“We beat hitler and will do the same to putler!”

The competition was organized by Camouflage magazine, the National Assembly of Ukraine, the all-Ukrainian civic platform “Ukraine Is Me,” and the civic league “Glory to Ukraine” with support from Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture.

The project was launched at a ceremony in the Glory Hall of the National Museum of the Great Patriotic War, for the names of almost 12,000 Heroes of the Soviet Union, every fifth of them being a Ukrainian, are carved on this room’s walls. These people defended Ukraine 70 years ago, but the bloody sprouts of fascism are still coming up at present. Therefore, to draw the world community’s attention to the attempts of Putin’s regime to restore Nazism and totalitarianism, the organizers have set up a contest to inspire culture figures to fight against this disgraceful phenomenon.

“On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazism, my friends – former army servicemen, artists, musicians, and other intellectuals – and I decided to organize this contest by joint efforts,” says Yurii Yaremenko, an organizer, editor-in-chief of Camouflage. “For, covering itself with the flag of the so-called Russian World, the aggressive imperial Russia has seized a part of our country and is waging a bloody war in the Donbas. We know that it is mindless to fight an ideology by means of tanks and guns alone. We should fight this enemy by     means of intellect, creative work, humor, and satire, as it was done in the years of World War Two. We would thus like to say to other countries that Russia’s aggression is real and so far underestimated in the world. We also aim to rally culture figures around this contest and show our works to the public at large. This will make everybody think: ‘What have I personally done to defend the fatherland?’” 

Camouflage magazine, a contest organizer, has been published for more than 10 years. It was founded by some former servicemen who had once worked in the Defense Ministry’s information structures. “As we have made an all-out effort to fight a hostile ideology, Camouflage is not printed now – there is only an online version,” Yaremenko says. “For you just can’t sit with your arms folded and pretend that nothing is happening.”

The competition “We Beat Hitler and Will Do the Same to Putler!” has the following nominations: song, poetry, cartoon, and video clip. Anyone who considers him- or herself a free creative person can take part. The contest sets no age-related or other restrictions. One contestant can submit not more than 10 works but can take part in all the nominations.

“Both professionals and amateurs can participate in the contest,” Yaremenko says. “For example, a billboard with the same words as the title of our contest, ‘We beat Hitler and will do the same to Putler,’ has already been put up at an entrance to Kyiv. It was drawn by a girl who is not a gainfully employed cartoonist. She does this as an amateur, but the picture shows her anguish over the destiny of Ukraine, so we can’t say that this work is unprofessional.”

The main condition, Yurii says, is that all works must be about Russia’s war against Ukraine or pubic reaction to these events and done in 2014-15 only.

“We have called this contest international and are going to receive works in the Ukrainian, Belarusian, Russian, and, most likely, English languages, for we are also inviting our diasporas to take part,” the organizer added.

Works will be accepted until October 15, and then the jury will name the finalists, winners, and prize-holders. The contest jury includes Volodymyr Kazanevsky, a cartoonist; Oleksandr Klymenko, a photo reporter of the newspaper Holos Ukrainy; Liudmyla Yaremenko, a composer; and Ivan Pietukhov, the jury chairman.

“At first we planned to hold a contest of cartoons only,” organizing committee and jury chairman Ivan Pietukhov says. “But then we decided to add poetry, songs, and video – I think it is right and looks more natural. For we want to show that we are further spreading the values the Maidan stood for. We must not fixate on the negative alone. People are tired of this, and we should conceive this kind of projects.”

According to the well-known Ukrainian cartoonist Volodymyr Kazanevsky, Russia has launched an “excellent” large-scale caricature program against Ukraine. “They recently launched a large-size colored caricature magazine, Sharzh i pero (“Cartoon and Pen”) which is handed out free on the streets – another example of an anti-Ukrainian mood in Russia. So, our contest will not only unite creative people, but also rouse our community for ideological struggle,” Kazanevsky said.

The organizers are now receiving works from the contestants and looking for sponsors.

“We are writing letters to well-known Ukrainian businesspeople who often say they are great patriots of Ukraine – we are thus giving them an opportunity to show this in practice,” Yaremenko added.

It is planned to finish the competition by October 28, 2015, the Day of Ukraine’s Liberation from Nazi Occupation. Winners will be announced and given prizes at a gala concert. The best works will be spread through media partners’ information outlets and in social websites. 

Please, e-mail your works to us at [email protected] or mail them to 01001, Kyiv 1, private box 175.