“Z” vandalism in Chicago: Ukrainian buildings defaced

In Chicago, vandals defaced Ukrainian sites with the letter “Z,” a symbol associated with the Russian army and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Among the damaged locations were the Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago, a Ukrainian church, a veterinary clinic serving the Ukrainian community, and a mural in the Ukrainian Village – a historic Ukrainian district in the city.

Currently, the incident is under investigation by the police. “The community was invaded by hate and fear. Fear, with the letter ‘Z,’” said Steve Demitro with the Ukrainian National Museum Board of Directors.

The Ukrainian community in Chicago has condemned the acts of vandalism and emphasized the inappropriateness of spreading such symbols of war and hatred. Many representatives of the Ukrainian community are deeply concerned about the incident. At the same time, the Ukrainian community in Chicago is ready to send a strong signal in response.

“This is definitely a hate crime, aimed at an ethnic group, at Ukrainians,” said UWC Vice President for North America and Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Vice President Marta Farion. “We will not be intimidated.”

Video footage from the Ukrainian National Museum seems to capture a man calmly placing the “Z” symbol on the museum’s front door, then taking a picture before calmly walking away.

Father Pavlo Drozdyak and his family fled Ukraine in September, local media Eyewitness News reports. He noted that Ukrainian refugees have personally witnessed the “Z” symbol on the side of Russian tanks.

“For me, its symbol of death, you know?” Drozdyak said. “When you saw the symbol, they told us, ‘we are here, and we come here to kill you.’”