“Zla Mavka”: the resistance of Ukrainian women during the occupation.
By seizing new territories, Russia also seeks to erase the national identity of local residents. It is important for the enemy that people give up their state in favor of another. After all, this, in particular, helps to maintain control over the seized lands. However, Ukrainians remain in the temporarily occupied territories who do not want to put up with the “Russian peace” and strive to help the defense forces to liberate these territories as soon as possible. Among them is the “Zla Mavka” association.
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Author: Sofia Panasiuk
October 2024, secret location, Ukraine
On our website, we document the diaries of those who have remained under occupation and are waiting for the return of the Ukrainian flag over their city. It was time for the three co-founders to get together and share their stories. For the first time, we met in person and heard each other’s stories: what is our experience of living under occupation and what helps us to continue the work of the “Zla Mavka”. How did the “Zla Mavka” begin?
Mavka 2: The idea of creating a movement, as they say, was in the air. Because it was very hard to look at the invaders in my hometown, to see their tricolor rags and to be afraid to listen to Ukrainian songs. That’s why I wanted to do something.
Mavka 1: Even before the creation of our movement, we were constantly helping various activists. But then, when the resistance went underground, we wanted to show the orcs the resistance of Ukrainian women.
Mavka 3: At first, it was a kind of resistance out of principle. When you know that the circumstances are stronger, but you do it anyway.
Mavka 1: To show that our women are brave, strong, and we will never coddle them here. The first steps were postcards. We came up with pictures and messages that would make the occupiers very angry and distributed them where they would definitely see them. Then we decided to create a telegram channel to show people what we were doing and what was happening here. And it started to take off. Women and girls from other occupied cities started writing to us, asking us to send them our postcards so that they could do the same. We did not expect so many of them 🙂
Counterfeit banknotes and burned flags Mavka 3: The first fake campaign banknote was cool. Because they were freaking out so much on their channels and in their comments. It was fun to watch the reaction. And the funny thing is that people started discussing it even more when an English newspaper wrote about it. That is, instead of approving the idea they were promoting, saying what a trifle it was, they actually promoted it themselves.
Mavka 1: The worst thing so far has been burning Russian flags…. You don’t want to do it somewhere in the yard, you want to do it right there, so that the occupiers can see it not from the telegram channel. Sometimes you have to return to the place five times to do something like this because something prevented you from doing it before. One case was the most unexpected… In the process, a woman appeared… She sees me, I see her, we just stand there in a stupor looking at each other, and then she smiles and says: “Come on, hurry up, there’s a patrol car driving by, you’d better go down X street.” I was dumbfounded, but I ran quickly and with a smile – OURS!
Mavka 2: Girls and women saw what we were doing and joined us. I was sure that our women would immediately take up the cause, even though you girls didn’t think it would be so serious at first.
I helped more in the beginning. When the occupiers went from house to house asking for moonshine or food, I thought: why not? I know how to cook, so what if a little laxative got into the food, it happens. And moonshine is a dangerous thing. Maybe I didn’t watch it properly. That’s how the idea for Mavka’s Kitchen came about.
Our driving force is people
Mavka 3: A movement like ours doesn’t need a lot of financial or material resources. Anyone who has a printer at home can print a poster, newspaper, sticker, or even a banknote. Human resources are the most difficult thing. You need trust and you need to overcome fear. Even one newspaper, poster, or sticker is a small personal victory for the person who is able to do it.
Mavka 1: You have to consider a lot of nuances before you even hang up that leaflet. By the way, that’s why it’s very offensive when Ukrainians write that we do bullshit that means nothing. Every time you flinch at every sound, shadow, or just your own fear. Sometimes these situations are real: someone looks out the window (and there are plenty of people who like to inform you), a car drives by, or something else… Every time you think that’s it, they’re going to catch you… But then, like in a fog, you quickly do what you have to do and run away. And even when you are safe, you don’t feel it. What if someone saw you? Or maybe there was a camera somewhere that you didn’t see? Or maybe they will find you….
First of all, you need motivation, inspiration and faith in victory. The material issue is not particularly important here. You need money, of course, but nothing special. You need a lot of eyes and ears. In order for people to continue to resist, they need to know that they are doing it for a reason. We often notice that as soon as there is good news from Ukraine or from the battlefield, the number of activists increases. People are inspired and ready to act again. But it also works the other way around – everyone reads the Internet, and it’s very easy to demotivate.
I remember how delighted the movement members were when they saw photos from different countries where women were drawing our symbol on their hands! It was a bomb. Mavkas wrote a lot back then, and I remember one message: “I don’t know how you did it, but thank you. It was so important for me to see that we were not forgotten, that we are proud of us and that we continue to fight for us-it gave me the strength to keep fighting.”
Mavka 2: We are friends, even if I am older than many, people come to me for advice or, if it is really hard, to cry quietly. A lot of girls from different cities write to me for advice or just to discuss something about the occupation. Then the girls come to me, we sit down together and start answering everyone. It’s like some kind of anonymous women’s club. I’d really like to meet some of them after the liberation, we have never seen each other, but we are friends now. Valuing freedom
Mavka 2: Before the occupation, we didn’t notice many things that you feel very acutely now. This is the opportunity to speak the language you want, not to hide your thoughts. It’s funny, but I even miss our Ukrainian products, which I am used to. Unfortunately, time passes, and people get used to this life. This is probably the worst thing.
Mavka 1: The occupiers devalue our actions in their publics, repeating that we are some kind of rats or do not exist at all. But, guys, why do you send the Unarmy to paint over our graffiti? The worst thing for them is to admit that we exist. Because then they would have to admit that they don’t have as much support here as they say in their propaganda. This is our main task, to show the world that we are here and that people are waiting for Ukraine!
Mavka 2: First of all, we are distinguished from Russians by a sense of inner freedom. It is inherent in us. They do not realize that something depends on them, they are like sheep going to the slaughter. And we are used to changing the hetman whom we do not like.
Mavka 1: We are not only not brothers, but not even distant relatives. They have no inner culture, taste, critical thinking, inner freedom, no self, dignity, will, and much more. They have no truth.
Mavka 2: Sometimes you think that maybe it’s all in vain, maybe they really came for a long time, but then you say to yourself: “Do your job, and our guys will come.” Let these racist monsters see every day that we cannot be broken and will never be “Russians.” Fight and you will overcome
Mavka 3: Planning, order, and busyness help to keep in touch with peaceful life. So that there is no time for bad thoughts and whining.
Mavka 1: A photo of my grandfather helps me… He is from Donbas, in the photo he is wearing an embroidered shirt, handsome, smart… When I am not strong, I imagine what he would say about all this… And then I do! I get up and go do what I need to do.
The best advice was given to all of us a long time ago: “Fight and you will overcome”. Everyone chooses their own path, everyone does what they can and what they see fit. The main thing is that we have the same goal – Ukraine!
Mavka 3: The main lesson I remember from our activities is that you should never talk about your plans in advance – you can jinx it, make God laugh, and let the enemy know.
Mavka 1: You have much more power in your hands than you think. You realize that your every action matters, and it inspires you. You realize that Ukrainians are really cool! And Ukrainian women are even cooler than Marvel superheroes. Also, don’t respond to comments on the Internet 🙂
Mavka 2: There is one lesson for our whole country: “If you chase a Katsap from everywhere, let him die in a pit by the road. You give him water, and he shits on the doorstep.”
