20 Relatable Comics Showing Life In Ukraine During The War By Yulia Vus

The war in Ukraine began in 2014, but it has been nearly three years since the conflict escalated dramatically. On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion. It is extremely important to continue talking about this war and to remember that Ukrainians are fighting not only for their own freedom but also for the security and values of the rest of Europe.

Scroll down to explore a collection of Yulia’s war-themed comics, as well as other relatable, down-to-earth strips that touch on universal topics we all experience.

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Ukrainian artist comic depicting resilience during war with a house and foot labeled Russia.

Bored Pandareached out to Yulia to learn more about her work and her experiences living and creating during the war. Our first question was about how this talented illustrator from Ukraine decided to pursue a career as an artist. Vus kindly shared with us:“My artistic journey began in childhood — I drew a lot and at different times. I dreamed of being a fashion designer, an archaeologist, later even a marketer. But when it came time to choose a career after school, I returned to art. Surprisingly, my family, none of whom had creative professions, fully supported my decision.I graduated from the Ukrainian Academy of Printing with a specialization in book and printmaking graphics and have followed this path ever since. I started with children’s books and eventually explored other fields. Now, I focus on comics, book illustration, editorial illustration, and advertising.”

“My artistic journey began in childhood — I drew a lot and at different times. I dreamed of being a fashion designer, an archaeologist, later even a marketer. But when it came time to choose a career after school, I returned to art. Surprisingly, my family, none of whom had creative professions, fully supported my decision.

I graduated from the Ukrainian Academy of Printing with a specialization in book and printmaking graphics and have followed this path ever since. I started with children’s books and eventually explored other fields. Now, I focus on comics, book illustration, editorial illustration, and advertising.”

Ukrainian artist’s comic depicts life during war, showing daily moments and challenges faced by people amidst conflict.

Ukrainian artist’s comic illustrating life during war with air raid alarms disrupting daily moments.

When asked what inspired her to choose comics as a medium to portray life during the war in Ukraine, the illustrator responded:“Illustrations can capture what’s happening, but comics take it a step further—they reveal emotions, context, and the reasons behind events. I wanted to tell more.Not everyone can emotionally process the graphic images and videos of war, and comics offer a way to communicate these realities in a form that’s easier for people to engage with. Additionally, during that time, social media was heavily censoring photos and videos—many posts and stories were flagged as sensitive content or removed entirely.”

When asked what inspired her to choose comics as a medium to portray life during the war in Ukraine, the illustrator responded:

“Illustrations can capture what’s happening, but comics take it a step further—they reveal emotions, context, and the reasons behind events. I wanted to tell more.

Not everyone can emotionally process the graphic images and videos of war, and comics offer a way to communicate these realities in a form that’s easier for people to engage with. Additionally, during that time, social media was heavily censoring photos and videos—many posts and stories were flagged as sensitive content or removed entirely.”

Ukrainian artist depicting life during war in comics, showing daily struggles and resilience in various illustrated scenes.

Ukrainian artist’s comic depicting war life, with soldiers, jets, and a child’s letter for their father.

Yulia told us that she doesn’t actively try to balance portraying the harsh realities of war with the everyday moments of life, as: “It mirrors my current reality.” She added: “There’s even a phrase that perfectly captures this state: ‘war-life balance,’” and elaborated further: “We’re now in the third year of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, yet people still have to work, buy groceries, visit the doctor, walk their dogs, and deal with everyday routines. The difference is the unpredictability; at any moment, day or night, there could start an air raid alert. It might last 20 minutes or six hours, and it could pass uneventfully, or bring the terrifying sounds of drones, missiles, and explosions.This happens in the middle of the night, during work calls, or even dental appointments. On top of that, we face power outages (Russia continues to destroy civilian infrastructure across the country)—up to six hours daily in relatively safe areas like mine, and much worse near the frontlines. This chaotic balance inevitably reflects in my life, art, and even in my Instagram feed.”

This happens in the middle of the night, during work calls, or even dental appointments. On top of that, we face power outages (Russia continues to destroy civilian infrastructure across the country)—up to six hours daily in relatively safe areas like mine, and much worse near the frontlines. This chaotic balance inevitably reflects in my life, art, and even in my Instagram feed.”

Comic by Ukrainian artist depicting life during the war with scenes of prep for counteroffensive and military updates.

Comic illustration by Ukrainian artist depicting life during war and everyday moments, showing people in a basement with a cat.

When asked about the role art plays in helping her process the emotional and psychological impact of living through war, Vus explained: “In the early days of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, none of us knew what to do, what tomorrow would bring, or how to stop obsessively scrolling through the news. For the first six months, drawing became a form of self-reflection. I illustrated my life during that period—my thoughts, fears, and emotions—and it brought me some relief.

Ukrainian artist depicts war and daily life through comics, highlighting occupation and cultural change.

Ukrainian artist comic depicts life during the war, showing people packing and preparing to leave amidst traffic.

Finally, the artist shared the message she hopes readers take away from her comics:“I became interested in comics when I saw that comics are a great medium for talking about absolutely any topic. I’ve created comics about cats and funny moments from daily life, but I’ve also tackled subjects like feminism, history, literature, and war. I always strive to be honest in my works, and I hope readers feel that sincerity. That, for me, is the core message.”

Comic illustrating introverted and extroverted cats by a Ukrainian artist during the war.

Comic illustration by Ukrainian artist on war and everyday life, depicting soldiers and geopolitical tensions.

Ukrainian artist depicts life during war in comic strips, showing everyday moments amidst conflict.

Comic depicting life in Ukraine during the war, featuring tanks, a car journey, and people buying supplies.