People urged to tie yellow ribbons in support of Ukrainians in Russian-occupied territories
The civil resistance movement “Yellow Ribbon” emerged in the spring of 2022 in Kherson almost immediately after it was occupied by Russian troops and quickly spread to other occupied territories — from Berdyansk to Enerhodar, from Luhansk to Nova Kakhovka, from Crimea to Donbas.
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Despite constant threats to life, abductions, and torture, activists continued their underground protest. Pro-Ukrainian posters and graffiti appeared on city streets, and yellow ribbons were tied on fences, trees, and even occupation administration buildings as a symbol of resistance to the Russian occupation.
The activists also disrupted attempts to hold a sham referendum in Kherson Oblast in the spring of 2022. “Yellow Ribbon” in Kherson Oblast had a happy ending — on Nov. 11, the Ukrainian army liberated Kherson and the entire west bank of Kherson Oblast. However, about 20% of Ukraine's territory remains occupied, and Ukrainians continue to resist there.
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As a sign of support and gratitude to all those who did not break under Russian pressure, on the Day of Dignity and Freedom, the Yellow Ribbon community invites the whole world to join in a flash mob.
“Yellow Ribbon began with a 500-strong rally in Kherson in late April and protests in Berdyansk, Enerhodar, Nova Kakhovka and other cities on May 9, with the goal of disrupting the Russians’ plans to film propaganda stories about ‘liberation,’" says one of the coordinators of the anti-Russian movement.
“We held a few more public protests and realized we had to go underground. Now the movement has thousands of activists in dozens of cities in Zaporizhzhya, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, as well as in Crimea, and the number is growing.
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“We call on the world to support the courageous people who are defying the occupation. On Nov. 21, tie a yellow ribbon on your clothes or place it on your door, balcony, fence, or office as a sign that you support the Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories and their yearning for freedom.”
To learn more about the flash mob and resistance in the temporarily occupied territories, visit the initiative's website.
The "Yellow Ribbon" flash mob was created by the agency Gres Todorchuk and the movement of civil resistance in the temporarily occupied territories "Yellow Ribbon" as part of the project to support Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories #ForeverUkraine.
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
