Ukrainian teens desecrate Holocaust memorial in Kharkiv, two caught giving Nazi salutes

A deeply disturbing incident at the Drobytsky Yar Holocaust memorial in Kharkiv, Ukraine, has triggered widespread condemnation after images emerged showing two men and a woman desecrating the sacred site, Ynet reported Wednesday.

The photos, which were first shared on a popular local Telegram channel, capture the trio performing Nazi salutes and trampling a memorial plaque honoring the more than 17,000 Jews murdered at the site during the Holocaust.

The Jewish Confederation of Ukraine responded swiftly, calling on authorities to take action. The organization stated, "We call on police and law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice."

Ukrainian authorities have since opened a criminal investigation, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing local media. The case was registered under Part 1 of Article 436-1 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which bans the promotion of Nazi and communist symbols and totalitarian propaganda. Those convicted under the statute face up to five years in prison.

Drobytsky Yar, located just outside Kharkiv, is one of Ukraine’s most solemn Holocaust memorials. During World War II, the site became the killing field where Nazi forces executed over 17,000 Jews from Kharkiv and surrounding areas. Before the German occupation, the city was home to some 135,000 Jews. As the Nazis advanced, many fled, but thousands who remained were rounded up and systematically slaughtered. By February 1942, the Kharkiv ghetto had been entirely liquidated through daily mass shootings.