Teen apologizes for painting swastika on Lviv mosque

Islamic cultural center in Lviv. Photo: Lviv Regional Council

On October 16, 2026, a 15-year-old boy in Lviv apologized to the Muslim community for painting a swastika on the facade of the Hidayat Mosque in late September. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Hidayat religious community reported the incident.

The teenager came to the mosque with his older brother, acknowledged that his actions were unacceptable, and expressed remorse. He said he had been influenced by radical ideas circulating in Telegram channels but had since reconsidered his views. The community accepted his apology and expressed a willingness to maintain contact with him.

Community representatives recalled that the mosque had been targeted in an arson attack on April 28, a case that is now before the courts. The swastika appeared on the building's facade on September 26. According to the statement's authors, these incidents highlight the broader problem of spreading extremism, as any religious community could become a target of similar attacks.

The statement called on police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to identify the sources of radical propaganda and investigate the influence of Telegram channels on minors. The authors also urged authorities to examine the possibility of Russian information operations, while emphasizing that they had no evidence linking Russian intelligence services to the incidents.

As the UOJ previously reported, Islamic scholars called on Azerbaijan to lift restrictions on hijabs.

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