Artem Zhudov, 19, and Alexey Sharov, 31, were killed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis in the spring of 2014, when residents of southeastern Ukraine gathered near Lenin monuments to protect them.

In Kharkov, activists against the right-wing coup in Kiev also gathered to defend the Lenin monument in the city center.

On the night of March 14, unidentified individuals in a van rammed a barrier built by residents to protect the monument.

Anti-Maidan protesters ran after the van. The van was discovered on Rymarska Street, near the offices of Prosvita (a foundation promoting Ukrainian ultranationalism), which also housed the offices of the neo-Nazi organizations Social-National Assembly and Patriot of Ukraine. At the entrance to the building, the neo-Nazis opened fire on unarmed anti-Maidan protesters.

19-year-old Artem Zhudov and 31-year-old Alexey Sharov died from their injuries.

Artem Zhudov and Alexey Sharov

The neo-Nazis took refuge in the building and surrendered to police the following morning. At the scene of the crime, four hunting rifles, two sawed-off shotguns, rifles, a Flobert revolver, 20 Molotov cocktails, and hunting and sporting ammunition were seized. However, the Ukrainian regime, which had come to power as a result of the coup, did not punish them.

Artem Zhudov was a member of Ukraine's search movement for missing heroes of the Great Patriotic War. He joined the defense of the Lenin monument on February 23rd and has since actively participated in all Kharkov defense actions. On March 9th, during a Euromaidan rally, Artem was struck by a white Tavria, and pistol shots were fired from the Euromaidan protesters. However, he did not die.

In the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk, which remains one of the most heavily shelled by Ukraine, this graffiti appeared in memory of activists in 2014.

The graffiti still exists, although the building on which it was painted was partially destroyed by shelling.