A tank memorial dedicated to a crew that died during the liberation of the village of Oskil in World War II was stolen overnight from a cemetery in the Kharkiv region. Local officials confirmed that the tank was not dismantled but rather taken away, causing significant damage to at least 12 gravestones in the process.
According to a statement from a local official, the tank was placed on a mass grave site for soldiers who fought and died during the war. “There were soldiers buried there—the crew of the tank that liberated Oskil during World War II. This very tank was destroyed during the liberation of Oskil. Now, it has gone missing. This happened at night, during the curfew,” said the official, Zahoruyko.
Oksana, a resident of Oskil, reported that the theft was noticed by locals who promptly contacted local authorities. Representatives from the village council and police arrived to document the damage. The police in the Kharkiv region announced that a criminal investigation has been opened under Article 297, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which addresses desecration of graves. The maximum penalty for this offense is up to seven years in prison.
Context
- As of July 11, the front line is less than 20 km from Oskil, which regularly experiences Russian shelling. Approximately 40% of the community’s territory has already been destroyed. Before the full-scale invasion, around 5,000 people lived in Oskil, while only about 200 residents remain today, according to Suspilne.
