In Ukraine, 'people want funeral ceremonies to be as short as possible, out of fear of airstrikes'

Funeral agency near Zvirynetske Cemetery, offering services and products related to funerals and paying tribute to the deceased, in Kyiv on October 17, 2025. VIRGINIE NGUYEN HOANG/HUMA FOR LE MONDE

Roman Melnyk has worked in the funeral sector in Ukraine for 35 years. As a funeral ceremony organizer at Osiris, one of the leading companies in Kyiv, he observed a dramatic shift in practices since the war began in February 2022.

How has the war affected your sector?

Financially, people spend less on funerals because they have less money. They order less expensive crosses and coffins, and sometimes they even go without food for the ceremony.

There are also fewer customers than before, since many Ukrainians have left the country. Our revenue and my salary have decreased, while competition between funeral companies has intensified. Businesses try to attract people with low prices, which affects the quality of services.