ADVERTISEMENT

Jewish Sites Vandalized in Ukraine

Pro-Russian masked gunmen patrols a street in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine / AP

Several Jewish sites in Ukraine have been vandalized over the past week, including the tomb of a prominent Jewish leader.

The Sevastopol Holocaust memorial, located in the Crimean Peninsula, was spray painted with a red hammer and sickle accompanied by the letter "U.S.S.R.," according to the Blaze.

Vandals also defaced the gravesite of Dov Ber Schneerson, the brother of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who led the Lubavicher Jewish movement.

Vice President Joe Biden condemned the attacks in a speech during his visit to the country.

According to the Blaze:

"Just as corruption can have no place in the new Ukraine, neither can anti-Semitism or bigotry," Biden said according to the Associated Press. "Let me say that again, neither can anti-Semitism or bigotry. No place. None. Zero. The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms all threats and attacks against Ukrainian Jewish communities as well as Roma and others, as you do, as well, I know, Mr. Prime Minister."

Two synagogues were fire-bombed on Friday night in Southern Ukraine.

Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at the main synagogue in the southern Ukrainian city of Nikolayev on Friday night, which was both the Jewish Sabbath and during the weeklong festival of Passover. The attack was reported to have occurred at 2 a.m. when the house of worship was empty.

Last week, members of the Jewish community in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine reported that three masked men carrying Russian flags had handed out leaflets outside their synagogue telling Jews they had to register and declare their property to the separatist government. The pro-Russian separatist leader said he was not behind the document which was denounced by the Obama administration.

Published under: Russia , Ukraine