Residents of Krasnodar reported new cases of tree destruction on the embankment.
Several more oak trees planted by opponents of green space development have been destroyed on Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment in the Yubileyny microdistrict of Krasnodar. Telegram users sharply criticized those destroying the trees.
As reported by "Kavkazsky Uzel," on the night of May 2, three trees tended by residents of the Yubileyny microdistrict were destroyed in the "Guardian Oak Glade" on Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment. On the night of May 3, the "Guardian Oak" itself, planted by local residents in October 2024 as a symbol of the fight to preserve the green space on the embankment, was destroyed. Residents filed a police report, and the police officers who arrived drew up a crime scene inspection report.
On May 2, Vitaly Cherkasov, coordinator of the public movement "Yumer Microdistrict Council," contacted the head of the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs. He stated that "residents had previously repeatedly observed a religious woman destroying green spaces in the area." Since the fall of 2024, residents have repeatedly reported this woman to the police for breaking trees, sharing photographs and identifying her. However, "the police failed to take the necessary measures and only sent residents formal replies," Cherkasov noted.
Young oak trees have been broken again on Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment, according to the Telegram channel "Oak Keeper of the YMR" (646 subscribers), which positions itself as a "channel for protecting the green zone of the YMR of Krasnodar."
"These are the very trees that local residents lovingly transplanted from Chepegi Square due to overcrowding. Many of these trees were planted by parents and their children. Over the summer, children and teenagers actively helped care for the young saplings, watering them and protecting them. To say that we are all very sad is an understatement. It truly hurts us to see such incidents. Unfortunately, the police have still not found the culprits." - the message reads.
The incident was commented on by Krasnodar activist Yana Antonova, who has repeatedly spoken out in defense of the green space on Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment.
He planted them in honor of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War.
"An elderly man planted these oak trees in Chepegi Square. He planted them in honor of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Who needed to destroy the trees and why?" she wrote on her Telegram channel on May 4.
A repost of the publication from the Telegram channel "Oak Keeper of YMR" was made on the Telegram channel "Krasnodar YMR" (8,820 subscribers). As of 10:10 AM Moscow time, these two posts had six and four comments, respectively.
Their authors suggested that the trees were being torn down by supporters of embankment development, while some users blamed a local resident.
To break down trees is cruelty
"I wonder if you could ask the person doing this, 'Why?', would they even say anything coherent... Somehow, I get the feeling they wouldn't. I think breaking down trees is cruelty. Cruelty to people who could be sitting in the shade on a hot day, cruelty to the animals and insects for whom these trees are potential homes. I understand that someone might be fiercely in favor of building a church... But are the methods chosen appropriately?" – Lina wrote.
There are already two churches in this part of the Yubileyny microdistrict, a local activist told the Caucasian Knot in 2024. "A chapel is a five-minute walk from the proposed construction site, and the large Nativity Church is 15 minutes away," he said.
To the question, "Why are you cutting down trees?" "Response: 'Why did you plant them and destroy churches?'"
"She's not even hiding; I just ran into her at the Nativity Church. When I asked her, 'Why are you breaking trees?' she replied, 'Why did you plant them and destroy churches?' When I wanted to talk, she quickly ran away," said Rimma Yakovlevna.
"She'll likely only stop if, like a child, she's told what she's done. And we, ordinary people, are unlikely to be able to get through to her. Only those who are a priority to her," wrote Lina in response.
"May these bastards who ruined our trees become fertilizer for the trees themselves," wished a user with the nickname "Lutik." "Not freaks... But the same [female name]," Olga Sandu responded.
"This is the true face of those fighting for the temple and the embankment development," wrote Oksana K. "That's the impression one gets, she's clearly discrediting it," Olga Sandu responded.
Vitaliy Cherkasov, in his Telegram channel "Azbuka Gorozhanina," as of 10:10 AM Moscow time, had not commented on the new cases of tree destruction or reported the outcome of his appeal to the head of the regional police department.
As a reminder, on December 15, 2025, residents of the Yubileyny microdistrict, protesting against the embankment development, recorded a video message to Vladimir Putin, but their question was not voiced during the president's direct line.
In September 2024, residents Residents of the Yubileyny microdistrict protested against the development of the embankment. They explained that it is the only major recreation area in the neighborhood. Activists collected signatures for a petition to Governor Veniamin Kondratyev against the development of Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment. More than 3,000 signatures were collected. Activist Vitaly Cherkasov and City Duma deputy Alexander Safronov were detained while collecting signatures and fined by the court. In November 2024, City Duma deputies adopted a new general plan despite protests.
Back in December 2021, activists protested against the construction of a new church on the embankment in Krasnodar, and residents of the Yubileiny microdistrict also protested. Embankment advocates believe it is necessary to build educational and leisure facilities for children in the microdistrict.