SpongeBob SquarePants

Syracuse native Tom Kenny is the voice of the titular sea sponge on the U.S. animated series "SpongeBob SquarePants."

(Nickelodeon video still)

"SpongeBob SquarePants" has inspired vandalism in Russia.

The Moscow Times reports a decorative Soviet-era star on a tower in the city of Voronezh was painted to look like the American cartoon character's sidekick Patrick, a pink starfish. The incident occurred Oct. 25 and will cost 100,000 rubles ($1,530) to clean and restore.

Photos of the stunt leaked Thursday and spread on social media throughout the weekend. Voronezh police have not identified any suspects, who will face up to 15 days in detention for the stunt.

According to RT, the building is not considered a memorial, but officials say it still has Soviet symbols.

Или меня подвели мои глаза... Или звезда на доме № 48 по улице 25-летия Октября ПРЕВРАТИЛАСЬ В ПАТРИКА! https://t.co/Tl579Bx9b1 pic.twitter.com/K1LAdf8VeA — KP.RU - Воронеж (@KPVRN) November 10, 2016

The Moscow Times reports the building's rooftop was previously targeted in a prank last year. A crane was required to remove a "Jolly Rodger" flag left on top of the rooftop spire.

RT adds protesters placed a Ukrainian flag on top of the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment building in Moscow in 2014.

"SpongeBob SquarePants" has aired in the U.S. on Nickelodeon since 1999 and inspired several films, comic books, theme park rides, music albums and video games. Syracuse native Tom Kenny is the voice of the titular character, a sea sponge who works as a fry cook at the underwater Krusty Krab restaurant.