## Resistance fighter: “The Russian world will disappear”
*by Stefan Schocher, Dec 17 2023*
*The WZ (Vienna newspaper) has made contact with a civilian resistance group in Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine.*
—
It has swallowed Ivan, the Russian world, the Russki Mir. But hope has remained. Hope is a word that Ivan often uses. The hope of liberation, the hope of an end to this war, the hope that the eastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, Ivan’s hometown, will one day no longer be absorbed by this Russian world. And he is actively working in the resistance to make this happen.
Ivan is a coordinator for the “Yellow Ribbons”, a civil resistance group in the region. He coordinates actions in which leaflets are distributed, graffiti is painted, blue and yellow ribbons or flags are displayed or gas balloons are dropped over the city. That may sound like drops of water falling on granite.
### Anything can be interpreted as an insult to Russia
But under an occupying regime whose primary goal is the eradication of Ukraine, and which goes over dead bodies to achieve this, any sign of life of a Ukrainian self-image is a blow that stings. And so it is enough to wear a blue jacket and yellow socks to end up in a torture cellar, as Ivan says. But actually, much less is enough. Anything, really anything, can be interpreted and punished as an insult to Russia – and will be.
Just recently, a young woman in Crimea was forced to publicly apologize for insulting Russia in a video message. She had posted a photo of a cocktail on a social network – with a yellow and a blue straw in the glass. And for her, things ended relatively lightly. As a result, Ivan does not show his face in this conversation. He can’t give his real name either.
### At the center of the resistance
Melitopol is a city of once 153,000 inhabitants. Since February 26, 2022, Melitopol has been occupied by the Russian army and is one of the Russian supply hubs in southern Ukraine. But Melitopol has also always been a center of Ukrainian resistance. Partisans are active in the region. Targeted assassinations occur here time and again. The Russian troops are correspondingly nervous. And for a while in early summer, it even looked as if the Russians were preparing their hasty withdrawal. In the spring, says Ivan, everyone in the town said that they would spend the summer, the fall, maybe even the winter, in freedom. But now it’s winter. And the Russians? They are still there.
It’s a bit demotivating that it’s taking so long, says Ivan. It now looks as if nothing will happen, at least over the winter. But he also says: “We’ll wait.” Because what else is there to do? And in the meantime? You just do what you can – just like before. They are networking, planning actions, disseminating information, gathering information about Russian crimes against humanity – the Yellow Ribbons are cooperating with the most respected Ukrainian NGOs in this field: ZMINA, Krym-SOS and Ukraina.Pyata Ranku. It is clear to him, says Ivan, that Russia is prepared for a long war – just like he is. Russia is not planning to leave – just like him. This is where hope comes into play. Because the longer it lasts, the more it clings on, the Russian world in Ukraine.
### Unconditional obedience to Moscow
The Russian world means unconditional obedience to the regime in Moscow. When the region was occupied, nothing worked for the first few months, says Ivan: hospitals, authorities, schools, public transport. There were even protests on the streets – unthinkable today. Today, however, life is at least one thing, as Ivan puts it: “More predictable.” The stores are open and full of products from Crimea, Russia and Iran, the schools are open, albeit to a limited extent, because there are far fewer pupils in the city and there is a lack of teachers – and, of course, they teach according to the Russian curriculum. But what also works is the police and repressive apparatus. Street protests or open resistance are out of the question today. Protesting is life-threatening. And then there is the matter of the Russian passport.
### Nothing works without a Russian passport
Without a Russian passport, nothing works in the occupied territories: no medical care, no medication, no school places, no transfer payments, no work. Even traveling from city to city is not possible – because you can’t get through the checkpoints. He doesn’t have one himself. So Ivan is stuck.
The passports issued by the Russian authorities in Ukraine are second-class documents anyway. Those who want to enter Russia with them are instructed at the border to have the document renewed at the nearest competent passport authority. The reason: the issuing authority, which makes it clear that the holder is Ukrainian. Many would accept the passport in order to survive.
The yellow ribbons would also advise their activists to accept the passport – for practical reasons. Even the Ukrainian government had given this advice to citizens living under occupation. “Live, survive and resist” – that’s how Ivan sums up his existence.
**part 2 in reply to this comment**
good stuff
good article, good translation. thanks
Shocking. All those who want a ‘negotiated settlement’ ie Russia keeping occupied territory should have this rammed down their throats
5 comments
*Translation*:
## Resistance fighter: “The Russian world will disappear”
*by Stefan Schocher, Dec 17 2023*
*The WZ (Vienna newspaper) has made contact with a civilian resistance group in Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine.*
—
It has swallowed Ivan, the Russian world, the Russki Mir. But hope has remained. Hope is a word that Ivan often uses. The hope of liberation, the hope of an end to this war, the hope that the eastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, Ivan’s hometown, will one day no longer be absorbed by this Russian world. And he is actively working in the resistance to make this happen.
Ivan is a coordinator for the “Yellow Ribbons”, a civil resistance group in the region. He coordinates actions in which leaflets are distributed, graffiti is painted, blue and yellow ribbons or flags are displayed or gas balloons are dropped over the city. That may sound like drops of water falling on granite.
### Anything can be interpreted as an insult to Russia
But under an occupying regime whose primary goal is the eradication of Ukraine, and which goes over dead bodies to achieve this, any sign of life of a Ukrainian self-image is a blow that stings. And so it is enough to wear a blue jacket and yellow socks to end up in a torture cellar, as Ivan says. But actually, much less is enough. Anything, really anything, can be interpreted and punished as an insult to Russia – and will be.
Just recently, a young woman in Crimea was forced to publicly apologize for insulting Russia in a video message. She had posted a photo of a cocktail on a social network – with a yellow and a blue straw in the glass. And for her, things ended relatively lightly. As a result, Ivan does not show his face in this conversation. He can’t give his real name either.
### At the center of the resistance
Melitopol is a city of once 153,000 inhabitants. Since February 26, 2022, Melitopol has been occupied by the Russian army and is one of the Russian supply hubs in southern Ukraine. But Melitopol has also always been a center of Ukrainian resistance. Partisans are active in the region. Targeted assassinations occur here time and again. The Russian troops are correspondingly nervous. And for a while in early summer, it even looked as if the Russians were preparing their hasty withdrawal. In the spring, says Ivan, everyone in the town said that they would spend the summer, the fall, maybe even the winter, in freedom. But now it’s winter. And the Russians? They are still there.
It’s a bit demotivating that it’s taking so long, says Ivan. It now looks as if nothing will happen, at least over the winter. But he also says: “We’ll wait.” Because what else is there to do? And in the meantime? You just do what you can – just like before. They are networking, planning actions, disseminating information, gathering information about Russian crimes against humanity – the Yellow Ribbons are cooperating with the most respected Ukrainian NGOs in this field: ZMINA, Krym-SOS and Ukraina.Pyata Ranku. It is clear to him, says Ivan, that Russia is prepared for a long war – just like he is. Russia is not planning to leave – just like him. This is where hope comes into play. Because the longer it lasts, the more it clings on, the Russian world in Ukraine.
### Unconditional obedience to Moscow
The Russian world means unconditional obedience to the regime in Moscow. When the region was occupied, nothing worked for the first few months, says Ivan: hospitals, authorities, schools, public transport. There were even protests on the streets – unthinkable today. Today, however, life is at least one thing, as Ivan puts it: “More predictable.” The stores are open and full of products from Crimea, Russia and Iran, the schools are open, albeit to a limited extent, because there are far fewer pupils in the city and there is a lack of teachers – and, of course, they teach according to the Russian curriculum. But what also works is the police and repressive apparatus. Street protests or open resistance are out of the question today. Protesting is life-threatening. And then there is the matter of the Russian passport.
### Nothing works without a Russian passport
Without a Russian passport, nothing works in the occupied territories: no medical care, no medication, no school places, no transfer payments, no work. Even traveling from city to city is not possible – because you can’t get through the checkpoints. He doesn’t have one himself. So Ivan is stuck.
The passports issued by the Russian authorities in Ukraine are second-class documents anyway. Those who want to enter Russia with them are instructed at the border to have the document renewed at the nearest competent passport authority. The reason: the issuing authority, which makes it clear that the holder is Ukrainian. Many would accept the passport in order to survive.
The yellow ribbons would also advise their activists to accept the passport – for practical reasons. Even the Ukrainian government had given this advice to citizens living under occupation. “Live, survive and resist” – that’s how Ivan sums up his existence.
**part 2 in reply to this comment**
good stuff
good article, good translation. thanks
Shocking. All those who want a ‘negotiated settlement’ ie Russia keeping occupied territory should have this rammed down their throats
>The Russian world will disappear
I sure hope so