Woman damages graves of three fallen soldiers at Askold's grave, detained

On the night of 20 June, an unknown woman damaged the graves of soldiers Dmytro Kotsyubaylo "Da Vinci", Andriy Pilshchikov " Djus" and Pavlo Petrychenko, who are buried at Askold's Grave in Kyiv. 

This was reported by Alina Mykhaylova, a combat medic, volunteer and member of the Kyiv City Council.

The video shows broken plaques and lamps, as well as unknown persons who beat and painted portraits of the fallen soldiers and flags on the graves. 

Later, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that a 60-year-old woman was detained and is being investigated by law enforcement.

"I am asking the law enforcement agencies to pay attention to this incident and to provide security for Askold's Grave Park. I appealed a year ago. I'm appealing now," Mykhaylova wrote on Facebook. 

Later, the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office reported that an investigation had been launched into the desecration of the graves of Ukraine's defenders. 

"Under the procedural supervision of the Pechersk District Prosecutor's Office in Kyiv, criminal proceedings have been initiated over the desecration of the graves of Ukrainian defenders (part 2 of Article 297 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," the statement said. 

According to the prosecutor's office, on 20 June in the morning, an unknown woman vandalised the graves of fallen Ukrainian defenders on the territory of Askold's grave in Kyiv. 

Operational investigative and search activities are underway to identify the woman. The sanction of the article provides for up to 5 years in prison.