Two Ukrainian women have been detained by the police after they posted a video on social media platform Instagram that showed them dancing on the graves of slain soldiers on Ukraine’s Independence Day, which falls on 24 August. The video, originally posted by a user with the handle ‘vl_lindermann,’ depicted the women dancing on the graves and displaying photos of the soldiers they were commemorating.
The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage and condemnation from netizens who deemed the act disrespectful and inappropriate. The video was later removed, and the Instagram user behind the handle posted an apology, claiming that they were visiting their father’s grave.
However, the Ukrainian police had already taken notice of the video and swiftly located the two women. According to a statement by the Kiev police, the authorities were able to establish the women’s whereabouts within an hour and brought them to the police department for questioning.
The police stated that the two women could potentially face charges of “desecration of soldiers’ graves,” which carries a possible sentence of up to five years behind bars. Initially, the video had led many to criticize the lack of respect displayed by the women.
The situation took a turn when it was revealed that the two women were sisters who had come to the cemetery to honor the memory of the fallen soldiers, albeit in a manner that was widely considered inappropriate and disrespectful.
On social media platforms, reactions to the video were predominantly negative, with users expressing their outrage over the act. Many criticized the lack of sensitivity and intelligence displayed by the women, while others emphasized the need for greater respect and decorum when paying respects to the deceased.
As the story garnered attention online, discussions ranged from condemning the women’s actions to suggesting possible consequences for their behavior, such as community service or other forms of social responsibility.
