Sunflowers were already Ukraine’s national flower, but they emerged as a symbol of resistance after a widely shared video clip appeared to show a Ukrainian woman berating Russian soldiers, telling them to put sunflower seeds in their pockets so that flowers would grow after they died in battle.
The video, posted to Twitter by the news site UkraineWorld on Thursday, has been viewed over 8.5 million times.
Ukrainian woman confronts Russian soldiers in Henychesk, Kherson region. Asks them why they came to our land and urges to put sunflower seeds in their pockets [so that flowers would grow when they die on the Ukrainian land] pic.twitter.com/ztTx2qK7kB
— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) February 24, 2022
“Take these seeds so sunflowers grow when you die here,” the woman says to Russian soldiers.
“OK. This conversation won’t lead to anything. Let’s not make things worse,” a Russian soldier says.
“Guys, put these seeds into your pockets. Take these seeds. You will die here with them. You’ve come to my land … Do you understand? You’re occupiers. You’re enemies. And from now on, you’re cursed.”
“Good for her! Good for her!”. A netizen commented. “Let’s just recognize for a second how ice-cold that insult is. ‘Take these seeds and put them in your pocket so sunflowers will grow when you die.’ […] That woman brought seeds to a gunfight and still comfortably won.”
A person holds sunflowers and a Ukrainian flag at a demonstration in support of Ukraine in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Supporters of Ukraine have used sunflowers as a symbol of the resistance
Protesters around the world have been photographed holding bouquets or wearing the flowers at rallies in support of Ukraine.
A woman wearing a sunflower crown holds a sign that says “Kyiv is a capital of freedom” at a protest in Istanbul, Turkey
The sunflower emblem of the Ukrainian resistance is seen on the walls of the Russian embassy in London
Citing Ukraine’s Interior Ministry, the AP reported Sunday that 352 Ukrainians have died during Russia’s invasion of the country. The death count 1,684 people — including 116 children.
The sunflower is the national flower, and the symbol of Ukraine is Tryzub. A stylised trident symbol in gold on a background shield of blue
