Vandalism in Krakow: Bas-relief stolen from Bohdan Lepky's grave. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry calls it a provocation

In the night of July 5, a flagrant act of vandalism occurred at Rakowicki Cemetery in Krakow. A bas-relief was stolen from the tombstone of the outstanding Ukrainian writer, scientist, and professor Bohdan Lepky. The incident provoked a sharp reaction from official Kyiv.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Georgiy Tikhyy, called the incident not just a crime, but a deliberate provocation. According to him, the goal of the perpetrators is to incite enmity between Ukraine and Poland.

Diplomatic reaction and demands to the authorities

The General Consulate of Ukraine in Krakow has already initiated official procedures. Appeals have been submitted to the police, the administration of Rakowicki Cemetery, and the city authorities. The Ukrainian side insists on a comprehensive investigation that should identify those involved in the theft and return or restore the lost monument.

In addition, diplomats called for adequate security of the burial site to prevent similar cases in the future. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expects the prompt establishment of all circumstances of the incident and the bringing of the guilty to justice in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Poland.

Historical background and context

Bohdan Lepky, who died on July 21, 1941, is buried in Rakowicki Cemetery in the family crypt of the Szajdzyński family. His grave is located next to the burial of the writer's comrade — Ignacy Szajdzyński. The stolen bas-relief was installed on the tombstone in 1972. The author of the sculptural portrait is Hryhoriy Petukh.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of a tense information environment. Previously, the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) warned that Russian special services were preparing an information campaign around the topic of the Volhynian tragedy. According to the center, the FSB planned to disseminate forged documents about the events of World War II to provoke a new wave of disputes between Ukrainians and Poles. The authorities of Ukraine consider the vandalism in Krakow precisely in this context.