Vandals Scrawl Russian War Symbols on Romanian Cemetery in Moldova

Authorities in Moldova vowed on Monday to do everything necessary to track down and punish those who scrawled symbols of support for Russia's war in neighbouring Ukraine on a cemetery for World War Two Romanian soldiers.

At the weekend, vandals wrote the letters 'V' and 'Z' on crucifixes in the cemetery in the northern town of Falesti, where the remains of some 300 Romanian soldiers are interred, most of them originally from the area. The vandals also drew a Nazi swastika.

The letters 'V' and, more commonly, 'Z', have been spotted on Russian armoured vehicles operating in Ukraine and have become symbols of support for the Russian war.

The vandalism followed a decision by parliament in Moldova on April 7 to ban the use of such symbols as well as the ribbon of St George, a black and orange military symbol of Russian patriotism.

Igor Dodon, Moldova's former pro-Russian president and de facto leader of the main pro-Russian Socialist Party, has said that he and his supporters will take to the streets on May 9, WWII Victory Day in Russia, wearing the ribbon of St George, which Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine adopted during a rebellion that began in 2014.

"Vandalising these funerary monuments is a barbaric act and a challenge to society," the Moldovan foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Therefore we strongly condemn this act and the competent institutions of Moldova will investigate these outrageous cases of vandalism."

Victor Chirila, Moldova's ambassador to neighbouring Romania, said: "Those who planned and carried out this desecration endangered the peace, harmony and internal stability of Moldova at a regional moment that is quite dangerous for its security."

Not far from the border with Romania...