Veterans and students came together to plant trees in downtown Barnaul. And then somebody dug them up.

The people of Barnaul came together on Thursday, April 28, and planted 25 trees in the city's Victory Square park at a charity event called “Victory Forest.” Veterans, local university students, railway officials, and city authorities grabbed shovels and watering cans, and installed spruce trees, elms, cherry trees, and more.

And later that night somebody came by and stole 13 trees, ripping them out from the ground at the roots.

Police investigating the theft say they've discovered a trail of dirt leading from the park to a house around the corner. The city's officials are demanding that the perpetrators be found and brought to justice. There's already a new event scheduled for Saturday, April 30, rain or shine, to replace the stolen trees.