Flowers over bullets

March 8 holds a rich cultural significance in Russia. This Women's Day, the holiday saw two very different versions take place.

The first, a traditional celebration where flowers and gifts are given to female loved ones.

The second, a protest against the War in Ukraine, where flowers became an act of political resistance.

Accounts such as @Fem_antiwar_resistance on Instagram proposed a protest against receiving flowers this year. The post translates to:

"Don’t give us flowers, it’s better to take to the streets and lay them in memory of the dead civilians of Ukraine, against which our country unleashed aggressive hostilities, or lay flowers already donated to monuments: flowers are better than bullets.

March 8 is the day of struggle for women's rights, today we are fighting for peace for Ukrainians and Ukrainian women."

Scenes from around Saint-Petersburg and the rest of Russia, show a nation in turmoil.

Usually dressed in wreaths on Victory Day, Eternal Flame monuments across the country were decorated to honour the victims in Ukraine.

[Women of Russia against war.]

Kievskaya Metro Station, Moscow.

Memorial to the women who defended Leningrad, Saint-Petersburg.

Sticker:"flowers, not bullets.."

The white-blue-white tricolour flag has been assimilated as an emblem for Anti-War protestors in Russia.

Removing the red stripe to disassociate from the symbolism of blood and Soviet nostalgia.

Green Ribbons dotted around Russia are a symbol representing those that are against the war with Ukraine.

One of many ways in which people have displayed their objection.

"Against war"

"Be Brave."

"Stop shooting"

"Putin stole everything from us."

A country divided...

Poster reads:

_{"We - are not him [Putin.]

Don't give him your future, go out, speak out, speak!"}

_{Graffiti reads: "Z"
#WeDon'tAbandonOurOwn}

"Lovely ladies want peace and love."

Moscow.

This poem, pinned to a bus stop in Moscow translates to:

"They are congratulating all of the lovely ladies at work,
Im blocking the Telegram chats- I’m all worked up,
At night, a loud knock on our door,
We sat together,
Then a neighbour felt ill,
Blood Pressure,
We helped the old woman,
Then the Paramedic came,
We’re going to sleep,
But the seduction of notifications is drawing me
To read,
Arrests, New laws, bombing,
Goodbye Visa [company],
I can’t say we weren’t expecting,
A surprise,
O, welcome Russian “peace/world”
Beautiful New,
Strongly, our Russian Leader,
Is not well,
Tomorrow we’ll also escape from OMON [special purpose Police Dept.],
NO TO WAR,
Glue, scream, Draw on Cardboard,
You’re not in a dream."

Credits

Text: Alfie Lumb and Samanta Gladkauskaite

Translation: Samanta Gladkauskaite

Photo Credit: @fem_antiwar_resistence on Instagram et al.

A country divided...

Poster reads: "We - are not him [Putin.]Don't give him your future, go out, speak out, speak!"

Graffiti reads: "Z"#WeDon'tAbandonOurOwn

Poster reads:

_{"We - are not him [Putin.]

Don't give him your future, go out, speak out, speak!"}

_{Graffiti reads: "Z"
#WeDon'tAbandonOurOwn}