Dozens of gravestones at Soviet burial site near Amersfoort defaced with red paint

Approximately 150 gravestones at the Soviet Field of Honor in Leusden were defaced with red paint. The site, known locally as the Sovjet Ereveld, is where the bodies of 865 Soviet soldiers were buried, having lost their lives fighting against Nazi forces during World War II.

The slogans painted on the rear of the headstones were directed against both the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, as well as Islam, said Remco Reiding, the head of the foundation that runs the cemetary. He was alerted to the situation on Friday morning, and said he was shocked by what he found, he told RTV Utrecht.

Photographs also show "NS" and "WP" spray painted on various monuments, a possible reference to the Russian extremist Neo-Nazi group, National Socialism / White Power. The phrase, "White Power" was also painted in other locations.

With one letter per gravestone, other slogans include, "Fuck Putin," and "Fuck Zelensky." There was also a statement written about the Quran, Reiding said.

"It was much worse than I had feared," he said. "I was devastated." Among those buried in the cemetery are more than a hundred Soviet soldiers who were brought to Camp Amersfoort as prisoners of war during the War. Many were murdered during a mass execution.

"And then there is someone who defaces all kinds of graves with political slogans. This is terrible, painful, and sad."

"You do not mess with war graves," responded VVD Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz on social media platform X.

The police are investigating the desecration of the graveyard, and have called on witnesses to come forward. "A grave is a sacred place of peace and remembrance; disturbing it is a gross violation of human dignity," police wrote.

"For this reason, we are taking the matter very seriously and conducting a careful and thorough investigation," the police stated.