Time for Change

Time for Change is a large-scale mural created in Kyiv in 2014 as an artistic response to Russian aggression. More than street art, it reads as a visual manifesto, combining surreal imagery, political satire and belief in victory. The mural is located on Yaroslaviv Val Street, about a ten-minute walk from the Golden Gate.

The scene unfolds as a dramatic clash of forces. At the centre stands a powerful Cossack, symbolising Ukrainian strength and freedom, confronting a dark, unsettling creature. The mural is packed with details: a destroyed tank; a monkey holding a grenade — a satirical image of Russian soldiers; and a snake wrapped around the planet, holding an hourglass. Inside it, a human figure appears transformed by propaganda.

There are also symbols of hope. One of them is Lutsk Castle, the same fortress shown on the 200-hryvnia banknote. While the stork on the banknote flies away, here it returns — a quiet sign of renewal and faith in Ukraine’s victory.

Photos: funtime website