In the face of a brutal Russian occupation, the women of Ukraine are refusing to be silenced. From the Crimean Peninsula to the Luhansk region, hundreds have coalesced into an underground resistance network known as Zla Mavka – the “wicked forest spirits.” Through clandestine acts of rebellion, these courageous activists risk their freedom and lives to send a defiant message: Ukraine will never submit to Russian rule.
Flowers Rejected, Posters Appeared
The movement emerged on International Women’s Day 2023, as Russian soldiers handed out bouquets to promote a facade of goodwill. Yet under the cover of darkness, Zla Mavka members plastered the occupied cities with posters of a Ukrainian woman in traditional garb, smashing flowers over a Russian soldier’s head. “I don’t want flowers,” the slogan proclaimed. “I want my Ukraine.” This provocative imagery became the calling card of the resistance.
Thorn in the Occupiers’ Side
Since those initial posters, Zla Mavka has evolved into a tightly-coordinated operation aimed at undermining Russian authority. Members distribute pro-Ukrainian newsletters, burn Russian propaganda, and litter the streets with fake rubles mocking key moments like the bombing of the Crimean Bridge. “We piss off the occupiers, give them a headache and don’t let them forget that they are occupiers here,” one anonymous founder declared. The threat of arrest or worse always looms, but the women persist undeterred.
Solidarity in Anonymity
Secrecy is paramount for the hundreds of Zla Mavka women. They connect via encrypted chats, sharing photos of their exploits and firsthand accounts of life under occupation. Identities are fiercely guarded, even from each other. This veil of anonymity has fostered a tight-knit support network that extends beyond the resistance itself. “They understand each other’s daily problems,” said Olha, a Zla Mavka helper in free Ukraine. “It has become more and more of a women’s community.”
Unfiltered Glimpses of Occupation
The women’s anonymous accounts paint a vivid and often harrowing picture of the Russian occupation’s impact:
- Compromised education – Ukrainian schools now teach Russian curricula
- Demographic shifts – An influx of Russian families move into occupied areas
- Painful separations – Ukrainian men forcibly drafted into the Russian army
“I’m writing to you, girls, and crying… They took my son. Told him that he was going to serve in the military… And now I’m crying, and don’t know what to do.”
Anonymous Ukrainian mother
A Spreading Rebellion
The “wicked forest spirits” are gradually gaining visibility beyond the occupied zones. A touring exhibition called “Unseen Force” is showcasing their resistance across free Ukraine, with stops in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa. The displays feature illustrations of the women’s diary entries, shedding light on their perilous struggle.
In the face of tyranny and subjugation, the women of Zla Mavka have chosen the path of bold, unyielding resistance. Their grassroots movement is a beacon of inspiration, exemplifying the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people. As the valiant “forest spirits” continue their fight in the shadows, all of Ukraine rallies behind their courageous sisterhood. For they know that together, no occupying force can extinguish the flame of freedom that burns in every Ukrainian heart.