Artist Sends Russian Justice Ministry an Illustrated Letter About Ukraine War
Daria Apakhonchich's quarterly report was not what the ministry expected.
The artist Daria Apakhonchich, who was declared a "foreign agent" in 2020, sent a decidedly non-standard quarterly report to the Russian Justice Ministry.
On her Facebook page she explained that every three months she is required by law to send a report on her activities, including details of her income, to the ministry. Since the war began she hadn’t sent in a report, so she decided to send illustrations about what was happening in Ukraine in lieu of a traditional accounting.
She hoped that her letter would be read by someone in the ministry who was still "a living human being."
On her Facebook page she explained that every three months she is required by law to send a report on her activities, including details of her income, to the ministry. Since the war began she hadn’t sent in a report, so she decided to send illustrations about what was happening in Ukraine in lieu of a traditional accounting.
She hoped that her letter would be read by someone in the ministry who was still "a living human being."
Left: (Adding to words on the page): Carrying out criminal orders is a crime!
Right: I address the entire staff of the Russian Ministry of Justice. I believe that the war is a tragedy for some of the people reading this letter.
Right: I address the entire staff of the Russian Ministry of Justice. I believe that the war is a tragedy for some of the people reading this letter.
Daria Apakhonchich / facebook
Left: I decided to do my report as a letter, an appeal, because I don't have any other way to address the government and offcials of Russia. On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine.
Right: It's hard to image what it was like for Ukrainian women and children in cities under siege, in bomb shelters, being shot at.
Right: It's hard to image what it was like for Ukrainian women and children in cities under siege, in bomb shelters, being shot at.
Daria Apakhonchich / facebook
Left: The people of Ukraine live in regular houses, they go to work and raise their children. Why is the Russian army bombing them?
Right: The money Russia is spending on war is enough for everything - education, pensions, medical care.
Right: The money Russia is spending on war is enough for everything - education, pensions, medical care.
Daria Apakhonchich / facebook
Left: This is Kharkov. The Russian army is bombing regular residential housing, hospitals and maternity hospitals.
Right: But all the money in the world won't buy back the lives of the people killed in the war. There aren't official data yet, but Russia and Ukraine have lost about 20,000 soldiers in the war.
Right: But all the money in the world won't buy back the lives of the people killed in the war. There aren't official data yet, but Russia and Ukraine have lost about 20,000 soldiers in the war.
Daria Apakhonchich / facebook
Left: On the next page I show how many Ukrainian children have died as of April 18.
Daria Apakhonchich / facebook
Left: That's official data on children, but thousands of adults have died. And they are all peaceful civilians: moms, dads, grandmas, doctors, teachers, cashiers, students.
Right: There are reports of hundreds of rapes of Ukrainian women and children by Russian soldiers.
Right: There are reports of hundreds of rapes of Ukrainian women and children by Russian soldiers.
Daria Apakhonchich / facebook
Left: Thousands of animals have been killed or died of hunger.
Right: Millions of refugees, mostly women, children and the elderly, have had to seek shelter in other regions.
Right: Millions of refugees, mostly women, children and the elderly, have had to seek shelter in other regions.
Daria Apakhonchich / facebook
Left: This monstrous tragedy was possible because Russians are used to carrying out orders, even if they don't make sense, even if they are criminal.
Right: Soldiers could refuse to fight. And many did. Journalists could refuse to write lies. And many did.
Right: Soldiers could refuse to fight. And many did. Journalists could refuse to write lies. And many did.
Daria Apakhonchich / facebook
Left: I ask you to think about what you can do personally so that the war ends as quickly as possible. Don't be silent, don't lie to people; don't participate; sabotage or just quit.
Right: Thank you for reading my letter. Putin's regime will end one day, but we'll live on - live and rebuild what is being destroyed now.
Right: Thank you for reading my letter. Putin's regime will end one day, but we'll live on - live and rebuild what is being destroyed now.
Daria Apakhonchich / facebook
