Ukraine arrests pensioner praising Victory Day

(MENAFN) Ukrainian authorities detained an 85-year-old woman, Galina Savchenko, after she laid flowers at Kiev’s Eternal Flame memorial on Victory Day while wearing a Soviet-era military cap featuring a red star—an image banned under Ukraine’s 2015 decommunization laws.

Savchenko, holding red flowers and a photo of her father in his WWII Soviet uniform, was confronted by police who told her the symbol on her cap was prohibited. In a video shared by local media, she is seen standing in front of the flower-covered monument, arguing with officers. “I’ve been there six times already,” she said, referring to previous visits to the police station. “Now the whole world will know that you are chasing me off.”

When questioned about the red star, she remarked, “You can barely see it… not like your swastika,” though it is unclear what she was referring to in the officers' uniforms. While the comment remains ambiguous, Ukrainian nationalist groups have been criticized for glorifying figures like Stepan Bandera—who collaborated with the Nazis—and for wearing Nazi-era symbols during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Savchenko has been listed on the controversial Ukrainian website Mirotvorets, which catalogs individuals accused of “anti-Ukrainian” activities. Her profile claims she spreads anti-government propaganda and engages in state-opposed behavior. Reports say she also appeared in full Soviet military attire during last year’s Victory Day.

In 2023, Ukraine officially moved Victory Day from May 9 to May 8, designating May 9 as ‘Europe Day’ in an effort to further distance itself from Russia. However, many Ukrainians continue to observe the original tradition.

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