Ukrainian artist creates mural of resistance on school ruins after Russian missile strike

Espreso shares the stories of local residents and their efforts to rebuild their homes after the devastation caused by Russian attacks.

In the fall of 2023, Russia struck the school in Zarichne, Zaporizhzhia region, with two Iskander missiles, preventing the planned 50th anniversary celebration for the local school.

“Today, you can see what our school has turned into. We were preparing to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary, but Russia didn’t let that happen,” said Iryna, principal of Zarichne Gymnasium.

Over a hundred children from Zarichne continue their studies online. Eighty of them remain in the village, despite fighting taking place just 20 kilometers away.

Amid the school’s ruins, a new symbol of resistance has appeared. Artist Andrii Yermolenko, a Shevchenko Prize laureate, painted a mural as part of the Murals of Resistance initiative. The artwork is not just a painting but a tribute to the past and a powerful call to action.

“I wouldn’t normally want a skull and bones on a school wall, but now that it’s destroyed, I can allow myself to do it - to declare that even in death, we will seek revenge on our enemy and continue to resist,” said the artist.

Thanks to the Murals of Resistance project, more murals will appear in other frontline cities of the country. It is a joint initiative of the Resistance Movement and the National Resistance Center.