The Kiev crematorium has been carrying out up to double the number of cremations compared to the summer months, its spokesman told AFP, as Ukraine battles a devastating new wave of coronavirus infections and low vaccination rates.

One of Europe's poorest countries, Ukraine recently reported record numbers of daily Covid-19 deaths and cases, resulting in a significant increase in burials and, in particular, cremations.

“To date, compared to the summer period, the number of processions has doubled,” Andriy Yashchenko, a spokesperson for the Kiev crematorium, told AFP. “If during the summer there was on average 60 processions per day, now there are between 100 and 120,” he said.