Andrii Yermolenko

Andriy Ivanovich Yermolenko (; born 24 January 1974) is a Ukrainian artist, including designer and illustrator, who is the art director of The Ukrainian Week magazine.

He is known in Ukraine for creating the "United Colours of Ukraine" unofficial logos for the country's biggest towns and stamps for hundreds of Euromaidan and ATO soldiers.

Early life and education Andriy Yermolenko was born on 24 January 1974 and grew up in Kyiv in a family of scientists. He began drawing at the age of three, creating his first artwork—a dog with sausage-shaped paws From an early age, he admired Taras Shevchenko and was deeply inspired by his grandmother's stories about Nestor Makhno, whom she had personally known. Yermolenko completed his secondary education in 1991 at school No. 200 in Kyiv and later earned a degree in chemistry from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

In 2014, a book about the Ukrainian hero Ivan Sila, nicknamed "Croton", was published for both adults and teenagers. The cover, featuring the protagonist Ivan Firtsak, was designed by Yermolenko, showcasing his distinct artistic style.

That same year, Yermolenko garnered widespread attention at the M17 Center of Contemporary Art with his poster designs for the First International Competition of Ukrainian Patriotic Posters. His works, which included provocative imagery such as a Molotov cocktail–wielding God and a sabre-armed Cossack, reflected his belief that posters should not merely respond to headlines but inspire thought and action.

On 23 February 2023, Yermolenko lent his artistic expertise to the 9 Years of Resistance exhibition in Kyiv, which focused on the occupation of Crimea and Ukraine's enduring struggle against Russian aggression.

Continuing his commitment to using art as a form of resistance, on 28 April 2025 he painted a mural on the ruins of a missile-destroyed school in Zarichne. This work, created as part of the Murals of Resistance project, symbolised Ukraine's defiance and its unwavering fight for freedom.

Political positions

Russia and the 2018 FIFA World Cup In 2018, Yermolenko gained international recognition for his controversial poster campaign against Russia's hosting of the FIFA World Cup. He created a series of posters that combined football imagery with explicit references to Russian military aggression, including the downing of flight MH17, the annexation of Crimea, and the conflict in Syria.

His posters, which were widely shared under the hashtag #BoycottWorldCup2018, aimed to raise awareness among English-speaking and European audiences, as well as Ukrainian citizens. Yermolenko, stating that he "couldn't be silent," explained that his goal was to challenge the idea that international sporting events should ignore the political actions of the host country.

Despite unsuccessful attempts to prohibit broadcasts of the World Cup, his initiative was supported by Ukrainian officials and activists, who helped spread the message and even sparked controversy in the Verkhovna Rada.

"Do Not Appease Evil" In January 2025, Yermolenko joined over 160 public figures in signing an open appeal titled "Do Not Appease Evil". The appeal called on world leaders to reject any form of appeasement towards Russia, warning that Russia's war against Ukraine was part of a broader strategy to dismantle the global rules-based order. The signatories emphasised that only a decisive defeat of Russian President Vladimir Putin's government could ensure lasting peace and security for the world.

Awards Shevchenko National Prize (2024)