In the Chuguyiv district of the Kharkiv region, the police detained a 29-year-old local resident, who is suspected of standing over the grave of a dead Ukrainian serviceman. By information of the press service of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Kharkiv region, a man stole a memorial element in the form of a drone from the tombstone decoration of a grave. The incident was reported to the police by the victim’s widow, who discovered the disappearance.
According to the family’s statement to the police, the tombstone symbol in the shape of a drone was placed on the grave as an element of honoring the memory of the defender, who during his service performed combat missions using unmanned aerial vehicles. That is why the relatives chose this form of memorial sign – as a symbol of the deceased’s professional contribution to the struggle for the independence of Ukraine.
The police quickly established the identity and location of the intruder. The man was detained, the stolen drone was recovered and returned to the family of the fallen soldier.
At this moment, the detainee has been charged with committing a criminal offense provided for in Article 297 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — “insulting a grave.” The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of deprivation of liberty for a term of up to seven years.
The police emphasized that such actions are considered not only a crime, but also a moral humiliation of the memory of the fallen defenders who gave their lives for the freedom and security of the country. The investigation is ongoing.
