Ukrainian police on Friday prevented an attempt to steal a work by the famous British artist Banksy, painted on the outskirts of Kyiv, local authorities said on Saturday, citing AFP.

Mural of Bansko. Russian President Vladimir Putin is pinned to the ground during a judo match by a small boyPhoto: Oleg Pereverzev/NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

“On Friday in Gostomel, a group of people tried to steal a Banksy painting. They cut the work from the wall of the house destroyed by the Russians,” said the message of the governor of the Kyiv region Oleksiy Kuleba. Telegram.

The message, published on social media, was accompanied by a photo showing a wall from which part of the outer layer, painted in orange, had been cut out.

Police detained several people at the scene, and the work is in good condition and safe, in the hands of law enforcement, the governor said.

The head of the police of the Kyiv region, Andrii Nebytov, said that “eight people aged 27 to 60, residents of Kyiv and Cherkasy” were located approximately 200 km from the capital. An investigation has been launched into the fact of material damage, he added.

In mid-November, Banksy posted a video on his Instagram account of all his murals in Ukraine, including the Hostomel one, which depicts a figure in a gas mask sitting on a chair.

Banksy’s works in Kyiv region are under police protection, Governor Kuleba emphasized in his statement

Source: Agerpres