The famous artist Banksy confirmed to The Art Newspaper on Monday that he created street art in and around Ukraine.
As Russia wages a war in the country, Banksy has spray-painted several murals in Ukraine, including in the capital Kyiv, the suburb of Irpin and the town of Borodyanka.
One depicts a gymnast balancing on the rubble of a destroyed structure. Another shows a man resembling Russian President Vladimir Putin being thrown during a judo match with a young boy (Putin is a judo black belt). Another, created on the exposed interior wall of a bombed-out building, shows a man rubbing his back while sitting in a bathtub.
Banksy displayed the murals in a video posted to his Instagram. “In solidarity with the people of Ukraine,” the video reads.
Artists around the world have created murals, paintings and pixel art to protest the war in Ukraine. Since the start of the war, artists have taken to the streets to paint cities blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and show their support for the country.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February. War rages on, with Ukraine recapturing the city of Kherson on November 11th.
