Signs Of Dissent: Russia's Quiet Anti-War Protests
- By Amos Chapple
A Telegram channel with thousands of subscribers is compiling the small, but dangerous anti-war messages appearing on the streets of Russia and purportedly at Russian military positions in Ukraine.
1
Bullets arranged into the words “No to war” on a camouflaged backpack.
This is one of several images purporting to have been taken by members of the Russian military that was shared to the Telegram channel Wake Up Russia earlier this year.
This is one of several images purporting to have been taken by members of the Russian military that was shared to the Telegram channel Wake Up Russia earlier this year.
2
A peace sign made from ammunition, purportedly at a Russian position in Ukraine.
The Wake Up Russia channel was created in March 2022, the month after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Wake Up Russia channel was created in March 2022, the month after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
3
A delivery worker and the words "You ordered peace."
Wake Up Russia describes itself as “a community of conscious Russian citizens who have made their choice and are trying to ‘awaken’ others.”
Wake Up Russia describes itself as “a community of conscious Russian citizens who have made their choice and are trying to ‘awaken’ others.”
4
A mock postage stamp featuring soldiers with the text: “Yesterday an idiot, today a killer, tomorrow a corpse.”
Placing stickers such as this is in public in Russia is done at the risk of severe punishment under wartime laws.
Placing stickers such as this is in public in Russia is done at the risk of severe punishment under wartime laws.
5
An anti-war artwork emplaced on a street in St. Petersburg.
Vaguely worded laws about “discrediting” the Russian military have resulted in yearslong prison terms for anti-war activists.
Vaguely worded laws about “discrediting” the Russian military have resulted in yearslong prison terms for anti-war activists.
6
A peace sign scraped into the snow in St. Petersburg.
The Wake Up Russia Telegram channel focuses on dissent within Russia, but also features some of the many creative acts of defiance by Russians abroad.
The Wake Up Russia Telegram channel focuses on dissent within Russia, but also features some of the many creative acts of defiance by Russians abroad.
7
This Russian activist watches Swan Lake outside the Russian Embassy in The Hague. The protester is referencing the Soviet convention of broadcasting the ballet on state TV in the wake of the death of a leader in the Kremlin.
8
A graph in St. Petersburg purporting to chart “hope and fear” through the past four decades.
Some of the posts shared by Wake Up Russia include personal messages from those sending images to the channel.
Some of the posts shared by Wake Up Russia include personal messages from those sending images to the channel.
9
The father of the woman tying these ribbons was drafted into the Russian military according to one post on the channel.
The ribbons feature the phrases “Russian families for peace” and “Women for life”
The ribbons feature the phrases “Russian families for peace” and “Women for life”
10
Russian President Vladimir Putin is depicted crawling down past evolving humans who remark that “he’s a thief and a murderer.”
11
A tiny figure holding a sign saying “I want peace” in St. Petersburg.
