The exhibition "State of Defiance" about the resistance of Ukrainians during the temporary occupation will open in Brussels

A pop-up exhibition tells the story of the resilience and resistance of Ukrainians living under occupation. It’s organised by the Yellow Ribbon civil resistance movement of Ukraine. 

The Yellow Ribbon movement started in 2022 in Kherson by local activists and has now spread to all temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine. Activists hang or paint the ribbon, pro-Ukrainian posters and graffiti on the streets as a sign of resistance. 

What can you see at the exhibition?

Six anonymous stories of real activists that have not been shown anywhere: a girl who worked as an SMM manager, an accountant, a car mechanic, and people from different areas. 

Real artefacts brought from Ukraine tell stories of resistance from 6 regions of Ukraine. For example, a fence from Kherson. It has bullet holes, painted yellow ribbon and the words:  “Kherson is Ukraine”. 

Or a replica of a poster painted by activists on the back of a children's album. People in the occupation use every material for resistance – clothes, sheets etc. Russians even track people who buy blue and yellow paint. The poster says, "There won't be a referendum. Instead, there will be a court in The Hague."

Interactive video content, for example, three peepholes on the wall through which people can watch videos of how the resistance operates, f.e., activists projecting the words “Armed Forces of Ukraine” on the walls of the local Russian administration or someone painting the resistance graffiti in Crimea. All photos/videos are real and sent by the movement participants.