How a fearless all-female Ukrainian resistance group has taken to circulating counterfeit rubles with a VERY direct message to the Russian occupiers that would value them their lives

Lots of of fifty Ruble notes are showing throughout the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine – from Melitopol, Berdyansk and Tomak in southern Ukraine all the best way to Sevastopol and Yalta in Crimea.

However these are not any peculiar Russian banknotes.

The truth is, they’re a part of a marketing campaign designed to undermine the Russian occupation by a Ukrainian, all-female and non-violent resistance group that emerged within the Russian-controlled metropolis of Melitopol late final 12 months. 

Making use of intricate graphic design abilities, the ladies have doctored the normal 50 Ruble be aware to show what was as soon as a instrument of Russian oppression into an emblem of Ukrainian defiance, carrying a robust message to any of the occupiers who might imagine they’re fortunate to stumble throughout the ‘free cash’.

The group is named Mavka, after the feminine forest spirit from Ukrainian and Russian folklore and mythology. Mavka is a long-haired lady, usually seen as a temptress determine who lures males into the woods and to their deaths.

Mavka is utilizing its activists on the bottom to unfold the financial institution notes at nice private threat. If caught they could possibly be arrested, imprisoned or worse.

Lots of of the counterfeit banknotes, which look much like the unique (each pictured), are showing throughout the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine

They’re showing outdoors Russian banks on fences, by the facet of roads and even by the ocean. 

As quickly as they occupy a territory, the Russians begin forcing the locals to begin utilizing Russian foreign money as a substitute of the Ukranian hryvnia. So far as Moscow is worried, that is key to integrating the territories into the Russian Federation.

That is why Mavka has focused the notes as one of many final symbols of Russia’s oppressive occupation.

On the centre of the be aware – in its conventional type – stands a feminine determine: the Monument of Neva, that sits in St Petersburg,  seen holding a sceptre. 

However the activists have turned the sceptre into maybe the final word image of the Ukrainian nation: the Trident (tryzub). The determine has additionally been given a floral headdress, within the Ukrainian model, and carries the acquainted facial options of the Mavka character.

Within the prime left nook of the be aware is the image for the Financial institution of Russia. However ‘financial institution of Russia’ has been modified to ‘Financial institution of indignant Mavka’. 

The Russian be aware has a line on the prime saying ‘Banknote of Russia’ and on the backside saying ‘Fifty Roubles’. These traces now learn ‘This isn’t Russia’ and ‘You’re in Ukraine!’

Within the backside left-hand nook, the be aware reads ‘counterfeiting can be prosecuted’. This has been modified to learn ‘the Rouble is as nugatory as Putin’s threats to Prigozhin’. It’s a calculated jibe that mocks the tumbling Russian foreign money which has fallen considerably for the reason that begin of Russia’s all-out invasion in February of final 12 months.

However greater than that, it strikes on the coronary heart of the Russian management’s weak level.

It a month since Yevgeny Prigozhin, the top of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, launched an aborted coup towards the Russian management by marching his military virtually 750km up southern Russia, and getting virtually to Moscow earlier than he introduced he was calling the tried revolt off.

It a month since Yevgeny Prigozhin, pictured, the top of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, launched an aborted coup towards the Russian management by marching his military virtually 750km up southern Russia, and getting virtually to Moscow

Putin had threatened to deal mercilessly with the rebels, however in the long run he was compelled to make a deal: providing Prigozhin and his males immunity in change for standing down. What makes issues worse is that he was compelled to make use of his henchmen and mini-me, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko because the go-between.

The notes are a part of a marketing campaign designed to undermine the Russian occupation throughout the occupied territories by the all-female, non-violent resistance group known as Mavka 

They’re showing outdoors Russian banks on fences, by the facet of roads and even by the ocean (pictured)

To hammer the purpose dwelling, the financial institution be aware’s serial quantity has been modified to 240623 – 24 July 2023, the date of the tried coup. The 2 letters that go earlier than the quantity have been modified to MC, the initials for the phrase Marsh Spravedlivosti, or March of Justice, which is what Prigozhin labelled his march.

The work of Mavka’s activists is now spreading all through Ukrainian on-line areas. The group’s Telegram is stuffed with pictures of the notes in key factors across the occupied cities and cities – with messages of assist from Ukrainians.

One activist took a photograph of one of many Mavka notes proper in entrance of the Nationwide Financial institution of Russia in Simferopol in occupied Crimea. ‘Ukrainian girls are giving their verdict on the Orcs. Help the ladies’s resistance motion!’ learn one remark. 

‘My awe on the bravery of those girls,’ learn one other.

And it isn’t solely the Ukrainians who’re reacting. Russians are outraged.

The Russian information web site Crimean Information ran an article devoted to furiously ‘debunking’ the banknotes, after which posted the piece by itself Telegram channel. 

It informed its audiences that banknotes ‘parodying’ Russian rubles with a ‘message’ had appeared in Simferopol, Yalta, Sevastopol, in addition to in different cities of ‘new constituent entities of the Russian Federation’.

The photograph, it added, was printed by the’ Ragul – slang for a backwards, rural person- Telegram channel ‘Evil Mavka’. By the use of description, it knowledgeable its reader that ‘in Ukrainian mythology, Mavka is an evil zombie, similar to the undead lady crawling out of the TV within the film ‘The Ring’.’

Thundering impotently, it known as on individuals to ‘write to the organisers of the motion’. 

However it hasn’t stopped Mavka’s work. The group has printed lots of of the notes and are persevering with to bravely unfold them in defiance of Moscow’s oppression.

Because it launched late final 12 months, Mavka has launched a number of campaigns.

Mavka has focused the notes, one of many final symbols of Russia’s oppressive rule as occupied territories are compelled to make use of the rubles as foreign money.

Mavka has a easy message: throughout the Russian-occupied territories Ukrainian girls are indignant. Pictured: One of many notes showing outdoors a financial institution 

One, entitled Mavka’s kitchen, was launched with a video of one of many activists pouring a laxative powder right into a beer bottle. Whereas the group stored the precise particulars of what they did with the bottles a secret, they made it clear that that they had the technique of delivering the bottles straight to the Russian navy.

Mavka has a easy message: throughout the Russian-occupied territories Ukrainian girls are indignant. They’re indignant at Russian occupation; they’re indignant at Russian sexism; and they’re harnessing this anger to undermine and disrupt Russian oppressors.

Mavka resistance fighters put together laxatives so as to add to beer destined for Russian navy

There are lots of tales rising from the warfare in Ukraine, however one is of accelerating feminine company throughout the nation. Similar to right here, in the course of the two world wars, girls throughout Ukraine are stepping as much as do work as soon as thought-about the unique protect of males. They’re doing all the things from navy roles to turning into drivers and fixers for journalists.

And now they’re on the frontlines of Ukraine’s resistance to Russia. Fearless and defiant.