Polish monument in Huta Pieniacka vandalised again

A monument to Polish people murdered in 1944 in the village of Huta Pieniacka in the Lviv region was vandalised again just weeks after it was rebuilt from previous destruction.

Archiwum PAP © 2017 / Huta Pieniacka, Ukraina, 11.01.2017. Funkcjonariusz miejscowej policji ogląda zdewastowany pomnik upamiętniający Polaków zamordowanych w 1944 r. przez SS-Galizien i UPA, 10 bm. w Hucie Pieniackiej na Ukrainie. Pomnik został odsłonięty w lutym 2009 r. przez prezydentów Polski i Ukrainy. (mgo) PAP Archiwum PAP © 2017

In January someone blew up the monument. In February, it was rebuilt from funds collected by the Ukrainian community in the area.

Photos documenting the vandalising were posted on social media on Tuesday.

The Huta Pieniacka monument was probably vandalised at the same time as two other monuments to Polish WWII victims in Ukraine, i.e. last weekend, PAP's information indicates.

This time the perpetrators pained a swastika on the monument's cross and below it the Ukrainian coat of arms. On commemorative plaques bearing the names of the victims someone painted the words "Death to the Lachs" ('Lachy' is the name of an ancient Polish tribe, used as a reference to Polish people - PAP) and "Get out of Ukraine ... (a swear word - PAP)."

A local official told PAP that as soon as he discovered the damage on Sunday he informed the police and the Security Service. The damage has been removed, according to the official. (PAP)

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