Warning Issued Over Mysterious Symbols Appearing On Ukraine Buildings

Kyiv's local government has issued a warning about mysterious symbols that have been appearing on Ukrainian buildings.

The government has joined the mayor of Kyiv and the mayor of Rivne in western Ukraine in encouraging residents to be on the lookout for the symbols that have reportedly started appearing since Russia invaded Ukraine last week.

Images shared online indicate the symbols are not of any consistent colour or shape, but it is feared they are being used to indicate targets for Russians launching missiles.

Kyiv (Alamy)

According to a Facebook post by the local government of the city, authorities are asking residents 'of high-rise buildings' to 'urgently check the roofs', The Independent reports.

In the post, the government stated: 'The city authorities are asking the residents of high-rise buildings, who have access to the roof access, to urgently check the roofs for signs.'

Kyiv mayo Vitali Klitschko shared his own warnings over the weekend following more than two days of conflict in the country, explaining that city officials were 'urging citizens to immediately report tagged locations, submit photos to law enforcement, and report suspects who may be involved in tagging'.

Klitschko claimed Kyiv in particular appears to have been hit with an increased number of 'detected marks of saboteurs who leave [them] directly on the streets and buildings of both residential buildings and businesses'.

'Labels are placed to adjust the fire of the occupying forces of the Russian Federation,' the mayor said.

Klitschko went on to accuse Ukrainian 'collaborators' of 'treason', and threatened anyone who was found to be providing help to Russian troops with jail time.

He warned: 'The crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 12 to 15 years with or without confiscation of property.'

Meanwhile, Rivne mayor Alexander Tretyak issued an 'urgent announcement' on Facebook in which he asked 'the heads of condominiums to close all attics', adding: 'If you or the occupants of the house notice in the entrance, on the roof, near the houses of unknown persons, the mark of the label – immediately inform law enforcement. URGENTLY inspect your roofs, in case you find marks, paint them and close the access to the roofs.'

The local government in Kyiv has advised anyone who finds an unusual mark on a building to 'cover them with earth or cover them with something' in a bid to prevent any Russians recognising the marks and using them as a target.

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information 

Topics: Russia, Ukraine, Politics, Viral

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.