From Fences to Cardboard: Why Did Rivne See No Protesters with Swear Words?
In his article, author Mykola Nesenyuk examines the cardboard-sign protests that took place in 2025 and 2026, focusing particularly on the use of profanity on the signs. He notes that in 2025, the protest involving cardboard signs—mostly participated in by Kyiv residents—featured frequent use of obscene language. By 2026, the situation had shifted: the protests spread to most Ukrainian cities, but in western Ukraine, especially Rivne, such explicit language appeared less often or not at all.
The author states: “For me personally, both so-called ‘cardboard Maidans’—last year’s and this year’s—were interesting not so much for what the young people with those cardboard signs demanded, but for the specific words they used to express their demands.” Mykola Nesenyuk emphasizes that the phenomenon of protests using crude language has historical roots, explaining that “this phenomenon involves a stage in childhood when one learns the folk names for human and other reproductive organs.” According to the author, this knowledge triggers a worldview conflict because “the words children learn are somehow forbidden to say out loud.”
Changes in the 2026 Protests
In 2026, according to the author, the story repeated itself but with a twist: “This year, history repeated itself, but a little differently.” Mykola Nesenyuk notes that “the farther west you go, the fewer of those specific words appeared on the cardboard signs.” He suggests that protesters in Rivne may have felt embarrassed about being seen by acquaintances in the city center holding signs with crude language, reasoning that “it’s not Kyiv, where you’re far from your mom.”
Thus, the study of cardboard-sign protests in Ukraine reveals how cultural context can shape the forms of expressing discontent. In Rivne, protesters chose a more restrained way to voice their demands, reflecting local social norms and values. This shift in protest style may indicate an evolution of public sentiment and adaptation to the local environment. Notably, in larger cities like Kyiv, protests can be more expressive, while in smaller towns with more conservative social structures, participants opt for more moderate forms of expression. This likely reflects not only local norms but also a fear of societal judgment.