In Drohobych, memorial plaques installed in honour of Ukrainian defenders who are considered missing in action, and in support of their families, have been damaged. The structures were put up on 8 September, the City Day, in several public spaces in the central part of Drohobych.
On the morning of 10 September it was discovered that some of the plaques had been deliberately defaced with spray paint. The city council emphasises that this is not only about damage to urban amenities, but an act of vandalism against a place of remembrance connected with service personnel and their families.
The Mayor of Drohobych, Taras Kuchma, reported that the relevant services are already working to identify those involved in damaging the plaques, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
“We will not allow the memory of our defenders to be disrespected. Behind every soldier who has gone missing stands a family that waits every day for their loved one to return. Such memorial places must be inviolable. Those responsible for damaging the plaques must be held accountable for their actions,” the mayor stresses.
Drohobych City Council has publicly condemned this act of vandalism and underlined that the memory of Ukraine’s defenders cannot be subjected to contempt or actions that go unpunished.
City residents are asked to inform law enforcement and other competent services if they have any information that could help identify those involved in damaging the memorial plaques.