Child throwing a man on the floor in judo clothing, Borodyanka

This striking piece appeared on a cracked, war-damaged wall in Borodyanka, a town near Kyiv that suffered heavy destruction during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Painted in Banksy's instantly recognizable stencil style, it shows a small child flipping a much larger grown man dressed in judo clothing. The contrast is impossible to miss. The little figure stands firm and determined while the adult tumbles helplessly through the air. Many people read this as a clear nod to Vladimir Putin, who is famously a judo enthusiast, with the child standing in for Ukraine itself.

Banksy confirmed his trip to Ukraine in late 2022, sharing several works he had created across bombed-out buildings in the region. What makes this one so powerful is its setting. The artist did not paint on a fresh canvas but on a surface scarred by real conflict, letting the cracks and damage become part of the message. There is a quiet defiance here, the idea that even the smallest and seemingly weakest can topple the mighty. It is simple, direct, and hits hard, which is exactly the kind of statement Banksy is known for.