A Ukrainian mother has said that she and her six-year-old daughter spoke to Banksy while he painted an image of a small child judo-throwing a man, The Mirror reports. Yula Patoku came across the artwork, which salutes Ukraine's defiance of Russia, while the anonymous graffiti-artist painted a mural on a damaged building in the town of Borodianka.
Yula told the Daily Mirror: “I chatted with Banksy, not knowing who he was, as he created this artwork and when he spoke to my daughter she told him she liked it. She told Banksy she thought it was like a child saving his father from being attacked by a monster – a bit like Ukraine rescuing the world from something evil, like Russia.
“The image is Ukraine beating Russia for sure but it is different perhaps from a child’s eyes. Others see it as the young Ukraine battering the evil terrorism of older Russia.”
The Bristol-based artist is believed to have travelled to the Kyiv region of Ukraine in October to create the scene. A broken wall in a town damaged months before by Russian artillery and warplane strikes served as Banksy's canvas.
Yula’s sister Oksana Koronik, 47, a mum of two, said: “This place was devastated by those monsters. Who would do such a thing?
“I love this artwork. For me it is youthful and potent, defiant Ukraine fighting and winning against the monster of Russia – or President Zelensky beating Putin in a fight.
“It will be here forever as a reminder of how we stood up to Putin.”
The importance of the piece to locals is illustrated by officials erecting a plastic covering around it, with potential vandals warned motion sensors will summon a "rapid response team" to the scene should anyone get close. Banksy is believed to have put up seven pieces during his visit to Ukraine.
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