My Oulu: Artwork draws attention to Ukrainian prisoners in Russian captivity

An artwork called RussT by Ukrainian artist #NEIVANMADE (Mykhailo Skopin, b.1993) has been installed on the southern end of the renovated Oulu10B building. RussT, short for Russian Tortures, is a series of public art installations intended for urban spaces around the world. The project aims to raise awareness of the brutalities of illegal captivity and to keep the issue visible until all Ukrainian prisoners are freed.

The City of Oulu received the artwork as a donation from Mykhailo Vydoinyk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Finland. There are now three RussT artworks in Finland, two of them in Helsinki. Works have also been installed elsewhere in Europe, including Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.

The artwork and the international project are backed by the Ukrainian organisation Cultural Forces, which works during the war with civil society, the armed forces and international partners. Its activities include cultural and educational projects in communities affected by the war, cultural activities for military personnel, and the presentation of Ukrainian culture and international cooperation.

”When the war of aggression began more than four years ago, Finland’s six largest cities – Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Turku and Oulu – raised financial support for Ukraine. As European Capital of Culture, Oulu now encourages everyone to show their support for Ukraine through art. We challenge Finnish cities and municipalities to acquire their own artwork for the exterior walls of public buildings with the assistance of the Embassy of Ukraine in Finland”, says Ari Alatossava, Mayor of Oulu.

The artwork consists of five prisoner silhouettes, one of which is now installed at the corner of Torikatu 10B, next to the main entrance. The poses of the figures correspond to documented methods of torture described by survivors of Russian captivity. The silhouettes also refer to the Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol who resisted total encirclement and were described as ”stronger than steel”.

The figures are made of Corten steel and installed outdoors. As they are exposed to the weather, rust streaks form across the surface, symbolising continuous bleeding. Over time, the figures themselves corrode, embodying the idea that time is lethal for those held in Russian captivity.

By placing the work in a public urban space, the project seeks to highlight the experiences of Ukrainian prisoners of war and unlawfully detained civilians and to raise awareness of torture in captivity.

A prominent location

When a suitable location for the artwork was being considered, Oulu10B emerged as an option at an early stage.

”The Oulu10B premises on Torikatu are home to both City of Oulu employees and cultural organisations temporarily relocated during the renovation of Cultural Centre Valve. The neighbouring Oulu10 service point receives a large number of visitors, and the bus stops on Torikatu are only a stone’s throw away. The location therefore fulfils an important aim for the artwork: it is genuinely situated in a public urban space where people can see it”, says Ari Heikkinen, Director of Administration at the City of Oulu.

But is an artwork like this appropriate for a carefully renovated historic building?

”Not everyone will necessarily like the wall being stained by rust, but the damage underlines the reality of the suffering endured by Ukrainians”, Heikkinen points out.

Culture amid war

Behind the RussT project is the Ukrainian organisation Cultural Forces, which uses culture in many different ways amid the war. Through its Walls of Culture project, artists have created hundreds of murals in liberated areas and locations close to the front line. The murals restore Ukrainian symbols and meanings to public spaces and seek to strengthen residents’ connection with their communities.

Cultural Forces also provides books to soldiers, organises discussions with members of the military through its Voice of War project, and creates cultural and educational spaces in communities affected by the war. Through its international activities, the organisation brings Ukrainian culture and the impact of the war to audiences outside Ukraine. The RussT artwork in Oulu is one example of this work.

Support in many ways

Since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression, the City of Oulu has supported Ukraine and its twin city Odesa in a variety of ways. In February 2026, the city organised a free screening of Mstyslav Chernov’s documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivka in cooperation with Finnkino and Kaleva.

In August 2026, a Russian Geran-2 attack drone shot down in Ukraine was displayed on Rotuaari in central Oulu. The exhibition aimed to make the reality of the war visible in the heart of the city and encourage discussion about the effects of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The display caught the attention of thousands of passers-by and prompted extensive discussion.

Placing the RussT artwork on the façade of Oulu10B continues Oulu’s support for Ukrainians who have been defending their country for more than four years. This support will continue in the coming months. The City of Oulu and the Embassy of Ukraine in Finland are preparing a charity dinner with local companies to be held in Oulu in December. The aim is to raise funds for shelters to be built near schools and day-care centres in Ukraine, improving children’s chances of reaching safety quickly during air attacks.

The dinners will be organised at the initiative and with the support of Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine.