises carried out maintenance felling – they took down old or damaged trees, thinned the forest so that it grew better.

The Ministry of Environment added that tree planting is carried out regularly to increase forest cover.

SE “Forests of Ukraine” has already planted more than 100 hectares of forests, so the cutting of 13 hectares for the construction of NMVK will not harm the balance in nature.

What other myths about NMVK have been dispelled by experts?

Representatives of the Ministry of Environment and the state institution “National Military Memorial Cemetery” also answered other common questions about the military cemetery, which is to be built in the Gatna community of the Fastiv district.

Both community residents and military families were concerned that the construction of the cemetery would violate environmental protection legislation. After all, the territory on which there should be burials, enters to the Emerald Network, which is being created to implement the Berne Convention.

The Ministry of Environment confirmed that the selected area is part of the territory of the Emerald network, the total area of ​​which is – more than 6 thousand hectares. However, this fact does not mean a ban on economic activity there.

“For example, to the territory of the Emerald Network fully includes Kamianets-Podilskyi. It – a huge settlement where people live, do business, work factories and so on. Land plots are cultivated, sown, plowed…

We saw from the project that the total area of ​​the territory of the Emerald network is 6 thousand hectares, and the cemetery will be located on an area of ​​130 hectares. Accordingly, no more than 10% of green areas are cut down. They will be felled selectively, not completely. Therefore, the area of ​​influence on the territory of the Emerald Network is less than 1%”he said Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi.

The protected status of the territory means only that the site should be used in such a way as to preserve the places of nesting or migration of birds as much as possible.

According to Krasnolutsky, the NMVK project takes these requirements into account, and the construction will not entail the destruction of this territory.

Experts also refuted the myth that the NMVK crematorium will be built too close to residential buildings in the community, and ground water will prevent burial.

The state institution said that the geological survey of the site lasted about a month. During this time, 60 geological wells with a depth of six meters were made on the territory of more than 260 hectares. Specialists developed a map of groundwater and settlements.

“After receiving relevant conclusions, we realized that the land plot, the total area of ​​which is 267 hectares, can accommodate such an object with restrictions.

Limitations are the proximity of settlements, the presence of groundwater in some places and the rest”he said Yaroslav Starushchenko, deputy director of the state institution “National Military Memorial Cemetery”.

The state institution, together with the planners, came to the conclusion that an object occupying an area of ​​130 hectares can be placed on a plot with an area of ​​267 hectares.

When creating the general plan of the cemetery project, the experts ensured all regulatory distances from residential buildings.

“According to the regulations, the crematorium should be placed at a distance of at least 300 meters, and in our project it is 700 meters. Also, the norms provide for the placement of columbarium niches at a distance of at least 100 meters. We placed them at a distance of 300 to 500, sometimes 700 meters.

All norms regarding sanitary deviations from existing residential buildings and even promising buildings were taken into account”– said Yaroslav Starushchenko.

Currently, the NMVK project is under state examination. After this stage, DU “NMVK” will begin the process of selecting a contractor and obtaining permit documentation for construction works.

“Once again, I want to dispel the myth regarding construction work without documents. Currently, the state institution is not performing any construction work at the facility. The work that is ongoing now is preparatory.” – he emphasized Starushchenko.

We will remind you that since 2022 Ukraine could not decide on a location National Military Memorial Cemetery. Initially, a cemetery for all Ukrainian soldiers was planned to be built in Kyiv, but then it was chosen location outside the capital, which infuriating the families of the fallen defenders.

In March 2024, the government finally decided that his will build on the territory of the Gatna community in the Kyiv region. However, residents of the nearest village of Markhalivka on April 5 came out to protest and urged to choose another site due to fears about groundwater, forest destruction and smoke from the crematorium.

Patronage service “Azov” already refuted accusations that due to the construction of the NMVK, water will disappear in the surrounding villages, and due to the sowing of grass, soil acidity will allegedly increase and trees will suffer.