A scandal has erupted in Chernivtsi over the use of gravestones in the renovation of a city staircase

In the Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi, renovation work on Philharmonic Square sparked public outcry: granite slabs that had previously served as gravestones in a cemetery were used to clad the staircase. According to the “Promin” portal ( ), the materials still bear engraved images of the deceased.

City Council member Yana Brus made the information about the incident public. According to her, the cost of the renovation work amounted to approximately 190,000 hryvnias. The councilwoman expressed extreme outrage at the fact that, instead of purchasing new granite, the contractors decided to cut costs by using materials from the cemetery, without even attempting to conceal their origin before installation began.

The public outcry forced those responsible to take emergency measures: according to Yana Brus, after the scandal became public, the images on the slabs were sanded down overnight. This incident sparked a wave of criticism from local residents and government officials, raising questions about the quality of oversight over municipal spending and adherence to ethical standards in the implementation of urban improvement projects.