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Ukrainian’s lie down during flash-mob ‘Russian kills’

With tensions high between Ukraine and Russia, in the city of Kiev a band of youths have employed a lie-down approach to protesting against the Kremlin.

Across the Ukrainian capital young men and women vented their frustrations by converging on Russian-owned cafes and restaurants and lying down on the floor.

The flash mob protest, given the title ‘Russian products are killing’, has been conceived to make consumers more aware about the products they are buying. Tymur Pliushch, a founder of Resistance and the group responsible for organizing the flash mob, told Fairfax Media that the proceeds from Russian goods might be used for the “financial support of military actions in Ukraine.”

Protesters lying down on the floor with paper signs: Photo Facebook
Protesters lying down on the floor with paper signs: Photo Facebook

The campaign incorporates its own line of t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan; "Don't give it to a Russian". After lining up to order, each purchase resulted in each person feigning his or her own death.

The other bewildered customers where left confused by the whole affair.

Holding signs that read "Russia kills!" against their chest, they lay motionless on the floor for several minutes.

A woman and a man lie down whilst restaurant staff look bemused: Photo Facebook
A woman and a man lie down whilst restaurant staff look bemused: Photo Facebook

Each pancake sold they claimed ‘costs’ three lives; a coffee, one life; a cake or a salad two each. “Not too expensive, this Russian food?” the activists asked visitors.

In a Facebook post images were uploaded of the protests as they occurred across the city. In a disclaimer posted on the Facebook page it read.

‘At a time when the Russian have killed Ukrainian soldiers and local residents, residents of the capital are still visiting Russian cafes and restaurants. If you spend your money there you are paying for an army of occupants.’

‘We assume that not all residents and visitors know exactly what meals and food products include Russians owned produce/products in them. Thus the Flash-mob "Russian kills.’

A man and a woman lie down outside a cafe, whilst another holds a sign up to the passing public. Photo: Facebook
A man and a woman lie down outside a cafe, whilst another holds a sign up to the passing public. Photo: Facebook

Activists have also built a smartphone app telling people which stores to avoid, in order to not send money back to Russia. "Boycott Invaders", allows users to scan barcodes as they shop, providing instantaneous feedback on whether the product is Russian-made or owned.

Since Malaysian Airways flight MH17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine, reportedly by pro-Russian separatists, Ukrainian activists have stepped up their boycott of Russian products and businesses.