KYIV, Ukraine –
Ukrainians are marking their patriotism with new tattoos as more evidence emerges of how Russian forces have targeted male civilians.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a May 5 statement to the United Nations Security Council: “The men were detained, beaten, executed immediately and in some cases. cases, sent to Belarus and Russia. “As of May 4, my office has recorded 180 such cases, of which the last 5 victims were found dead.”
But in Kyiv, tattoo artist Ruslan Tsvetnov says attacks on civilians have not stopped a large number of clients from wanting patriotic symbols like the Ukrainian trident.
“I warned them of the risks,” he told CTV National News’ national affairs correspondent Omar Sachedina. “It’s a visible target for the enemy.”
That doesn’t bother Viktor, who is tattooing at Tsvetnov’s studio.
“Ukraine is part of me and I am part of it,” he told CTV National News.
Ana Sybirska has a new tattoo with a clear message: “Russian warships go on their own.” Those words commemorate the response of a Ukrainian soldier when asked to surrender to a ship believed to be the Moscow that is now sunk.
People were starting to return to the capital, where Sybirska had stayed during the war. She said she travels to the frontline with friends to deliver medical supplies and equipment and will do so as soon as possible.
“Nobody knows what will happen,” she told CTV News, referring to the Russian president. “Who knows what this crazy man [Putin] will do?”
