Biden drops in to show support for Ukraine one year on from Russian invasion
US President Joe Biden came bearing gifts in Mark Knight’s cartoon about the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
READING LEVEL: RED
It’s one year since Russian tanks rolled across the border into Ukraine.
The war has come at a terrible cost: thousands of lives lost, the destruction of towns, cities and livelihoods, and the displacement* of millions of Ukrainians from their homes.
It has also revealed that the mighty Russian war machine might not be so mighty.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrogantly assumed his tank divisions would roll into Ukrainian villages to be greeted by people lining the streets and throwing flowers at the liberating forces from Moscow.
Instead they were throwing bombs.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, a former actor and comedian, was seen as a pushover, inexperienced and no match for Putin.
But cometh the hour, cometh the man*. Zelensky showed he could unite his people to stand and fight, as well as uniting other nations to get behind Ukraine.
When offered refuge in another country following the invasion, he responded: “I need ammunition, not a ride”.
It could have been a line from a Hollywood movie, but this was real life and death. And it lifted the morale* of his people and won him admirers around the world.
US President Joe Biden made a secret visit to Ukrainian capital Kyiv this week to mark the passing of one year since the conflict began.
The sight of Biden and Zelensky hugging in Kyiv’s central square sent a message to Putin and the world that the US was there to support freedom and Ukraine.
This would be my topic for that day’s cartoon.
Both Biden and Zelensky are fantastic to draw. While the new US president is not as colourful as his predecessor*, Biden’s Aviator sunglasses, his aged appearance and at times doddery* body language make for an interesting caricature*.
Zelensky’s bearded face and stern look, coupled with his khaki T-shirt and army pants make him one of my favourites.
In my cartoon, instead of meeting in a palace I thought it would say more if I had Zelensky in an underground bunker, sandbags and battle maps on the wall.
This represents Ukraine’s preparedness to fight, and of course I have the Ukrainian leader dressed in his famous green army T-shirt and pants.
The underground bunker also symbolises how Ukrainians have had to live in a war zone over the past year. It is unfathomable* to think that such destruction can happen to a modern country in our seemingly civilised 21st century world. But it has.
I pictured Biden at the entrance to the bunker in his sunglasses, bearing gifts to mark the sad anniversary of the war.
Like any good superpower ally* he has brought millions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine. To add a touch of humour to an otherwise sad occasion, I had the US president also bring some new khaki T-shirts for the Ukrainian leader. A true friend!
GLOSSARY
- displacement: the action of moving something from its place or position
- cometh the hour, cometh the man: when things get hard, a hero stands up
- morale: the amount of confidence felt by a person or group of people
- predecessor: person who held a job or office before the current holder
- doddery: slow and unsteady, usually because of old age
- caricature: a drawing in which the characteristics of a person or thing are exaggerated
- unfathomable: impossible to understand
- ally: a country that has agreed officially to give help and support to another country
EXTRA READING
Zelensky named Person of the Year 2022
Banksy mural in bombed Ukraine
Ukrainian teens find friends in smiley Sydney
What is happening between Ukraine and Russia?
QUICK QUIZ
- How long has it been since Russia invaded Ukraine?
- Who is the president of Russia?
- What is the capital city of Ukraine?
- What does Volodymyr Zelensky wear that makes Mark Knight enjoy drawing him?
- Why did Mark draw Zelensky in a bunker rather than a palace? What does this represent?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What happens next?
Imagine this cartoon is part of a story that is made up of three cartoons. The three cartoons tell a complete story, and Mark’s cartoon is the start of the story. Think about what the story could be and draw the next two cartoons that tell the story.
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts, Visual Communication Design, Critical and Creative Thinking
2. Extension
Being able to draw is only one of the skills needed to be a great cartoonist. Write a list of all of the other skills that you think cartoonists like Mark need to do their job.
Next to each skill, write a sentence that explains why that skill is important or helps them to do a great job.
Time: allow at least 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social Capability, Media Arts, Visual Communication Design
VCOP ACTIVITY
Describe it
Look at the cartoon and make a list of five nouns that you see. Then describe those five nouns with five adjectives. Now add a preposition to those five nouns and adjectives.
Finally, choose your favourite bundle and put all the words together to make one descriptive sentence.