Ukrainian flag lifted above Moscow skyscraper
Four activists have been arrested for the daring and dangerous act of summiting a Moscow skyscraper, raising a Ukrainian flag and painting half of its yellow star blue.
Bloomberg reports that Russian authorities have arrested two men and two women on charges of vandalism. They carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison. They are all said to have a previous criminal history.
Radio Free Europe reports that the arrested activists are from Moscow.
The Guardian reports that the vandals scaled the nearly 580 feet to the top of the building's star under the cover of night. When they reached the top of the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment building, they raised the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag. They then painted the top half of the building's golden star blue, further invoking the flag of Ukraine.
They accessed the top of the star by climbing an internal staircase that led to the building's roof. They then used climbing gear typically used for mountain climbing to reach the top of the star, according to the Guardian.
After the climbers finished raising the flag and painting the star, they parachuted to the ground. One of the activists managed to snap a selfie of himself at the summit, in front of the Ukrainian flag.
Another photo of Kotelnicheskaya Embankment building. Seems next star will go blue-yellow in Kremlin - via @olarhat pic.twitter.com/xQ1M2jgMn2
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) August 20, 2014
On Facebook, the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed the act, saying, "It is symbolic that, on this day, our colors have been painted on what is perhaps the greatest skyscraper in Moscow. I urge Ukrainians throughout the world, wherever they are, on the eve of the anniversary of our independence, to decorate their homes, offices, and cars in our national colors."
Ukraine will celebrate its independence from the Soviet Union Aug. 24.
The Kotelnicheskaya Embankment building was built under Stalin's orders from 1947-1953. It is one of Moscow's most striking pieces of architecture.
