"With Air Raids Becoming Routine, 'In the Worst Case, We Die'... Ukrainians Find Solidarity Through Memes"

Kyiv residents share memes satirizing air raids on social media
Around 100 civilians killed in airstrikes since July
"Solidarity through memes instead of the panic Russia expected"

As Russian air raids continue daily in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, citizens are enduring their everyday lives by sharing memes—online viral content—that put a satirical twist on the fears of war.

On the 28th of last month (local time), after a Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, citizens were seen embracing each other. Photo by AP Yonhap News.

Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote in an article published in the U.S. foreign affairs magazine 'Foreign Affairs' on September 30th (local time), "In recent weeks, Ukrainians have been posting dark jokes on social networking services (SNS), such as ‘Thank God I live in Kyiv; I don’t have to plan for the future.’" The Ukrainian media outlet 'The Telegraph' also curated memes that were shared by Kyiv residents on September 29th.

"Small palaces, sleep well" on tents in the subway station...Solidarity through memes

The joke "Thank God I don’t have to plan for the future" originally spread in the form "Thank God I live in Ukraine," but since the intensified airstrikes in Kyiv at the end of August, variations have appeared replacing "Ukraine" with "Kyiv." Another meme, showing a photo of a subway station crowded with tents, was captioned, "Ukrainian palaces and small palaces. Sleep well." This satirizes the reality of people spending nights in subway stations during air raids.

Self-deprecating meme content from Ukrainian citizens posted on social networking services (SNS). From the left, the phrases read: "It's okay, we'll survive. In the worst case, we die," "Still, it's the beloved Kyiv," "Everything will be fine," and "Total crisis." Thread

Memes introduced by The Telegraph on September 29th included captions such as, "It's okay, we'll survive. In the worst case, we die," "Just in case everything works out, I'm living my life," and "Celebrating another day of waiting for an attack." The outlet reported, "Despite the ongoing attacks, the spirit of the citizens remains unbroken," adding that, "instead of the fear and panic the Kremlin hoped for, online platforms are flooded with memes and jokes satirizing the current situation."

There is also research suggesting this humor helps bind the community together amid crisis. Violeta Symkanych, a cultural studies researcher at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, analyzed memes that went viral during the war in a paper published in June. She stated, "Humorous reinterpretations that have spread widely on social networking sites transform fear and uncertainty into shared experiences, thereby strengthening solidarity and collective resilience."

Unrelenting drone attacks day and night..."This kind of pessimism is a new phenomenon"

This kind of dark humor has emerged against the backdrop of concentrated airstrikes continuing for three months. Since early July, Russia has launched an unprecedentedly intense drone and missile assault on Kyiv. While many drones are shot down, most ballistic missiles breach the air defenses and destroy buildings; so far, about 100 civilians have been killed. On September 8th, a drone hit the building of the broadcaster "My-Ukraine" during a live broadcast, and on the 25th, a drone struck a 25-story apartment building, killing a 14-year-old boy. Since the end of August, drone attacks have occurred day and night, forcing citizens to repeatedly evacuate and return home. According to The Telegraph, from August 27th to 29th alone, air raid sirens sounded 30 times in Kyiv over the course of just three days.

Former Minister Kuleba assessed that Russia’s actions have progressed from occupying cities and targeting infrastructure to disrupting everyday life itself in an attempt to break the will to resist. He wrote, "Civilians have grown accustomed to hardship after five years of war, but this kind of pessimism is a new phenomenon. Previously, daily life itself was not brought to a halt, but now Russia launches projectiles day and night."

He added, "The (drone) terror from the sky has worn down Ukrainian society. Although there are no signs yet of Ukraine reaching a breaking point, no one can say where that limit lies." Furthermore, he stated, "The West needs to work with Ukraine to restore Kyiv to a city where people can plan for the future once again."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.