Book release about anarchist engagement in Ukraine and Eastern Europe for the first time in German language.
Bakhmut, April 19, 2023
In memory of Dmitry Petrov, Finbar Cafferkey, and Cooper Andrews
April 19, 2023 was a heavy blow to the anarchist and anti-authoritarian movement. Three activists were killed in an ambush on the front lines in Ukraine: Dmitry Petrov from Russia, Finbar Cafferkey from Ireland, and Cooper Andrews from the US. CrimethInc. quickly after the incident published the broschure Dmitry Petrov – Live in Combat in 2023 to provide insight into Dima’s life and give access to his ideas.
We have now translated the book into German and completely revised it. The new publication contains four additional texts: an interview with the podcast Elephant in the Room, which was conducted with Dima a few weeks before the full-scale invasion and anticipates much of what was to come, a reflection on the attempt to build an anti-authoritarian unit within Ukraine, and also obituaries for Finbar Cafferkey and Cooper Andrew, while in the second one Cooper speaks for himself.
This book documents perspectives and discussions about strategies and actions against Russian imperialism throughout Dima’s political live. However, while the original brochure focused exclusively on Dima, it was important to us to give Cooper and Finbar a place in the book, even though the two of them unfortunately published very little themselves. Shortly before completing the book David Chichkan was also killed. To commemorate him, we have included two of his pictures in the book. Also the cover illustration is by him.
You can order the book from Sabotage Distro. All proceeds from sales will be donated to Solidarity Collectives, an anti-authoritarian organization in Ukraine that also supported the three.
For us, it was important to translate this book for several reasons. On the one hand, it is an act of international solidarity for us: acting in solidarity means making voices and perspectives of comrades from other countries audible and accessible so that they can have an influence on our discussions. On the other hand, in times of crisis such as ours, it is becoming increasingly likely that people will die in political conflicts, protests, and wars. This makes it all the more important to remember them, but also to find ways to collectively process our grief and anger over those who were killed in the fight for freedom, and to write our own
movement’s history.
In his last letter, Cooper wrote that the war would probably not be over quickly, and he was right. The hope for a quick end has disappeared. The consequences of the war, when it does eventually end, the physical and psychological destruction of Ukrainian society in general and the anarchist movement in particular, are unimaginable.
In deep mourning for the loss and respect for the courage to seek answers to difficult questions!