Zla Mavka's diaries of occupation. Photo source: “Zla Mavka” telegram channel.

Find Part One of this story here!

Another key aspect of Zla Mavka’s activism is producing a weekly newspaper. Accessing accurate information in occupied territories is challenging, Mavka One explains, discussing the motivation behind launching this publication.

“Finding news is easy these days, but not for everyone in occupied areas. For example, the older generation, who might not know how to bypass blocks or use VPN, or simply don’t want to risk searching for Ukrainian channels, are left relying on their televisions. And we all know what that means — they’re only exposed to Russian propaganda.”

The idea to create a newspaper struck Mavka Two during a visit to a friend outside the city. She noticed that her acquaintances were watching Russian news on TV and that they thought that was enough, choosing not to look for any alternative sources of information.

Zla Mavka’s weekly newspaper. Photo source: “Zla Mavka” telegram channel.

Now, the Zla Mavka team puts together a weekly summary of key events happening in Ukraine. They distribute printed copies of the newspaper through mailboxes, leave them by front doors, and drop them in parks, encouraging readers to pass them along to others after reading. The electronic version of the newspaper can also be downloaded from their Telegram bot. Mavka Three recalls instances where people downloaded the newspaper and shared it further via messaging apps. Such actions also bolster the movement:

“Even sharing one newspaper, poster, or sticker is already a small personal victory for someone who manages to do it.”

The Zla Mavka movement operates without sponsors or funding and typically doesn’t require large budgets. Anyone who wants to join the movement can contribute; if they have a printer at home, they can print posters, newspapers, stickers, or even counterfeit banknotes for their next act. What truly matters for the movement’s functioning is strong morale, Mavka One explains.

“We need motivation, inspiration, and faith in victory above all else. Material concerns aren’t our main focus here. Sure, money is needed, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. What we really need are more eyes and ears. For people to keep resisting, they need to feel that their efforts aren’t in vain. We often notice that the number of activists rises whenever good news comes from Ukraine or the battlefield. People feel inspired and ready to take action again. But it works the other way too — everyone’s reading online, and it’s all too easy to lose motivation.”

That’s why Mavkas consider supporting other women in the occupied territories another vital aspect of their work. They remind these women that they have someone to turn to, to talk to, and that others share their thoughts and views. Mavka One makes an effort to keep participants from dwelling on their sadness, while Mavka Three adds that even simple conversations often make a real difference.

“This isn’t about persuading anyone to think differently but about providing friendly, mutual psychological support. It’s like chatting with a friend in the evening. That’s the vibe of our Telegram channel – everything is infused with sarcasm and humour.”

Mavka Two mentions that the three of them often respond to messages from participants together.

“We’re friends. Even though I’m older than many, they come to me for advice or just to cry quietly when things get tough. Many girls from different cities reach out to me for advice or just to discuss life under occupation. Then [the Mavkas] come to me, we sit down together, and we start responding to everyone. It’s like an anonymous women’s club. I genuinely hope to meet some of them after liberation; we’ve never seen each other, but it already feels like we’re friends.”

The Mavkas also noticed how vital it is for women in the occupied territories to feel supported by those in Ukraine or abroad.

“I remember how thrilled they were when they saw photos of women from different countries painting our symbol on their arms! It was truly amazing,” Mavka One recalls. “Lots of Mavkas wrote to us back then, but one message particularly resonated with me: ‘I don’t know how you did it, but thank you. It meant the world to me to see that we haven’t been forgotten, that people are proud of us and keep fighting for us — that gave me the strength to keep fighting.’”

Zla Mavka's supporters across the world. Photo source: “Zla Mavka” telegram channel.

What’s truly disheartening, however, is the criticism suggesting Zla Mavka’s actions are insufficient, and the participants could be trying harder. The founders find it strange to read such comments, particularly from those who aren’t in Ukraine. Conducting open resistance in occupied territories is incredibly challenging, as the Russians have installed surveillance cameras throughout the streets and plan to set up facial recognition technology soon. The occupiers check people on the streets, carry out searches, and do everything they can to make life difficult for both activists and ordinary citizens, explains Mavka One.

“You have to consider a lot of factors before even putting up that poster. And that’s precisely why it hurts when fellow Ukrainians write that we’re doing some pointless nonsense. You flinch at every sound, every shadow, or even from your own fear. Sometimes, this fear is valid: someone might peek out from a window (and there are plenty of informers around), a car drives past, or something else happens… Each time you think, ‘This is it, I’m going to get caught…’ But then, as if you’re in a fog, you quickly do what you need to and escape. And even when you’re safe, you don’t feel safe. What if someone saw you? What if there was a camera you missed? What if they find you…?”

Life under occupation imposes severe restrictions, making basic survival the greatest challenge. The Mavkas observe that the longer the occupation drags on, the harder it becomes for people to resist and maintain hope. With restrictions on information, struggles to meet basic needs, and psychological pressure from the Russians, Mavka Two feels that such conditions compel people to better understand and appreciate what they had before.

For the Mavkas, this means one thing: becoming more resourceful, exploring new ways of resistance while staying anonymous, and keeping morale high.

Fight and you will prevail

The co-founders make all decisions about Zla Mavka’s activities, but only if everyone is on board. Other participants who join take responsibility for their own safety and the risks involved. Mavka Three explains that the safety rules are always consistent.

“The orcs (Russians — ed.) will arrest you for a Mavka sticker as easily as for a newspaper. Burning a Russian flag is probably the riskiest act. We carefully discuss who will do it, whether there are any cameras and the best time to carry it out. Plus, we never share the results immediately [online] to avoid tipping off the enemy.”

For this reason, the Mavkas try to only document their activities through their own resources, such as a website section called “Mavka Diaries”, their Telegram channel, or partnerships with journalists. They try to avoid keeping any personal records, as Mavka Three explains. “That would be like building a criminal case against yourself in a Russian court.”

There’s also the psychological pressure. For the Mavkas, it’s mainly the presence of the enemy occupying their homeland. They also endure online harassment, receiving offensive comments and mass sexist threats in their Telegram channel or on enemy platforms. The Russians often try to hack Zla Mavka’s social media accounts, setting up clones of their chatbots or fake movement accounts to communicate with local residents. At the same time, as Mavka One points out, the occupiers try to downplay the movement’s existence.

“They belittle our actions in their public forums, calling us rats or insisting that we don’t exist at all. But seriously, guys, why are you sending the Youth Army to cover up our graffiti if that’s the case? The worst thing for them is to admit that we are here. Because then they have to admit that they don’t have the support they claim in their propaganda. That’s our main mission: we show the world that we exist and that people here are waiting for Ukraine!”

These obstacles do not diminish the Zla Mavkas’ determination to continue their resistance. The women want to make it clear to the Russians that they haven’t accepted the occupation. As Mavka Two puts it, “Sometimes you wonder if it’s all in vain and they really came to stay. But then you tell yourself, ‘Do your job, and our guys will come.’”

One of Mavkas in occupied Melitopol. Photo source: “Zla Mavka” telegram channel.

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Part three soon!
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The 1015th day of a ten-year invasion that has been going on for centuries.

One day closer to victory.

🇺🇦 HEROIAM SLAVA! 🇺🇦