Bottles, trash and condoms: vandals desecrated an ancient synagogue in Ukraine

Vandals desecrated an ancient synagogue in Husiatyn, Ternopil region, Ukraine. Teenagers entered the building through a breach in the wall, broke interior doors, and left trash, bottles, and condoms. Local authorities shift responsibility onto each other, while activists criticize the inaction of the police and prosecutor's office.

Vandals desecrated an ancient synagogue in Husiatyn, Ternopil region, western Ukraine. As reported on Sunday, August 23, by the Telegram channel of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine (UJCU), interior doors were broken and smashed, with trash, alcohol bottles, and used condoms left on site. About a year ago, part of the building's wall collapsed, giving vandals access inside. According to local historian Boris Golyaev, groups of teenagers aged 10–17 regularly gather in the old synagogue. Alcohol bottles were deliberately smashed against a niche in the eastern wall of the prayer hall—where the Aron Kodesh once stood. Other interior elements were also damaged. A local resident who tried to seal the breach warned it was a temporary solution. He urged parents to check their children's phones, as videos of the gatherings circulate on social media. An activist criticized the police, prosecutor's office, and local authorities for inaction, reminding them of criminal liability for damaging cultural heritage sites (Article 298 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The synagogue is a national architectural monument (No. 689). The village council stated the ruins are not under its jurisdiction and referred the matter to the district administration. Residents also note the lack of public toilets in the town center, making the area near the ruins a place where people relieve themselves.