Survivors: A Powerful Graphic Novel Project Unveiling True Stories of the GULAG

A vital and haunting initiative is currently raising funds on the crowdfunding platform Planeta.ru. The GULAG History Museum is bringing to light the personal stories of individuals who survived the brutal Stalin-era labor camps.

Targeted at younger audiences, especially Generation Z, the project "Survivors" adopts a unique and engaging format—a graphic novel that tells these harrowing stories through vivid illustrations.

One story follows Yulia, whose mother was a strict yet caring teacher baking pies for her students. Tragically, Yulia’s mother was executed shortly after giving birth to her fifth child, following her husband’s arrest. The infant died soon after, and Yulia and her siblings were scattered across orphanages nationwide. At just one year and eight months old, Yulia’s earliest memories include a harsh orphanage life where children studied without basic supplies and foraged for food in the wilderness, while caregivers confiscated their sugar. Her only keepsake was a blue ribbon gifted by a kind caretaker.

Years later, Yulia’s brother reunited with her and their two sisters, but she still has never seen a photograph of her parents, as no institution has been able to provide any.

Approximately 20 million people passed through the GULAG system—more than the combined populations of Moscow, Voronezh, Sochi, and Rostov-on-Don. One in ten prisoners never returned home. Shockingly, surveys reveal that one in four young people today has no knowledge of these tragic events.

Inna Zheleznovskaya’s story reflects this legacy. After finishing school, her family advised her to choose a profession that could help her survive in the camps. She was relatively fortunate—not only was she less persecuted for being the daughter of an "enemy of the people," but she also retained memories of her father. He brought gifts on New Year’s, sewed clothes for her, crafted book covers, sang songs, and was quick-witted. Sadly, he died of exhaustion in the camp after being reported for criticizing the authorities and comparing workers’ lives abroad favorably.

In December 2018, the museum launched an exhibition titled "GULAG in the Lives of People and the History of the Country," where visitors can explore camp artifacts, learn historical details, and experience virtual reality tours of the camps.

The "Survivors" project shares firsthand accounts from those who lived through the camps. These stories form the basis of a graphic novel series about the GULAG. Though presented as illustrations rather than traditional novels, the images are so powerful they leave an indelible impression even on the most carefree teenager.

"Young people must understand the repression. Back then, everything was carefully hidden, so now it’s crucial to speak out to ensure such terror never happens again. Many innocent people suffered. We didn’t know what it meant to have a mother or father, to feel affection or love. We had no toys and couldn’t play games. Today’s youth need to develop their own perspective on this injustice."

— Yulia Pashaeva, one of the project's heroines

The museum urgently needs support to illustrate and publish the graphic novel collection. So far, $1,200 has been raised, with a goal of $3,300. While we cannot change the past, postponing the purchase of a small luxury could help build a more hopeful future.

Perhaps someone influential will one day remember the significance of the blue ribbon.

Support the project →

Learn more about the museum →

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