Ukrainian organization in Edmonton defaced with swastikas, vandal caught on video
The Ukrainian National Federation of Canada building in Edmonton was vandalized with swastikas overnight Friday.
On Friday afternoon, black spray-painted swastikas were visible on the side of the building, as well as on a banner displaying the Ukrainian flag saying, "Stop Putin, Stop War."
Cheryl Voordenhout, Edmonton police spokesperson, told CTV News that the vandalism was reported, and officers are following up. EPS officers confirmed the incident was being referred to the hate crimes unit.
Marco Levytsky, branch secretary, said security cameras recorded the act minutes before 4 a.m.
"Unfortunately, the guy was wearing a hood, so we can't identify him," Levytsky said.
Surveillance footage shared with CTV News Edmonton shows the moment a vandal graffitied swastikas on the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada building in Edmonton on May 13, 2022 (Supplied).
Levytsky said he couldn't understand why people would target the non-profit cultural organization located in the downtown neighbourhood of McCauley with "disgraceful" vandalism.
"Ukraine elected a Jewish president with 73 per cent of the vote," he said. "Ukrainians now give him a 97 per cent approval rating. Ukrainians have the lowest percentage of any country in Europe for votes for a far-right party."
"Russia's invaded Ukraine," he added. "Russians are bombing schools, hospitals, everything else."
In a joint statement, Canadian Ukrainian Congress Alberta Provincial Council President Orysia Boychuk and Edmonton branch president Yarko Broda said the vandalism was "clearly an act aimed at intimidating" the Ukrainian community.
"Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, there has been a sharp uptick in harassment, violence, and intimidation against Ukrainian Canadians across the county," the officials said.
"This latest vandalism comes on the heels of an April 20 arson attack on a Ukrainian Catholic priest and his family in Victoria," the statement said.
"Given this increase in violence, we call on law enforcement agencies to work closely with the Ukrainian community to ensure the continued safety of people and property and the prosecution of the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Saskatchewan households will continue to receive carbon tax rebate: Trudeau
Households in Saskatchewan will continue to receive Canada Carbon Rebate payments, despite the province refusing to remit natural gas levies to the federal government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
'It's just so hard to let it go': Umar Zameer filled with relief and grief following acquittal in death of Toronto police officer
'We hoped for this day, but we were scared that it would not never ever come because it took so long.' That’s what Umar Zameer, the man recently acquitted in the death of a Toronto police officer, told CTV News Toronto in a sit-down interview on Tuesday.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
North Bay doctor accused of assaulting patient, threatening another
A North Bay doctor is facing charges after allegedly assaulting a patient with a weapon and threatening another person at the hospital, police say.