When a Nation Remembers: Why and How Days of Mourning Are Declared in Ukraine

A national day of mourning is declared by a Presidential Decree when a tragedy affects the entire country—such as mass civilian casualties, large-scale disasters, or the death of prominent public figures. It is an official acknowledgment of collective grief, a moment for the nation to honor the victims, and a way for society to express shared sorrow.

On a Day of Mourning, national flags are flown at half-mast on all official buildings. Public events with a celebratory or entertainment focus are canceled—from concerts to sporting matches. Radio and television stations adjust their programming schedules, removing light or upbeat content and instead broadcasting more subdued, reflective programming. The absence of music in cafés and shopping centers is also part of the mourning atmosphere, serving as a collective sign of respect for the lives lost. Moments of silence may be announced at various times throughout the day. While not a strict requirement, it is a widely followed custom—a quiet reminder that this is not a day for celebration.

There is also a local level of mourning. Local Days of Mourning are declared by municipal authorities—city mayors or executive committees—when tragedy strikes a community. This might be the sudden loss of many lives, the death of a respected local defender, or a missile strike causing widespread destruction. Local mourning replicates many aspects of national mourning: lowered flags, canceled events, quiet media broadcasts, and moments of silence. The difference is scale—a community honors its own, those who are close and known.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of Days of Mourning has increased significantly. The state has declared national mourning in response to some of the most devastating tragedies—after the missile strike on a residential building in Dnipro that killed dozens of civilians; following the bombing of the Kramatorsk train station, where over 60 people, including children, were killed; and after the discovery of mass graves in the liberated cities of Bucha and Izium. In 2025, Days of Mourning have also been declared following tragedies in Kryvyi Rih and Sumy, where dozens of people died in missile attacks.

At the local level, days of mourning have been declared after missile strikes on residential neighborhoods, the deaths of children, and during farewells to soldiers who had become symbols of their cities. In Dnipro, Kyiv, Odesa, Uman—every community carries its own set of dark anniversaries. These dates may not always be recognized nationally, but for local residents, they are painful reminders of how the war enters a neighbor’s yard, a street, a home. People bring flowers to the sites of tragedies, form corridors of honor, and light candles in their windows. Local authorities restrict public celebrations so the city can properly grieve its losses.

While a Day of Mourning may not drastically change daily routines, it holds deep symbolic and societal meaning. It helps fix these tragedies in the collective memory, acknowledges the scale of the loss, and expresses respect for the dead. These days are also a way to foster unity in wartime, and a reminder of the value of every human life. They shape a culture of shared grieving. Mourning becomes an act of social self-preservation—a way to retain our humanity, to resist the reduction of death to statistics. It is a declaration that every life matters. That we know not only how to fight, but also how to fall silent in sorrow. That we do not forget.

Mourning would risk becoming meaningless if it became a mere ritual. But in Ukraine, every Day of Mourning carries a specific story. It is the face of a child, a photo of a destroyed room, a glimpse into a joyful life that ended too soon. These images are the clearest answer to the question of why these days exist—to remember, to refuse to accept, to never forgive.

Even once the day is over, it lingers in the shared memory. Each of these days becomes part of Ukraine’s calendar of loss, written by war. But at the same time, each one is also a page of our resistance, rooted in memory, dignity, and respect.

***

Created with the support of the Association of Independent Regional Publishers of Ukraine and Amediastiftelsen as part of the Regional Media Support Hub project. The authors’ views do not necessarily coincide with the official position of the partners.

Читайте також — Another war crime against civilians. Testimonies and timeline of Russian army strikes on Dobropillia