Killarney

By Michelle Crean
<h3>Ukrainian refugees living locally feel that letters carved into trees are not pro-Russian symbols.</h3>
The letter &#8216;Z&#8217; on a number of trees in the National Park and in Fossa close to where the refugees are now housed were originally thought to be markings in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, other letters have since been found. 
 Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser this week Maxim, who lives in the Innisfallen Hotel and didn&#8217;t want to give his surname, believes that these symbols are quite old and not related to the marking of the Russian army. In addition, he found other letters on the trees, and said he is not worried about the appearance of these letters. 
 &#8220;I think these signs appeared on the trees before the war,&#8221; Natalya Krasnenkova also told the Killarney Advertiser. &#8220;The war began on February 24. Therefore, botanists and gardeners should check how fresh these signs are. I will also note that in addition to the letter Z, other letters appeared on the trees &#8211; O,E. Therefore, I can assume that someone just cut out his initials or the initials of his beloved. Since all the local people in Killarney treat the trees and the National Park very carefully and neatly, they could not do so. I guess it was done by strangers. And also, this may have been done by teenagers who are prone to bravado and outrageous acts.&#8221;
 Zoia Simanska added when such symbols are used as part of propaganda or support for the Russian army &#8220;it can affect us&#8221;. &#8220;When they are just initials on trees, it is an exaggeration,&#8221; she said.

Sinister markings could be there "before the war"

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