Pro-Russian activists attack Ukrainian soldier in Italy: community’s response

A former Ukrainian soldier in Italy was attacked by pro-Russian activists for attempting to remove symbols of Russian aggression at a public display, according to Oles Horodetskyy, leader of the Christian Association of Ukrainians in Italy.

A group of pro-Kremlin supporters had displayed Russian invasion symbols in the central square of Zagarolo, a suburb of Rome. Among the symbols were the letter “Z” on the Russian flag and the Soviet hammer and sickle.

“While these symbols may seem like harmless decorations to most Italians, for those who have suffered from Russian violence, they represent unacceptable symbols of death,” the Christian Association of Ukrainians in Italy stated.

Andrii Bidiuk, an honorably discharged wounded veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war, approached the organizers of the display and demanded that it be taken down after explaining the significance of the symbols.

“To his shock, the organizers began to insult him and then physically attacked him, starting with verbal abuse and escalating to physical violence,” the group’s statement said.

In response, the Christian Association of Ukrainians condemned both the violence and the actions of the pro-Russian activists in an appeal to local authorities.

“We hope that the relevant Italian authorities will conduct an impartial investigation, hold those responsible for the aggression accountable, and enforce the sanctions outlined in current regulations,” the statement read.

The Ukrainian Italian association also called on the Italian government to ban the public display of symbols representing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, emphasizing that “Putinism, like fascism, is not an opinion, but a crime.”