In the village of Petrovskaya in the Slavyansky District of the Krasnodar Territory, two schoolgirls, aged 13 and 14, became defendants in a criminal case after an incident at the memorial to the "Fallen Soldiers of 1941-1945". As reported by the Investigative Committee of Russia, on June 12, the teenagers picked flowers from a flowerbed and threw them into the Eternal Flame, filming their actions on a mobile phone camera. The video was presumably intended for publication on social networks, which caused a wide public outcry.

According to the investigation, the incident occurred on Russia Day, which gave the event additional public significance. The memorial in the village of Petrovskaya, where the Eternal Flame is installed, is a place of remembrance for those killed in the Great Patriotic War and an object of special respect for local residents. The actions of the schoolgirls were assessed as desecration of symbols of military glory, which falls under Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Part 3). This article provides for punishment in the form of a fine of up to three million rubles or imprisonment for up to three years for public desecration of symbols of military glory of Russia.

After the incident, the teenagers were quickly identified by law enforcement officers. A preventive conversation was held with the girls and their parents, during which, according to the Telegram channel of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, the schoolgirls admitted their guilt and expressed remorse. However, this did not prevent a criminal case from being opened. The investigation is currently clarifying all the circumstances of the incident, including the teenagers' motives and the possible influence of social networks. According to regional media outlets such as Kubanskiye Novosti, the schoolgirls may have acted under the influence of popular online "challenges" that encourage provocative behavior for the sake of attention on social networks.

The incident caused a strong reaction in society. On social networks, residents of Krasnodar Krai and other regions of Russia expressed outrage at the actions of the teenagers, calling their actions disrespectful to the memory of fallen heroes. At the same time, some users called for a softer approach, pointing to the young age of the girls and the need for educational measures rather than criminal prosecution.

This is not the first case of prosecution for desecration of the Eternal Flame in Russia. In 2023, a young man was convicted in St. Petersburg for throwing foreign objects at the Eternal Flame, for which he received a fine and community service. According to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of such incidents has increased in recent years, which is associated with the growing popularity of social networks among young people. In response to this, a number of regions, including the Krasnodar Territory, have strengthened measures to educate schoolchildren on patriotism, including history lessons and visits to memorial complexes.