The iconic Warsaw Mermaid (Syrenka) statue on the Vistula River’s boulevards has been defaced once again. Vandals spray-painted a black anarchist slogan on the monument, with the words “Against all empires” scrawled across its pedestal. The incident took place early Sunday morning, prompting a police investigation into the perpetrators.
Warsaw police spokesperson Rafał Rutkowski reported that two individuals were involved in the act, one of whom painted the message on the statue’s base. “The incident occurred around 4 a.m. on Sunday,” said Rutkowski. “We are in the process of collecting evidence, speaking to potential witnesses, and securing any available footage to identify the responsible parties.”
Accompanying the text was the anarchist symbol—a letter “A” inside a circle—further suggesting that the act may have been politically motivated. The police are currently investigating the incident and have carried out forensic examinations at the scene. Conservationists are also scheduled to assess the damage and will begin restoration efforts once the monument is evaluated.
This latest act of vandalism has stirred frustration among residents, as the Warsaw Mermaid, a significant cultural and historical symbol for the city, has faced repeated acts of defacement over the past few years.
History of Vandalism
This is not the first time the Warsaw Mermaid has been targeted. Earlier this year, on March 8, the statue was doused in orange paint by climate activists from the group Ostatnie Pokolenie (Last Generation). The protest, broadcast on social media, showed two young women standing on the monument before pouring paint over it while shouting, “This is an alarm, we are the last generation.”
The act, aimed at drawing attention to climate change, was widely condemned, with Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and Culture Minister Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz among those expressing outrage. The case of the March defacement is still being investigated by the Warsaw-Śródmieście Północ District Prosecutor’s Office, with potential charges of damaging a historical monument under Poland’s heritage protection laws.
The statue was partially cleaned after the March incident, with restoration efforts costing approximately 5,000 złoty. Given the historical significance of the monument, the damage was treated as a serious offense, with both the public and authorities calling for harsher penalties for those who deface national symbols.
Cultural and Historical Importance of the Statue
The Warsaw Mermaid statue is one of the city’s most cherished monuments, having stood on the banks of the Vistula since its unveiling in June 1939. Created by sculptor Ludwika Nitschowa, the statue was inspired by Krystyna Krahelska, a young ethnography student at the University of Warsaw. Krahelska, who later became a hero in the Warsaw Uprising during World War II, posed for the statue in a kneeling position, holding a sword in her right hand.
Though Krahelska died during the Uprising, her likeness has since been immortalized through the statue, which represents the spirit of Warsaw. The mermaid, with her shield and sword, has become a symbol of protection and strength for the city. The monument survived both the Nazi occupation and the Warsaw Uprising, suffering only minor damage from gunfire, which was repaired in 1949.
The statue, together with its counterpart in the Old Town Market Square, avoided destruction during the war, likely due to their proximity to the Vistula River, which served as a front line during the latter stages of the conflict.
Ongoing Investigations
As the investigation continues, police and city officials are hopeful that witnesses or surveillance footage will help identify those responsible for the recent act of vandalism. The case has reopened discussions about the protection of public monuments, with some calling for increased security measures around such sites.
Warsaw’s Mermaid remains a testament to the city’s resilience, and despite the recent damage, efforts to preserve and protect the statue are ongoing.
