He painted her for three months — stopping every time the sirens came, starting again every time the sky cleared.
Artist Oleksandr Korban created the mural "Вільна" ("Free") on a wall in Kyiv's DVRZ district. No projector. No tracing. Straight onto the surface, freehand. Dozens of air alert interruptions. The girl has no name — she is, the artist says, every Ukrainian woman who waits, hopes, and believes.
That's not just paint on a wall. That's what staying looks like.
Re: Ukraine war thread
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2026 4:12 pm
by Dr Strangelove
Financial Support for Ukraine: The European Union has approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine following the withdrawal of the Hungarian veto (0:00-1:07). This funding is intended to bolster the military, stabilize the national budget, and strengthen energy defenses.
Ukrainian Drone Operations: Ukraine continues to successfully target critical Russian infrastructure. Notably, a refinery in Tuapse has been on fire for over a week, leading to reports of oil covering the surrounding area (1:21-2:38). Additionally, Ukraine struck a petrochemical plant in Novokuybyshevsk and an FSB command post in occupied Donetsk, reportedly killing 12 officers (2:38-3:48).
Economic Instability in Russia: Russian leadership is facing internal dissent regarding the state of the economy. Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party, warned of the potential for a revolution similar to 1917 if economic issues are not addressed (4:57-6:14). There are also reports that the government is scaling back business subsidies due to a lack of funds (6:35-7:00).
International Tensions: The video touches on the strained relationship between Italy and Russia following insults directed at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by Russian state media (11:07-13:30). Furthermore, Ukraine is gaining recognition for its advanced drone technology, which is now being deployed to protect air bases in the Middle East (23:23-24:11).
Humanitarian Symbolism: The video concludes by showcasing a powerful installation involving 20,000 teddy bears, each representing a child abducted by Russia during the conflict (24:35-26:24).