remediating protest: blog

blogpost 1: Laughing Through the Darkness: Humor as Dissent Amidst Russia's War on Ukraine

Our readings this semester traced political humor's history in Russia, from subtle dissent whispered under Stalin to viral pranks mocking Putin. This lens prompts reflection on humor's role amidst the Kremlin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Can satire retain defiant power against such inhumanity?

Past materials reveal how Russians leverage humor even in dire contexts. Stalin’s Great Terror created covert jokes subtly puncturing his cult of fear (Brandenberger, 2009). Recently, Alexei Navalny’s viral video spoofs galvanized mass protests against authoritarian rule. Yet Navalny crafted those satirical exposes before tanks rolled into Kyiv. In our era of censorship, detention, and untold war crimes, does humor carry the same capacity to speak truth and rally opposition?


Since Putin announced his “special military operation” in February, the Kremlin has imposed strict censorship laws aimed at silencing opposition to the war. The risks of dissent through humor feel higher than ever. However, some defiant strains of anti-war comedy continue to emanate from within Russia itself. For example, popular Russian stand-up comedian Danila Poperechniy tackles the complex issue of "being Russian after 2022." He points out the tension between following Russian laws as a citizen and speaking out against the invasion, noting “there is no easy way 'out'— [of the Russian citizenship], you cannot just stop paying taxes and change your nationality.” Poperechniy satirically responds to Ukrainian followers criticizing him for living in Russia by exclaiming “Surprise-surprise, I haven't chosen this! I am Russian *starts singing a popular Shaman's song*” Through this dark humor, Poperechniy conveys the frustration of ordinary Russian citizens stuck within a system they may not support, while pushing back against assumptions that nationality equals complicity. His comedy highlights that dissent through satire still can still be found within Russia’s borders, though the risks grow steadily graver. [Disclamer: he had to leave Russia soon after he started going on tour with this show and now he lives in the US].


Comedian Kostya Pushkin also navigates the narrow space for dissent, performing stand-up shows in Russia that allude to the horrors of war. He notes that "recently it has started not to be as interesting to watch movies as before. You start watching a horror movie and realize that you have seen worse in Telegram channels [popular Russian social media]." In one biting joke referencing nuclear threats, Pushkin remarks "Have you watched Oppenheimer? No, but I think I will see it soon enough. You know, in 7D with the presence effect." Without directly naming the invasion's violence, Pushkin conveys war's trauma seeping into Russians' everyday lives. He uses allegory to symbolize current dangers, stating "the blackbird must be in the mountains"—code his audience understands for topics too risky to name on stage. This comic double-speak highlights the censorship restricting how Russian cultural figures can discuss the war at home. By alluding to unspeakable horrors through layered metaphors and dark puns, Pushkin practices dissent through satire's versatility in decoding meaning from absence. Though constraints tighten, his comedy continues channeling ordinary Russians' veiled outrage.

Comedians are not the only ones using humor to cope with the invasion's grim reality. The war has sparked a wave of satirical memes and jokes made by both Russians and Ukrainians to mock the violence and Russian imperialism. For example, this popular joke mocks Russia after its defeat in southern Ukraine:

Putin to Shoigu, Russia’s Defense Minister: “Did you take all of Kherson?”

Shoigu: “For now, only Kher.” (a Russian slang term for penis)

The joke plays on the loss of territory in Kherson coupled with crude sexual innuendo directed at the powerful figures of Putin and Shoigu. By mocking Russia’s military failures and emasculating its macho leadership, this humor offers a small chance to laugh in the face of tragedy. It also shows how humor travels across borders, with Russians and Ukrainians exchanging satirical barbs online as a coping mechanism amid fear and loss. The darkness of such war-time jokes reflects the atmosphere of dissent permeating both sides, as humor provides temporary psychic relief from authoritarian violence and its human costs.

The strains of humor weaving through the darkness of Russia's war on Ukraine reveal the resilient, dissenting spirit of people facing extreme oppression. From stand-up comedians using layered allegories to veil their outrage to everyday citizens exchanging jokes online, satirical relief persists even amid grave dangers. These moments of bitter laughter and solidarity reflect our deepest needs for self-expression and dignity when those rights are denied. By continuing to find light through the lens of humor, Russians and Ukrainians alike cling to their humanity in a situation determined to extinguish it. Their whispered jokes and coded quips will one day fill the history books. For now, they write truth across the sky as dissenting flares sent up against the long night, reminding us that oppressive regimes always crack at the seams when met with the liberating force of laughter they seek in vain to silence.

 

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  1. Dear Violetta, thank you so much for the discussion and the great content to watch before going to bed! I think your analysis fits perfectly into the theoretical framework developed by Claudia Smola: in the performances you presented, one can trace the use of Aesopian language, puns and satire in the Soviet manner. In your analysis, you raise important questions about whether a joke on a taboo topic, uttered aloud from the stage of a Russian stand-up club, can undermine the state regime. It's hard to give a simple answer to that question, and I think even Smola, who has spent far more time on her research than probably both of us (me for sure!), avoids it. But I agree with you that modern humor is taking on healing characteristics. I think it's a very Bakhtinian idea that humor helps overcome fear. I would perhaps only add that it is also a cultural code that allows you to identify those of your opinion and circle (although this reminds me of the prank on Slava Komissarenko when one guy in the audience pretended to be a member of the Belarusian KGB - but it could have been real!).

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