04/24/2026
A Western-funded classified program supported a “non-violent resistance” initiative inside Russian-occupied Ukraine for more than three years that encouraged civilians to engage in “suicidal” activities despite credible reports of the deaths, torture, and imprisonment of activists, the Kyiv Independent can reveal.
Russian-occupied Ukraine is one of the most heavily surveilled and most repressive territories in the world, and some of the activities Yellow Ribbon and its sister initiative Zla Mavka continue to promote are breathtakingly dangerous, including listening to Ukrainian songs in public, taking photographs in public places with pro-Ukrainian symbols, burning Russian flags in public places, and even poisoning Russian soldiers with laxatives.
The Kyiv Independent investigation exposes how a program, generously funded by Western governments, relied on activists risking their lives in occupied Ukraine to keep running, but took no responsibility for their safety.
Read the full investigation: https://kyivindependent.com/investiga…
Photo: David Patrikarakos; Hanna Shelest / Facebook; Yellow Ribbon / Telegram; Lorena Sopena / Getty Images.
Illustration: Kseniia Stepas (@kseniiastepas) / The Kyiv Independent.
© Kyiv Independent 2026
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What an irresponsible thing to do. The number one priority for pro-Ukrainians in cockroach-occupied territory should be their safety. What little acts of resistance some can do is not worth their deaths.