Ukrainians Underground: How Zla Mavka wields artwork as armour and paints hope in occupied cities

Amid the grave conflict that has been raging on between Russia and Ukraine for 3 years, one would discover stunning artworks on the streets of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. The artworks will symbolise resistance and hope to numerous Ukrainians residing within the area that at some point the conflict might be over and their properties might be free from any type of occupation.

These artworks featured girls standing their floor and “combating the evil”. When the necessity for discretion arises, the streets of occupied territories get full of a tiny image, a circle over a triangle, as soon as once more representing a girl standing on her floor. The creator of those artworks is an all-woman non-violent resistance group, Zla Mavka. The title attracts inspiration from a mythological story.

Within the first a part of the
Ukrainian Underground Sequence, we bought to find out about a resistance group known as Yellow Ribbon, which has been elevating its voice towards Russia’s occupation by tying yellow ribbons in several occupied territories.

For the second a part of the sequence, Firstpost’s Bhagyasree Sengupta spoke to an activist from Zla Mavka. For security causes, the activist requested anonymity. The dialog was insightful as she spoke concerning the group, and what it takes to withstand the Russian occupation.

Offended Mavkas

Zla Mavka is an all-woman Ukrainian non-violent resistance motion, which was began within the occupied metropolis of
Melitopol in early 2023. When Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, three Ukrainian girls determined to face towards the Russian aggression.

When requested by Firstpost why they name themselves Zla Mavka, the activist shared the story behind the title. “The Mavka is a personality from the Ukrainian mythology. It was a fairy story about feminine spirits who defend the forest from unhealthy guys, who attempt to come to their house,” she stated.

“So, after we created our motion, we determined that it will be like an excellent state of this character.” The group additionally has a reputation for Russian troopers who’re deployed within the occupied territory. They usually referred to the Russian troops as “orcs”, the brutish fighters from JRR Tolkien’s well-known sequence “The Lord of the Rings”.

“It was enjoyable, you realize, like Mavka towards orcs. And the one factor that we added was ‘Zla’ to start with, which implies indignant. So, it’s like indignant Mavka,” she stated.

The group began creating posters based mostly on the mythological character, which they discreetly placed on partitions and lamp posts throughout the road in occupied territories. One of many posts of the Ukrainian group that garnered consideration in India was a video that paid homage to the ‘Nitingal on India’ Sarojini Naidu, who resisted the British colonisers in India.

When requested concerning the inspiration behind the publish, the activist from the Ukrainian group stated that they initially didn’t have the talent for resistance, however in a while, they took inspiration from world wide.

“We weren’t ready for this. It’s simply common girls with completely different sorts of professions, and we didn’t have the abilities. So when our motion began, we began to study experiences all around the world and particularly the experiences of sturdy girls in historical past. It was very inspiring,” she stated.

“Non-violence is the best pressure on the disposal of mankind.” #GandhiJayanti
100 years in the past Sarojini Naidu protested, immediately @MavkaZla resist. #NonViolenceDay is a vital reminder towards what we struggle. Occasions are altering – the ladies’s resistance continues@kavita_krishnan pic.twitter.com/EZqpVRXEBB

— Зла Мавка (@MavkaZla) October 2, 2024

“So we determined to incorporate her character within the video to inform her story, additionally as a result of it may be an excellent instance to different girls right here.”

The story behind the artworks

One of many USPs of the Zla Mavka motion is the truth that the group makes use of stunning artworks as an emblem of resistance. They create stunning illustrations of Mavaka (The Ukrainian mythological character) combating Russian troopers. Whereas talking to Firstpost, the Zla Mavka activist emphasised that these artworks are extraordinarily necessary for the group.

“To begin with, earlier than the conflict began, certainly one of us was an artist, and he or she began creating these posters and designs herself. As a result of you possibly can’t make a resistance right here overtly, for instance, like going to the assembly corridor or on the road. We determined that artwork might be excellent for exhibiting our messages on the streets, within the media, on-line and offline.”

“So we additionally make jokes, we simply chortle on the occupiers and that is what piss them,” she stated. Nonetheless, the Ukrainian activist identified that it’s turning into troublesome, 12 months after 12 months, to withstand by placing out artworks as a result of intense Russian scrutiny.

“It’s an enormous drawback as a result of Russian occupiers are looking for activists. They put an enormous variety of cameras, patrols and so forth and so forth,” she stated.

Regardless of this, the resistance doesn’t cease for Zla Mavkas as they discover different methods to specific their discontent with the draconian Russian regime. “So we’ve to be inventive and discover new concepts to withstand. “For instance, we use pumpkins and candles, you realize, some stuff that everyone can discover, simply to not get caught by the occupiers and nonetheless unfold the message,” the Zla Mavka defined.

So, how does the group work amid the Russian scrutiny

Crackdown on dissenters and heavy surveillance have been a typical theme in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Within the midst of this, including folks to a resistance motion and making certain their security is usually a laborious activity. When requested about how the group recruits its members, Zla Mavka activist emphasises that they at all times keep on alert.

“Recruit wouldn’t be the precise phrase as a result of we don’t ask any person to do one thing. We simply do what we do, and ladies come to us themselves, saying they want to be a part of. It doesn’t imply that they are going to go, for instance, tomorrow to burn the Russian flag or to make graffiti,” she stated.

“A few of them are scared to do such issues, so we ask them to typically write for our ‘Diaries From Occupation’. So, girls are writing their tales of an everyday life in occupation. A few of them make graffiti and burn Russian flags.”

“Now we have a chatbot, Telegram and some different locations the place folks can write, and we are going to reply them. However, after all, we by no means meet them, like, personally, you realize, and we don’t know one another,” she stated. And that’s the place the important thing part of the motion lies. Not figuring out one another, their names or any form of details about one another is a particularly necessary part of the Zla Mavka motion. This ensures the protection and anonymity of all of the members.

The Ukrainian activist talked about that the group has sure security guidelines for all its members. When requested extra about what these guidelines are, she stated: “We be taught them from ourselves, it’s like from our experiences. To begin with, it’s, after all, on-line security, methods to clear your cellphone, as a result of your cellphone will be checked on the road or hacked. Easy methods to make calls and messaging protected. Easy methods to share data safely.”

“We even have security guidelines on the bottom. How to not be caught on the cameras, for instance, there are some we are able to’t share,” she averred, making certain the protection of different activists.

How locals are reacting to it

Does the existence of such teams elevate the morale of the Ukrainian folks residing in occupied territories? The Ukrainian activist emphasised that the existence of resistance teams like these is necessary not solely to interrupt the Russian propaganda but additionally to make Ukrainians really feel that they don’t seem to be alone.

“We’re receiving numerous messages from folks, even those that are usually not within the group, saying ’thanks, I noticed your poster, I really feel so good as a result of I do know that I’m not alone’,” she stated.

Speaking concerning the dire circumstances within the area, the Zla Mavka activist emphasised that lately Ukrainians within the area can’t even communicate to their associates and even typically their households.

“So once they see these resistance indicators, they see that they don’t seem to be alone, you realize, and this is essential for them. They see that, whereas resistance is constant, it signifies that the Russians haven’t gained but. As a result of there’s nonetheless resistance, and this provides them hope,” she stated.

In gentle of this, Zla Mavka has initiated a solidarity marketing campaign by which folks all around the world can be a part of the resistance. “Folks from all around the world, from India, additionally began to ship us pictures with their arms with the emblem of the motion. We present them to activists. It’s inspiring for them to know that folks all around the world don’t overlook about them,” she furthered.

She emphasised that numerous Ukrainians who’re nonetheless residing within the area as a result of they don’t have selections. “Actions like these present that people who find themselves right here didn’t settle for Russia; they’re right here as a result of they simply couldn’t go away their properties.”

Zla Mavka up towards a mighty state

The Zla Mavka activist instructed Firstpost that whereas there aren’t any enormous bombings in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, the lives of people that dwell right here will be extraordinarily laborious. A few of these challenges are as follows:

### **The Russian 'misinformation machine'**

In Might, there have been reviews of a sabotage of a Russian navy practice in Meltiopol. When requested if Zla Mavka had something to do with it, as some reviews urged, the Ukrainian activist made it clear that the reviews have been “enormous disinformation”, they usually simply reported on the incident.

“We at all times say that Zla Mavaka is a non-violent resistance group. This is essential as a result of we don’t wish to trigger sabotage, particularly with the navy. We don’t wish to put girls who joined us in danger,” she stated.

“We simply reported that some activists did this, some partisans and a few media simply picked this data, beginning to say that this was our motion. However this isn’t true.” The Zla Mavaka activist emphasised that disinformation like that is usually helpful for Russians to accuse the group of doing one thing violent.

### **The wrath of Russian spies**

Whereas the conflict is being performed out in areas which are nonetheless below Ukraine, the locals in Russia-occupied territories should navigate throught Russian wrath and intelligence. “The laborious factor right here is Russian intelligence, FSB and different navy teams that attempt to search all activists and never even activists,” the Zla Mavaka instructed Firstpost.

“They’re looking pro-Ukrainian folks. So, you will be arrested right here for a publish. In social media, should you say Putin is unhealthy or something pro-Ukraine, you will be arrested only for this.”

The Ukrainian activist famous that the group is to provide its activists assist within the type of ideas and guidelines on methods to be protected. The group can be writing down and documenting numerous violence and sexual abuse towards girls within the area by the Russian occupiers.

“I believe will probably be essential to doc all this stuff, to report, to gather all details about their crimes within the occupied territories. However even to do that, it’s important to create numerous security guidelines for all activists who even wish to share data,” she stated.

### **Adapting to a nonetheless evolving disaster**

With the rise of the Ukrainian resistance group in Russian-occupied territories, the Russian authorities have to vary their techniques to curb the voices of the dissenters. The teams then should adapt themselves to remain underground.

“There are extra brokers deployed within the area, and there are extra searches and circumstances. In order that they have change into angrier,” she stated.

“We’re an issue for his or her propaganda. They’re saying that folks listed below are proud of Russia and completely satisfied to have a Russian passport. Then, if you go to the web, you see completely different teams making resistance, you get a special picture,” the Ukrainian activist defined.

“They attempt to discover, arrest, and deport folks from these territories,” she added. The Ukrainian activist warned that if these territories proceed to stay below Russian occupation, the Russian forces will change into “freer” with regards to unleashing their wrath.

‘The resistance gained’t cease’

All through the interview, the Ukrainian activist made it clear that her group wouldn’t cease resisting till the Russians go away the Ukrainian territories. Final week, Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy went to Rome to garner assist from Kyiv’s Western allies. Whereas the thought of a peace deal has been floating for some time, the hope for Russia’s leaving the already occupied territories appears bleak.

When Firstpost requested concerning the grim prospects, the Zla Mavka activist stated, “Resistance is not going to cease right here as a result of the one possibility that we are going to settle for is that we are going to be a part of Ukraine once more. We’re Ukrainians, we want to see Russians out of our properties. As a result of folks is not going to cease resisting till then.”

“Folks listed below are listening to our president Zelensky quite a bit on the web, for them, what he’s saying is essential. They’re seeing that our president is on our aspect, and he’s doing all the pieces he can.”

“The factor is that we want extra assist. The world ought to unite to kick out the Russians and put them of their place. As a result of the Russian invasion is not going to cease right here in Ukraine. It would go to completely different nations,” she stated.

What Zla Mavka desires to inform the world

When requested about what Zla Mavka’s message to the world is, the group’s activist first began off by thanking folks world wide for his or her assist. “I wish to thank all of them, we hear them, we see how the worldwide group helps Ukraine and helps folks in occupied territories. We obtained all their messages. Lots of people all around the world, from America to India, write us messages with solidarity, with supportive phrases, asking how they may help,” she stated.

“The one message I can ship is that folks actually have energy, and if we’re all united, we are able to win towards any evil. So, good guys should win. We are going to proceed to struggle. The Ukrainian activist additionally had a message for US President
Donald Trump, who threatened 100% sanctions towards Russia earlier this week.

“We actually hope that lastly he understands who Putin is and that Putin is only a massive liar. Perhaps he simply doesn’t have sufficient details about issues which are occurring right here, particularly the occupation with all of the crimes of Russians right here. We don’t have any messages, simply hope,” she concluded.