August 20, 2014
Russian police arrested four people who climbed a Moscow skyscraper, attached a Ukrainian flag to its spire and painted the upper part of the massive golden-colored star on top of the spire blue, so that it would also resemble the yellow-blue Ukrainian national flag. They were charged with vandalism and face a fine of 40,000 rubles (around $1,100), correctional labor of up to a year or up to 3 months’ detention. “It’s symbolic that today, perhaps, the tallest skyscraper in Moscow was painted in our colors,” Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page. “I invite Ukrainians around the world to put out Ukrainian flags on the eve of our Independence Day as part of Our Colors Initiative. Glory to Ukraine!”
