With works that resemble bullets, tanks and peace doves, resisting Russia's invasion is inspiring a new wave of designs reflecting a country, society and artistic scene transformed by the four-year conflict.The shift is being driven by demand from both the military and civilians."It's part of a soldier's identity," said Illia, a 26-year-old craftsman with the Karpenko brand, holding the just-finished pendant resembling the blades of a reconnaissance drone.The brand also makes pendants with stones from Snake Island -- the Black Sea outpost that became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance after a radio exchange of Kyiv's soldiers' expletive-laden rebuff to a Russian warship's demand to surrender went viral.
Military-inspired pendants are used to honour fallen comrades © Tetiana DZHAFAROVA / AFP
"They in a certain way identify a soldier. If you work with drones, it is visible that you work with drones. If you are in a tank...," he said.Its founder, Oleksii, joined the army after Russia invaded in 2022 and the company markets itself as "from a soldier for soldiers"."There are brigades -- entire large brigades -- that order corporate orders. They order pendants for the whole unit," said manager Svitlana Karpliuk. Military-inspired pendants are the most popular product -- also used to "honour" fallen comrades, she added.Many of the designs -- particularly small drone-themed pendants -- are popular among civilians, too.Symbols of warAt the Karpenko workshop, a woman was buffing and polishing a chunky silver bracelet in the shape of tank tracks.Through four years of relentless Russian attacks, many Ukrainians have imbued parts of the war into their daily life -- adopting the symbols of conflict to show their defiance or remember those killed.
