Banksy's Art Amid Ukraine's Rubble

The Wall Street Journal chronicles how Ukrainian cities and its postal service have preserved and commemorated seven murals the British graffiti Banksy created on war-ravaged buildings last November.

One depicts a young boy in a judo gi flipping a full-grown man, symbolizing Ukraine's resolve to fight and defeat Putin's Russia.

"The painting is one of seven that turned up in Ukraine in November 2022 – two in Kyiv and five in towns that had lived through the hell of Russian occupation: Irpin, Borodyanka, Hostomel, and Horenka. The surreal compositions painted on the walls of the ruined houses depict subjects such as gymnasts, and old man taking a bath, and a woman in a gas mask holding a fire extinguisher.

"Because the figures look like ghosts among the ruins of once-prosperous suburbs, there was a chance the British artist's visual jokes would offend people who had lost their houses and loved one and had faced intimidation, torture, and worse during the occupation. But the murals' effect was the opposite: Ukraine fell instantly in love with Banksy."