The Ukrainian Weekly
July 19, 2024
by OREST DEYCHAKIWSKY
Resistance to foreign occupation has been a feature throughout Ukraine’s troubled history. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Zaporizhian Cossacks challenged Polish and later Muscovite rule, as did the peasant Haydamak rebellions. Less known is rebel Ustym Karmaliuk’s guerilla army of 20,000 that conducted some 1,000 raids on estates of Poles and Russians in the Russian empire over 20 years, ending in the early 1830s. The turbulent 20th century saw many expressions of resistance, both violent and non-violent, such as Ukraine’s 1918-1921 War of Independence, peasant opposition to collectivization in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and the armed struggle of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which fought the Soviets into the early 1950s. The 1970s and 1980s saw the non-violent Ukrainian dissident movement, including the Ukrainian Helsinki Monitoring Group. The waning years of Soviet rule saw massive peaceful protests, such as the 1990 human chain that linked some 3 million people from Kyiv to Lviv.
Since 2014, and especially following Russia’s full-fledged February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, an active partisan movement has been engaged in acts of resistance in Ukrainian lands occupied by Russia. As I outlined in my last column, the situation for Ukrainians living in the nearly 20 percent of territory under Russian control is appalling. Life there includes a level of human rights abuses, repression and often savagery not seen since Stalinist times. The Russians and their collaborators are working systematically to Russify the population and eradicate all expression of Ukrainian identity.
Nevertheless, at tremendous risk to themselves, countless brave Ukrainian citizens in subjugated Crimea, Luhansk and parts of the Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson oblasts resist, wanting nothing more than to live as free people in their own country.
This partisan movement has kept Russian military forces and authorities off-balance. It also further makes a lie of the absurd notion that Ukrainians – many of them traditionally Russian-speaking – living in these territories are happy with Russian rule. On the contrary, Moscow has permanently alienated the vast majority of Ukrainians living in the occupied regions.
Resistance takes many forms. It encompasses lethal activities, such as assassinations and killings of Russian occupation forces and authorities and their collaborators. Reportedly, hundreds have been eliminated. Many have been poisoned. Acts of sabotage against the enemy’s key assets occur, including by disrupting supply lines. Ukrainian fighters monitor and transmit the coordinates of locations of Russian troops and infrastructure to Ukrainian Special Forces. This intelligence and other support of Ukrainian military operations have been invaluable to Ukraine’s war effort.
Part of the partisan movement involves professional operatives from Ukrainian military intelligence, Special Forces or other special outfits. There is also a National Resistance Center that trains and coordinates resistance movements in the occupied regions.
Non-violent resistance has flourished and has involved tens of thousands of Ukrainians. It includes displaying Ukrainian symbols in public places, posting flyers or anti-Russian graffiti and refusing Russian passports or Russian car license plates. Even speaking Ukrainian at home or reading Ukrainian books is a form of private resistance.
Many of these clandestine movements have grown organically – they are spontaneous, anonymous, creative and innovative. They operate independently, with informal, mostly digital, linkages. The role of technology has been profound. These groups often utilize their own anonymous communication platforms to share information and resources and coordinate activities.
The harsh and unrelenting crackdowns by the Russians since the illegal annexation of Crimea have not dissuaded underground activity on the peninsula. On the contrary, it has grown since February 2022. One of the most important partisan groups is Atesh, named after the Crimean Tatar word for fire. It was founded in September 2022 and claims to have several thousand members, with some 500 regularly active in various operations. The group engages in reconnaissance, direct partisan action and information campaigns. Atesh has played a significant role in successful Ukrainian efforts to degrade Russia’s capabilities on the peninsula and in the Black Sea. Atesh also has active operations in Russia.
Another movement is the Yellow Ribbon Group (YRG), which originated in occupied Kherson. After the city’s liberation in November 2022, the group’s activities spread to other occupied lands. Among their numerous activities, the group exposed the identities and activities of occupation administration quislings. There are thousands of active users of its Telegram chatbot, where Yellow Ribbon shares advice on non-violent resistance, cyber security and legal issues.
Another group is Angry Mavka (“Zla Mavka”), which began in Melitopol. It is made up of women responding to Russian aggression, especially sexual assaults. One of their creative endeavors was to orchestrate the production of counterfeit 50 ruble notes with clever anti-Russian, pro-Ukrainian messages and symbols, and circulating them in other occupied areas.
The underground movement goes beyond these groups. Obviously, we don’t know the full scope of the resistance – nor should we. And we know that the Russians have all manner of “countersubversion” measures to try and stifle the resistance.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has produced a comprehensive report written by Senior Associate Jade McGlynn on this topic. It provides solid information, insight and recommendations, including for organizations and individuals who would like to support the resistance. It is titled Crossing Thresholds: Ukrainian Resistance to Russian Occupation, and can be found on the organization’s website (csis.org).
Ukrainians have different motivations for joining these underground movements, but what unites them is a firm determination to resist Russian oppression despite the incredible risks and
dangers. These countless individuals are nothing short of heroes. Their valiant acts and quiet courage have not received the attention they deserve. They need to be recognized, appreciated, applauded and supported as they continue to play a vital role in liberating all of Ukraine from Russia’s brutal subjugation.
Orest Deychakiwsky may be reached at orestdeychak@gmail.com.