Russians at War

This article is about the 2024 film. For Russian-participating wars, see List of wars involving Russia.

2024 Canadian film

Russians at War

Title card

Directed by| Anastasia Trofimova
Written by| Roland Schlimme
Produced by| Cornelia Principe
Sally Blake
Philippe Levasseur
Cinematography| Anastasia Trofimova
Edited by| Roland Schlimme
Music by| Amin Bouhafa

Release date

* September 5, 2024 (2024-09-05) (Venice)

Countries| Canada
France
Language| Russian

Russians at War is a 2024 Canadian and French documentary film, directed by cinematographer Anastasia Trofimova.[1][2] The film focuses on the perspective of Russian soldiers invading Ukraine during the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.

The documentary had its world premiere for the film industry on September 4, 2024, and for the public on September 5, 2024 at the 81st Venice International Film Festival. The North American premiere for the film industry was on September 10, 2024 at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film was criticized as Russian propaganda,[3][4] while the Toronto festival organizers defended the film as being "anti-war".[5] The North American public premiere was planned for September 12. However, the premiere was postponed to September 17, with TIFF citing "significant threats" as reasons for the postponement. Toronto police were reported to be "not aware of any active threats".[6]

## Synopsis

[edit]

Shot in a fly-on-the-wall cinéma vérité style, Russians at War follows documentarian Anastasia Trofimova as she spends months following Russian soldiers from their homes to the frontlines of occupied Ukraine, with many of her subjects revealing feelings of confusion and disillusionment with their government.[7]

Trofimova embedded herself with a Russian battalion, as it makes its way across eastern Ukraine, getting a rare glimpse of an often ramshackle army in a regular state of disarray.[8]

Trofimova takes the audience from 180 km behind the front lines where ranks are "replenished" to the trenches of the front line where the men die. The soldiers depicted are often volunteers who say they went to the front for various personal reasons: vague patriotism, avenging fallen friends, protecting loved ones, preventing their children from going to war in the future, or, more commonly, for money.[9] Soldiers are shown drinking heavily, and sometimes note the pointlessness "of it all". One notes that they return back only dead.[10]

## Production

[edit]

Trofimova, Canadian producer Cornelia Principe and co-producer Sally Blake noted that the production of this film started as an anti-war project to reflect the perspective of Russian citizens and soldiers regarding the conflict in Ukraine.[11] In an unexpected turn of events, Trofimova managed to follow a Russian soldier, whom she had met in a Moscow subway, on his way to the frontline. Taking advantage of a lax approach of local commanders, she eventually embedded herself with a Russian battalion, as it made its way across the Donetsk or Luhansk regions of Ukraine. The battalion suffered 600 casualties out of 900-people-strong battalion by the time Trofimova arrived, and their morale was low.[10] With very limited internet access and telephone contacts, Trofimova, Principe and Blake had to improvise to secure the obtained footage.[11][12][13]

Editing and post-production was conducted in Canada and France, with editor Roland Schlimme involved in shaping the film. French musician Amin Bouhafa produced the music for this film. According to The Kyiv Independent, the film received $340,000 (CAD) in funding from the Canada Media Fund.[14]

Deadline Hollywood's Melanie Goodfellow described the film depicting "botched military sorties; hiding, petrified in dug outs; shrapnel-shredded dead comrades being slung into trucks in body bags, and commanders in shell shock as they relive the day’s horrors. Any initial patriotic fervor dissipates, with the handful of subjects who survive to the end of the film questioning why they are there and expressing their lack of desire to fight, but suggesting they have no choice but to follow orders."[15]

## Release

[edit]

At the beginning of October 2024, after several festival premieres were cancelled, film producers were "considering minor adjustments prior to the pending global release of Russians at War, including a factual, contextual card in the opening titles".[10] Film producer Anastasia Trofimova said that "many of those denouncing the film have not even seen it".[10][16]

### Venice International Film Festival

[edit]

The world premiere of “Russians at War” took place at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 2024. The film received a five-minute standing ovation from the audience.[17]

The Artistic Director of the Venice Film Festival Alberto Barbera defended the film from Ukrainian critics, noting that the film is "very far from being an act of propaganda" and that "it is an anti-war film, with a very sensible and touching human approach, as well as great artistic craftsmanship."[18]

### Toronto International Film Festival

[edit]

The film had its North American premiere on September 17, 2024 at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, immediately following the Venice Film Festival.[19][20] The screening was surrounded by a noticeable social and political controversy. On September 10, 2024, the Ukrainian community held a protest outside the Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, where TIFF was holding the film's press screening. As some sources noted, none of the participants of this protest saw the film as it was only screened in closed venues in Venice, Italy a few days prior.[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

TIFF denied the request of the Ukrainian-Canadian community to exclude the film from the program and defended its decision in a statement released on September 11, noting that "in no way should this film be considered Russian propaganda" and that "as a cultural institution, we stand for the right of artists and cultural workers to express fair political comment freely and oppose censorship. Because filmmakers, like all artists, work in dynamic engagement with their societies, we believe that our role as curators and presenters of the film must stand for an unequivocal defense of artistic expression and a commitment to provide safe, open spaces to engage, critique and reflect on artists' work."[28][29]

According to the TIFF organizers who talked to The Hollywood Reporter, "a number of former TIFF staffers had received numerous worrying inquiries requesting schematic floor plan diagrams of the Scotiabank Theatre, and precise details of its security arrangements for the entrance and exit of high-profile talent to and from the venue."[19] TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey described that "in emails and phone calls, TIFF staff received hundreds of instances of verbal abuse. Our staff also received threats of violence, including threats of sexual violence. We were horrified, and our staff members were understandably frightened. We also learned of plans to disrupt or stop the screenings. Because last week’s screenings were scheduled at a 14-screen multiplex on some of the festival’s busiest days, we determined that it would be safer not to go ahead with those plans."[19] In an unprecedented move for TIFF, on September 12 the festival announced that it was pausing the North American public premiere for the film citing "significant threats to festival operations and public safety".[30] The pause resulted in the cancellation of three public screenings planned from September 13 to 15.

On September 15, TIFF announced that it had arranged the film's North-American premiere at two screenings on September 17, 2024 at the TIFF-owned Bell Lightbox Cultural Centre located in Downtown Toronto.[31][32] During the screenings, there was a visibly enhanced presence of police and security personnel preventing any major interference from Ukrainian-Canadian protesters[33][19][20][17]

In his open speech before the screening on February 17, 2024, Cameron Bailey reiterated that Trofimova's film went through a "rigorous selection process and was invited based on its artistic merits and on its relevance to the horrific, ongoing war prompted by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine." He added that "TIFF screened a number of docs from Ukrainian filmmakers at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 festivals, offering firsthand insights into said horrors. We are deeply sympathetic to the pain felt by Ukrainian Canadians at the violence and destruction caused by Russia’s invasion, but verbal abuse and threats of violence, in response to the screening of a film, cross a dangerous line. We’re presenting Russians at Wars to stand against that abuse, against those threats, and for the importance of media and curatorial independence."[19]

Anita Lee, TIFF's Chief Programming Officer wrote that "Trofimova assembles a spellbinding tale of sacrifice and disillusionment in which soldiers resemble pawns in a nefarious game. Russians at War reminds us of the human cost on both sides. As Trofimova so eloquently puts it, 'the fog of war is so thick that you can't see the human stories it's made of.'" [34]

### Lunenburg Documentary Festival

[edit]

The Lunenburg Documentary Festival in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia saw protests against the screening of the film with calls from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress to cancel its screening.[35] In response to this protest, the festival issued a statement noting that "the film Russians at War was selected to provide further insight into a tragic conflict which is still ongoing. While not a comprehensive study of the invasion, it does provide a window to observe the devastating impact of distant political decisions on the lives of less powerful individuals."[36]

Russians at War was screened at this festival on September 20, 2024.

### Athens International Film Festival

[edit]

The Pan-Hellenic premiere of this film was scheduled at the 30th International Documentary Film Competition of Athens Premiere Nights, Greece, taking place October 2 to 24, 2024.[37][38]

### Zurich Film Festival

[edit]

The film was scheduled for four screenings at the Zurich Film Festival October 3 to 13, 2024.[39] The organizers of this festival acknowledged receiving "protest letters" from the Ukrainian government.[40] France 24 reported that the organizers released the following statement: “We can understand that the film evokes strong emotions in Ukrainians, but we will maintain its projection, because we consider that 'Russians at War' is an anti-war film".[40] Keyston-ATS news agency also cited the director of ZFF Christian Jungen saying: "It was understandable that Ukrainians are unhappy", but insisted that "films should incite discussion". Jungen added that he considered the documentary an "anti-war film".[41]

Ukraine's Ambassador to Switzerland Iryna Venediktova arranged a meeting with the ZFF Artistic Director Christian Jungen on September 24, 2024 and, as stated in her X post, "urged @zurichfilmfest to ban the screening of 'Russians at War' to avoid being weaponised by Russian propaganda."[42]

On September 26, 2024, ZFF issued a statement that even though the film "will remain in the Documentary Film Competition of the ZFF", the festival cancelled the public screening of the film "due to safety reasons", adding that "the safety of its audience, guests, partners as well as the staff is the top priority.".[43]

In her interview with Die Weltwoche, Trofimova described the unprecedented threats to the festival organizers.[44] The Swiss outlet Neue Zürcher Zeitung comments that "This leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The question arises as to how drastically official bodies have interfered. It is an unprecedented incident: one cannot remember a Swiss cultural institution ever being forced to take a similar step by foreign actors – especially by actors from a friendly state."[45]

### Windsor International Film Festival

[edit]

The film is set to be shown at the Windsor International Film Festival which will run from October 24 to November 3, 2024. Executive director Vincent Georgie stated that "the film is there to create discussion and debates" and added that there will be additional security measures during the showings of the film, in response to the TIFF threats.[46]

### Mumbai Film Festival

[edit]

The film was scheduled to have its Asia premiere at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 on October 19,[47] but its screenings were cancelled due to the festival not receiving the 'required permissions'.[48]

## Reception

[edit]

### Anti-war content

[edit]

Deutsche Welle and others noted that the film is controversial.[49] The producers say the film is anti-war. Critics criticize it for empathizing with invading Russian soldiers without judgment and for not informing the viewer on the Russian war crimes.[16] On the other side, "Trofimova's film is considered one of the few documentary video evidence from the Russian side of the front."[49]

The Hollywood Reporter noted, "running the gamut from left-wing to -right, the country’s three national newspapers — the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and the National Post — all published pieces praising the film (which this writer has seen) as a powerful anti-war polemic that portrays Russia’s infantry as inept and unmotivated, feeling betrayed and confused about why they are actually fighting".[19][50]

* The Toronto Star's film critic Corey Atad gave the film 4 stars out of 4, noting that "Trofimova does challenge her subjects, prodding them with questions about their views, purpose and actions in the war", adding that "despite baseless accusations of Trofimova being a Russian state-backed operative, her matter-of-fact and mostly non-editorialized approach to capturing the drudgery and horror of the war experience is, for anyone convinced of Russia’s wrongdoing, understandably frustrating to watch", concluding that "charges of the film being Russian propaganda fall flat on their face. In fact, perhaps the most important audience for the film is the one least likely to see it: the Russian people."[50][50]
* American film critic Jason Gorber of RogerEbert.com: "Not dissimilar to Erich Maria Remarque’s novel about German soldiers in the Great War, Trofimova’s film gives a welcome perspective at the level of the individual soldier".[26]
* France's TV5Monde: "The film is deeply pacifist".[51]
* Marsha Lederman from The Globe and Mail: "It shows, unvarnished, the horrors of the war, including some of the most horrific footage you will ever see on a big screen. This documentary in no way glorifies Russia or its army or its war effort. This film in no way demonizes Ukraine or its people".[52]
* Canada's Point of View Magazine critic Pat Mullen encouraged people to "see the film before reviewing it", adding that "Russians at War affords remarkable access to tell a human story," going back to "that personal element of All Quiet on the Western Front — perhaps the greatest of anti-war works — and observes an awakening as some soldiers, and the families who grieve them, ask questions that are absent from the barracks in the early sees."[53]
* Canadian journalist Justin Ling wrote that "to fully understand “Russians at War,” you must appreciate that it is neither documentary nor propaganda: It is Kino-Pravda, ‘film truth,’ a style pioneered by Russian filmmaker Dziga Vertov. Kino-Pravda sought to replace art and romanticism in cinema with scenes of real people living out the noble mundaneness of life." He further stated that the film "purports to break through the propaganda of Moscow’s brutal war, but instead it wallows in it", and "after watching the film and speaking to Trofimova, I’m here to tell you that the truth lies in between: It is not propaganda, but it is informed by it. It is anti-war, but not pro-peace."[54]

### Footage rarity

[edit]

Most reviews acknowledged the professionalism and surprisingly rare access to the daily routines of soldiers fighting on the Russian side during the Ukrainian-Russian war:

* Jason Gorber of RogerEbert.com: "Anastasia Trofimova, provides a unique glimpse into the lives of the soldiers on what for them is the Western Front."[26]
* Germany's DW News: "Trofimova's film is considered one of the few documentary video evidence from the Russian side of the front."[55]
* Canada's The Globe and Mail: "Anastasia Trofimova’s film is no-holds-barred reproach of war in general… It is extraordinary".[52]
* Canada's Toronto Star: "without casting aspersions on Trofimova’s personal beliefs about the war’s causes, the film is wholly uninterested in having that political-historical debate. Rather, what it offers is unfiltered insight into present conditions and contradictions. Importantly, Trofimova does challenge her subjects, prodding them with questions about their views, purpose and actions in the war".[50]
* Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "Russians at War can clearly be read as an anti-war film. Trofimova shows that the Russians who are being used up in Ukraine are there primarily for financial reasons, that they have to continue fighting without pay after they have served their contracts. She shows how the propaganda has an impact, but also how cynicism and alcohol shape everything. And she shows that the Soviet Union still has an enormous influence. A young medic says that her worldview is shaped by the old films from that time, which she sees as "uncynical". She does not say the implication that she is serving in a cynical war, but it can be read in Russians at War. Trofimova is present in her film above all with her questions from off-screen. These are the simple questions that arise from a humanistic perspective."[22]
* Canada's In The Seats: "the art of this film “is vital to … our understanding of the human condition on many different levels".[56]
* Italy's Sentieriselvaggi: "Russians at War is one of the most interesting and fascinating films of the entire 2024 Film Festival", "one of the most interesting and courageous films of this edition".[57]
* Zinaida Pronchenko from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: "Regardless of the motives and conditions of filming, this is a unique material, the very 'trench truth' that is usually not visible behind the 'fog of war'." Pronchenko described the feelings from the film as fear and despair.[58]
* Germany's ARD: "The film is an important contemporary document… Trofimova gave us a perspective that we rarely see".[59]
* Film critics "Pravila Jisni" Egor Moskvitin, responding to the questions of the ‘Business FM’ channel considered the film "talented", praising "the trust of her characters to the film-maker" and "polarity of opinions of the characters in this film; they don’t offer one specific point of view on the events, not simplifying the documentary perspective of this film. The film had a positive reception (in Venice) because the producer managed to maintain the most important balance between publicism, giving her own view of the events and responsibility for her characters."[60]

### Trofimova's conduct

[edit]

Many critics praised Trofimova’s bravery,[60] calling the film "courageous".[52][57][61]

The Globe and Mail evaluated the film as “a brave and exceptional documentary: “A talented filmmaker, without an official posting or even a press pass, followed Russian fighters, almost all the way to the front so that we could know about it. And be outraged. Not at the film; at the war.[52]

TVO in their statement from September 6, 2024 praised the film pointing out that "it is unauthorized by Russian officials and was made at great personal risk to the filmmaker, who was under constant threat of arrest and incarceration for trying to tell an unofficial story.".[21] TVO called "Russians at War" "a documentary made in the tradition of independent war correspondence".[61][24]

Trofimova agreed that the project was very risky for the soldiers and for herself personally, and she did not believe at every stage of this project that it was possible. She felt that an anti-war film like this was worth the risks and could be her contribution to ending the Russian-Ukrainian war.[11][12][13]

## Controversy and political pressure

[edit]

### Protests

[edit]

Ukrainian director Olha Zhurba noted that though she hasn't seen the film at the time of her statements expressed on September 4, 2024, she raised concerns about the film’s empathy towards Russian soldiers.[62] Ukrainian producer Darya Bassel criticized the decision of the Venice Film Festival to screen Russians at War because the film "presents a very distorted picture of reality" and that Trofimova's documentary is "spreading false narratives" [63] Bassel pointed out that the film pictures as Russian invasion started in 2022, while Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014; Trofimova claims that Russia wasn't at war for many years, while Russia participated in wars in Chechnya, Syria, Transnistria, Abkhazia and Georgia; people shown in film repeat Russian propaganda narratives about "Ukrainians are nazis" and "civil war in Ukraine".[64] Bassel reminds that "you will feel pity for the people depicted as dying in the film", but "it is also important to remember that these individuals joined the army that invaded an independent country, many of them willingly, as we learn from the film." Bassel concludes that the film is "prime example of Russian propaganda".[10]

Following these events, the film sparked backlash from some regional experts, Canadian politicians and the Ukrainian-Canadian community, who characterized it as "Russian propaganda".[65][66][67][68] Trofimova admitted to entering Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories without Ukraine's permission while making the film, while embedded with Russian soldiers invading the country. Critics, including historian Ian Garner, noted that Trofimova's claim that she did not have official permission to film the soldiers "hardly stands up to scrutiny in a country where independent journalism simply does not exist"[10] and that Trofimova absolved the soldiers of moral responsibility for war crimes such as rape, looting, and murder by presenting them as "blind kittens", and "helpless to intervene". Garner termed this an "alarming reiteration of the 'just following orders' narratives" that surrounded the Holocaust.[69] Russian director Vitaly Mansky said that "it is quite obvious that the author is on the side of their heroes" and called the film's screening in Venice "a mistake by the festival." Mansky himself attempted to send a cameraman to film on the Russian side during the invasion, but his cameraman was promptly arrested.[70]

Trofimova has been accused of whitewashing Russian war crimes.[71] Ukraine's consul-general in Toronto, Oleh Nikolenko, urged the Toronto International Film Festival to not screen the documentary and criticized the Canadian government for helping to fund the documentary.[72][73] Ukrainian MP Yevheniia Kravchuk stated that the film is a "striking example of how Russia, thanks to its soft power, is trying to promote its narratives about a ‘more comprehensive understanding of the war’. And unfortunately, they are doing this quite successfully."[74]

Ukraine's consul-general in Toronto Oleh Nikolenko urged TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey to remove the film from the festival schedule and criticized the Canadian government for helping to fund the documentary.[75]

The Ukrainian-Canadian community called for its members to protest against its screening at TIFF, requesting removal the film from the program. Many journalists who talked to protesters noted that the majority of them "haven’t seen the film but screamed propaganda" even when it was eventually screened in Toronto.[23][21] The Washington Post cited Ukrainian protesters saying that they bought tickets to each of the two screenings "not because they intended to go, but to prevent others from seeing it." Protesters admitted to not seeing it, saying "the trailer was enough", "I don’t want to listen to any stories, any explanations, any justifications from Russians", and "They are war criminals".[24] Some Ukrainian protesters started watching the film, but didn’t finish watching.[33] As German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung pointed out, "most of the demonstrators had only seen the trailer, but suspected Russian propaganda. They would probably not take back the accusation even if they had seen the whole film.".[22] "As is always the case," wrote the National Post, "the people who managed to get this film cancelled almost certainly haven’t seen it" .[25] Point of View magazine wrote: "Protesters, who by all accounts hadn’t seen the film given the inaccuracies of their characterizations of it, decried the doc as Russian propaganda and picketed the first press and industry screening, which preceded the public events by several days. Which is a shame, since it’s a strong (if flawed) film and one example that showed how 2024 marked an exceptionally notable year for TIFF Docs."[27]

Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland made a denouncing statement about Russians at War while speaking to reporters in Nanaimo, British Columbia on September 10, 2024.[76] Following a request by the CBC, on September 16, 2024 she issued the statement saying: "I have seen the film",[13] adding that "it's not right for Canadian public money to be supporting the screening and production of a film like this."[77]

Canadian MP James Bezan submitted a petition to the Canadian Senate, stating that the film "paints a nice picture of how Russians are fighting in Ukraine" and requested an investigation of how Canadian Funds "were used to pay for this Russian misinformation complain and represent Russian interests here in Canada" as well as asking "to cease all the footage that was captured".[78]

The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications included director Trofimova in its list of people posing a threat to the national security of Ukraine (Order No. 652 from September 17, 2024).[79][44] Trofimova’s name, her email and other contact information including her address were also added to the Myrotvorets "hit list of Ukrainian enemies".[44]

### TVO withdrawal

[edit]

Following protests from the Ukrainian community, one of the film's funders, TVO, withdrew support from the film, adding that "TVO will be reviewing the process by which this project was funded and our brand leveraged."[80] In response, the Documentary Organization of Canada issued a statement in which it is "profoundly alarmed by TVOntario’s Board of Directors’ recent unilateral decision to withdraw support for the documentary "Russians at War", adding that it "raises serious concerns about political interference, and must be confronted in order to preserve the integrity of our media institutions."[81]

Several media outlets considered this decision as made under political pressure from Chrystia Freeland since "ironically, TVO’s decision to pull the film came mere hours after an industry panel at TIFF where filmmakers praised TVO for its support for filmmakers eager to take risks and engage audiences with challenging and topical films.".[23][61][24] The TVO board’s decision to pull the film from the schedule backtracks on a statement made by the TVO Education Group just four days earlier on September 6, 2024: "Russians at War is at its core an anti-war film. This film shows the increasing disillusionment of Russian soldiers as their experience at the front doesn’t jive with the media lies their families are being told at home. The film was produced by an Academy Award nominee with the support of cultural agencies in France and Canada because it is a documentary made in the tradition of independent war correspondence. We encourage people to see the documentary for themselves when it is available."[21]

Media outlets, such as The Globe and Mail,[52] National Post,[25][82] The Washington Post,[24] Toronto Star [61] and Point of View[23] immediately reacted to the statement of the Deputy PM and the TVO decision, seeing it as censorship. Canadian Szechuan Palace magazine reported that "the film was seen by a significant number of Canadian journalists during the fest, with press reaction unanimous in rejecting the deputy prime minister’s characterization.".[17]

Citing Deputy Prime Minister Freeland's concerns about Canadian public funds used to finance the film, the National Post responded: "No, what’s inappropriate is recipients of public money cancelling projects under pressure from politicians and special-interest groups. The most important point is that government and government-funded entities — Ontario’s public broadcaster, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), TIFF, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and other MPs — successfully conspired to keep people from seeing the film and judging for themselves.".[25]

Point of View magazine wrote: "Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who also hadn’t seen the film, bought into the misinformation campaign of the uninformed protesters and denounced both the doc and the festival for allegedly white-washing Russia’s crimes (which it doesn’t). As she legitimatized the mob and gave the controversy traction, Freeland essentially threw public funding for political art under the bus—an affront to this lefty film critic who believes that everyone should watch a film before reviewing it, although I can appreciate the pain that Ukrainian-Canadians may feel over the film’s premise."[27]

Jane Jankovic, the former executive producer of documentaries at TVO following her retirement, also issued a statement on the TVO board decision. "I commissioned this film for TVO when I was executive producer of documentaries. I was surprised the board of directors at TVO decided it will not broadcast the film," she said. "This action is worrisome for the documentary industry. What has happened to Russians at War is a form of censorship. It creates a chill among documentary funders that will prevent important and controversial stories from being told. That is not our tradition in Canada. Documentaries are meant to create conversations, not shut them down."[32]

The editors of Canadian magazine Point of View stated: "TVO’s decision to withdraw support comes at a moment of seismic change for the documentary community. Talking points at festivals and industry panels have noted distributors’ and broadcasters’ risk aversion and growing reluctance to support overtly political documentaries as music docs and celebrity biographies inundate streamers and broadcast windows. The result could have serious implications for filmmakers eager to depict challenging and provocative stories."[23]

Marsha Leberban from The Globe and Mail noted that censoring art is never a good idea: "Keeping this film under wraps is denying the public of more than the experience of seeing an excellent movie. It is restricting access to a vital message: an unforgiving indictment of war", "it is a cowardly move to work to suppress his courageous film. And it is a mistake… Propaganda? Please. Triumph of the Will this is not. This is eye-opening and gutting. The only "propaganda" this documentary serves up is an anti-war message that should be delivered as far and wide as possible."[52]

Andrew Phillips from Toronto Star called the "TVO’s position in this mess is particularly egregious" translating the TVO’s board of directors September 10, 2024 statement as "We got pressured and we caved". Phillips’ opinion was that "for politicians and organizations like TVO to go along in this case with what amounts to a demand for censorship is shameful."[61]

When Chris Selley from the National Post argued that this film shouldn’t be cancelled under pressure from politicians and special-interest groups, he was accused of enabling fascism by a member of the King’s Privy Council, former Conservative immigration minister Chris Alexander.,[82] who admitted not seeing the film.[83] Selly also pointed out that another politician, Canadian Liberal MP Yvan Baker celebrated on social media by saying: "We did it!" after TIFF paused the film’s North American premiere. Instead of restraining protestors from reported threats of violence, Baker wrote to them: "Thank you to all who worked to make this happen." Selly commented on this: "Censorship is bad. If you need a citation, I would suggest the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But the principle predates that document by centuries".[82]

The production team submitted an official legal request to the TVO demanding this network to reinstate the support for the film. As The Globe and Mail reports, in a letter dated September 19, 2024 and addressed to TVO board and management, lawyer Danny Webber wrote that the network’s decision to pull support for the film "represents a clear violation of the filmmaker’s rights, not only under the broadcast agreement but also in terms of the broader principles of fairness, editorial independence, and respect for artistic integrity."[84]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ ""Russians at War": Scandal over screening of film about Russian army in Ukraine at Venice Film Festival". September 7, 2024.
2. ^ "Venice Documentaries Attempt to Reckon With Russia's 'Historical, Transformative, Apocalyptic' War in Ukraine". Variety. September 5, 2024. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
3. ^ "Film Shown at Venice Festival Blasted as 'Russian Propaganda'". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
4. ^ "Все переругались из-за фильма "Русские на войне". Его сняли на российской стороне фронта и показали в Венеции Разбираемся с экспертами "Медузы" — военными аналитиками и Антоном Долиным, — как относиться к этой картине". Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
5. ^ "TIFF stands firm on decision to premiere controversial Russians at War documentary". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
6. ^ "TIFF suspends 'Russians At War' screenings due to 'significant threats' | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
7. ^ "TIFF stands firm on decision to premiere controversial Russians at War documentary". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
8. ^ "Russian soldiers given their chance to speak at Venice". Reuters.
9. ^ "'Russians at War': Documentary About Russian Troops in Ukraine Criticized at Venice Film Fest". The Moscow Times. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
10. ^ a b c d e f Freeman, Colin (October 3, 2024). "The film being blacklisted for 'humanising' Russians At War". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
11. ^ a b c "Biennale Cinema 2024 - Conferenze stampa / Press conferences (5.09)". YouTube. September 5, 2024.
12. ^ a b "Canadian-Russian director responds to TIFF documentary backlash says journalists 'follow the story where it goes'".
13. ^ a b c "'Russians at War' director talks critics and backlash".
14. ^ Tsurkan, Kate (September 7, 2024). "Documentary 'humanizing' Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine sparks outrage at Venice, Toronto film festivals". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
15. ^ "Director Of 'Russians At War' Doc Bats Back Suggestions Of Whitewashing: "We Have To Humanize Everyone. This Is A Huge Tragedy For Our Region" – Venice". Deadline Hollywood. September 5, 2024. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
16. ^ a b Coletta, Amanda; Yuan, Jada (September 19, 2024). "Antiwar film or propaganda? 'Russians at War' draws protests at festivals". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
17. ^ a b c ""Russians At War" plays at TIFF Lightbox after festival canceled screenings due to threats". Szechuan Palace. September 18, 2024.
18. ^ "TIFF stands firm on decision to premiere controversial Russians at War documentary". The Globe and Mail.
19. ^ a b c d e f Adam Benzine (September 17, 2024). ""Rape, Violence, Abuse": The Threats That Led the Toronto Film Festival to Pull 'Russians at War'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
20. ^ a b "TIFF to show Russians at War this week after postponing screenings".
21. ^ a b c d "TVO statement on Russians at War Documentary". September 6, 2024.
22. ^ a b c "Heretic Conclave und Russians-at-War beim filmfest Toronto".</}}
23. ^ a b c d e "TVO withdraws support for Russians at War ahead of TIFF premiere".
24. ^ a b c d e "Antiwar film or propaganda? 'Russians at War' draws protests at festivals". The Washington Post. September 18, 2024.
25. ^ a b c d "Chris Selley: Canada banishes a film with the nerve to portray Russians as human". National Post. September 13, 2024.
26. ^ a b c "TIFF 2024: A Canadian Perspective on This Year's Festival-of-festivals". Roger Ebert.
27. ^ a b c "The 2024 TIFF Docs Report: TIFF Is (Sort of) Back, Baby!".
28. ^ "TIFF Statement regarding the Canadian documentary Russians at War". Toronto International Film Festival.
29. ^ "Our-review-of-russians-at-war-and-so-very-much-more".
30. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 12, 2024). "'Russians At War' TIFF Screenings Paused "Immediately" After Fest Learns Of "Significant Threats"". deadline.com. Deadline. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
31. ^ "TIFF will play film on Russian soldiers after pausing screenings". CBC News. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
32. ^ a b "TIFF reschedules 'Russians at War' doc's North-American premiere".
33. ^ a b "'Russians at War' is painful and one-sided but an important slice of a complex story". Toronto Star. September 20, 2024.
34. ^ "Russians at War". Toronto International Film Festival.
35. ^ "Protesters gather in N.S. ahead of screening of controversial Russian soldiers documentary". Global News. September 20, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
36. ^ "Statement on the Lunenburg Doc Festival screening of "Russians at War" Sept 18th, 2024". September 18, 2024.
37. ^ ""Russians at War": The much-discussed documentary arrives at Premiere Nights". September 24, 2024.
38. ^ "International Documentary Competition 2024".
39. ^ "Zurich Film Festival, Film Program".
40. ^ a b "Kyiv outraged at Swiss showing of Russian war film". France24.
41. ^ "Russian war film to be screened in Zurich despite controversy".
42. ^ "Post on X by Iryna Venediktova".
43. ^ "Public screenings of RUSSIANS AT WAR cancelled". September 26, 2024.
44. ^ a b c "Ukraine cancelt russischen Kriegsfilm in Zürich: Regisseurin Trofimova über ihre Doku von der Front". YouTube.
45. ^ "Ukraine does not want "Russians at War" to be seen: The fact that the Zurich Film Festival has to forego the screening is worrying". September 27, 2024.
46. ^ "Screening of controversial documentary Russians at War still on in Windsor: WIFF". CBC News. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
47. ^ "Russians at War". MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
48. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
49. ^ a b "TVO will not show the controversial film "Russians at War"". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
50. ^ a b c d TIFF cancelled it over threats. Now it’s back on the schedule. Why is ‘Russians at War’ so controversial? Read our four-star review Toronto Star, September 17, 2024.
51. ^ ""Russians At War" Un Documentaire Qui Cree la Polemique". TV5Monde.
52. ^ a b c d e f "Russians at War is an exceptional documentary and needs to-be seen". Globe & Mail.
53. ^ Russians at War Tells an Anti-War Story from the Other Side POV Magazine, September 8, 2024.
54. ^ Justin Ling, "What everybody is getting wrong about the year’s most controversial film" Archived 2024-09-18 at the Wayback Machine. Toronto Star, September 18, 2024.
55. ^ "TVO will not show the controversial film "Russians at War"". Deutsche Welle.
56. ^ "TIFF 2024: our review of Russians at War and so very much more". In The Seats.
57. ^ a b ""Russians at War" di Anastasia Trofimova".
58. ^ Рудина, Ася. "Очередная спецоперация. Споры о документальном фильме про войну". Радио Свобода (in Russian). Retrieved September 9, 2024.
59. ^ "TTT – titel, thesen, temperamente: Russians at War - hier anschauen".
60. ^ a b "На Венецианском кинофестивале показали фильм "Русские на войне"" (in Russian). Business FM.
61. ^ a b c d e "Censoring Russians at War is a typically Canadian kind of cowardice". Toronto Star. September 17, 2024.
62. ^ "Biennale Cinema 2024 - Conferenze stampa / Press conferences (4.09)". YouTube. September 4, 2024.
63. ^ Sauer, Pjotr. "Russian documentary accused of falsely showing invading soldiers as victims". The Guardian. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
64. ^ "Міжнародний кінофестиваль у Торонто не скасує показ "Росіян на війні": деталі скандалу". РБК-Украина (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
65. ^ "Venice Documentaries Attempt to Reckon With Russia's 'Historical, Transformative, Apocalyptic' War in Ukraine". Variety. September 5, 2024. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
66. ^ "Director Of 'Russians At War' Doc Bats Back Suggestions Of Whitewashing: "We Have To Humanize Everyone. This Is A Huge Tragedy For Our Region" – Venice". Deadline. September 5, 2024. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
67. ^ "Russian soldiers given their chance to speak at Venice". Returns. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
68. ^ "Sympathetic view of Russian soldiers creates controversy at Venice Film Festival". euronews. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
69. ^ "In Seeking to Humanize Russian Soldiers, 'Russians at War' Glosses Over Their Atrocities". The Moscow Times. September 10, 2024.
70. ^ "Все переругались из-за фильма "Русские на войне". Его сняли на российской стороне фронта и показали в Венеции Разбираемся с экспертами "Медузы" — военными аналитиками и Антоном Долиным, — как относиться к этой картине". Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
71. ^ "Ahead of Toronto festival premiere, filmmaker defends documentary on Russian soldiers, says journalists 'follow the story where it goes'". September 9, 2024.
72. ^ "Ukrainian officials call for documentary on Russian soldiers to be removed from TIFF". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
73. ^ "Ukrainian official urges Toronto film fest to cancel documentary on Russian soldiers". CBC. September 7, 2024. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
74. ^ "Ukrainian MPs call on Canadian government to prevent screening of Russian propaganda film at festival". Ukrainska Pravda. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
75. ^ "Ukrainian officials call for a documentary on Russian soldiers to be removed from TIFF". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 2024.
76. ^ "Russians at war director protests". The Hollywood Reporter.
77. ^ "Freeland states 'grave concerns' over TIFF film about Russian soldiers". CBC.
78. ^ "'Russians at War' Must Be Investigated in Canada - Petition e-5150". Vyshyvanka Channel.
79. ^ "Режисерку скандального фільму "Росіяни на війні" включено до переліку осіб, що загрожують національній безпеці України". September 17, 2024.
80. ^ "TVO withdraws support, Chrystia Freeland, Ukrainian officials slam TIFF film depicting Russians at war". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
81. ^ "Documentary Organization of Canada profoundly alarmed by TVO decision to withdraw support for the documentary "Russians at War."". DOC. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
82. ^ a b c "Chris Selley: The censors are in charge now". National Post. September 22, 2024.
83. ^ "X post by Chris Alexander".
84. ^ "Legal team for Russians at War producers sends note to TVO demanding network reinstate support". The Globe and Mail.

## External links

[edit]

* Russians at War at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Part of the Russo-Ukrainian War

Overview

General|

* Outline
* Timeline
* Prelude
* Feb – Apr 2022
* Apr – Aug 2022
* Aug – Nov 2022
* Nov 2022 – Jun 2023
* Jun – Aug 2023
* Sep – Nov 2023
* Dec 2023 – Mar 2024
* Apr – Jul 2024
* Aug 2024 – present
* Aerial warfare
* Defense lines
* Foreign fighters
* Information war
* Naval warfare
* Legality
* Map
* Order of battle
* Peace negotiations
* Ukraine's Peace Formula
* China peace proposal
* June 2024 peace summit
* Proposed no-fly zone
* Red lines
* Reparations
* Territorial control
* Women

Prelude|

* Reactions
* Disinformation
* Ukraine bioweapons conspiracy theory
* Ukraine and weapons of mass destruction
* 2021 Russia–United States summit
* 2021 Black Sea incident
* Belarus–European Union border crisis
* "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians"
* Crimea Platform
* Zapad 2021
* December 2021 ultimatum
* 2022 Ukraine cyberattacks
* Zametil 2022
* Union Resolve 2022
* Stanytsia Luhanska kindergarten bombing
* British–Polish–Ukrainian trilateral pact
* Evacuation of the Donetsk PR and Luhansk PR
* Mobilization in Donetsk PR and Luhansk PR
* "Address concerning the events in Ukraine"
* "On conducting a special military operation"

Background|

* Dissolution of the Soviet Union
* 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
* Annexation of Crimea
* reactions
* War in Donbas
* 2022 timeline
* Minsk agreements
* humanitarian situation
* international recognition of the Donetsk PR and Luhansk PR
* Putinism
* Foundations of Geopolitics
* Novorossiya
* Ruscism
* Russian irredentism
* Russian imperialism

Foreign
relations|

* Russia–Ukraine
* Belarus–Ukraine
* Belarus–Russia
* Russia–United States
* Ukraine–United States
* Russia–NATO
* Ukraine–NATO
* enlargement of NATO
* eastward expansion controversy in Russia
* open door policy

Military engagements

Southern
Ukraine|

* Snake Island campaign
* Siege of Mariupol
* Battle of Kherson
* Battle of Melitopol
* Battle of Mykolaiv
* Battle of Enerhodar
* Battle of Voznesensk
* Battle of Huliaipole
* Battle of Davydiv Brid
* Kherson counteroffensive
* Liberation of Kherson
* Dnieper campaign
* Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam

Eastern
Ukraine|

* Battle of Volnovakha
* Battle of Kharkiv
* Battle of Izium
* Battle of Rubizhne
* Battle of Popasna
* Battle of Marinka
* Battle of Donbas
* Battle of the Siverskyi Donets
* Battle of Sievierodonetsk
* Battle of Lysychansk
* Battle of Pisky
* Battle of Bakhmut
* Battle of Soledar
* Battle of Vuhledar
* Kharkiv counteroffensive
* Battle of Lyman (September–October 2022)
* Luhansk Oblast campaign
* Battle of Avdiivka
* Battle of Chasiv Yar
* Battle of Krasnohorivka
* Battle of Ocheretyne
* Battle of Toretsk
* Pokrovsk offensive
* Battle of Kurakhove

Northern
Ukraine|

* Battle of Antonov Airport
* Capture of Chernobyl
* Battle of Kyiv
* Battle of Hostomel
* Battle of Vasylkiv
* Battle of Bucha
* Battle of Irpin
* Battle of Makariv
* Russian Kyiv convoy
* Battle of Moshchun
* Destruction of the Kozarovytska Dam
* Battle of Brovary
* Battle of Slavutych
* Battle of Sumy
* Siege of Chernihiv
* Battle of Lebedyn
* Northeastern border skirmishes

Russia|

* Bryansk Oblast raid
* Kremlin drone attack
* Moscow drone strikes
* 2023 Belgorod Oblast incursions
* 30 December 2023 Belgorod shelling
* February 2024 Belgorod missile strike
* May 2024 Belgorod missile strike
* March 2024 western Russia incursion
* 2024 Kursk offensive (occupation)
* Toropets depot explosions

Airstrikes
by city|

* Chernihiv strikes
* Dnipro strikes
* Ivano-Frankivsk strikes
* Kharkiv strikes
* Kherson strikes
* Khmelnytskyi strikes
* Kryvyi Rih strikes
* Kyiv strikes
* Lviv strikes
* Mykolaiv strikes
* Odesa strikes
* Rivne strikes
* Vinnytsia strikes
* Zaporizhzhia strikes
* Zhytomyr strikes

Airstrikes
on military
targets|

* Chuhuiv air base attack
* Millerovo air base attack
* Chornobaivka attacks
* 7 March 2022 Mykolaiv military barracks attack
* Yavoriv military base attack
* 18 March 2022 Mykolaiv military quarters attack
* Berdiansk port attack
* Sinking of the Moskva
* Desna barracks airstrike
* Attack on Nova Kakhovka
* Crimea attacks
* Novofedorivka explosions
* Drone attack on the Sevastopol Naval Base
* Missile strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters
* Dyagilevo and Engels air bases attacks
* Makiivka military quarters shelling
* Machulishchy air base attack
* Zarichne barracks airstrike

Resistance|

| Russian-occupied Ukraine|

* Popular Resistance of Ukraine
* Berdiansk Partisan Army
* Yellow Ribbon
* Atesh

|

Belarus and Russia|

* Assassination of Vladlen Tatarsky
* Civic Council
* Irpin Declaration
* Killing of Darya Dugina
* National Republican Army
* Military commissariats arsons
* Ust-Ilimsk military commissariat shooting
* Black Bridge
* Rail war in Russia
* Stop the Wagons
* Combat Organization of Anarcho-Communists
* Rail war in Belarus
* Busly liaciać
* BYPOL
* Community of Railway Workers
* Cyber Partisans

Russian
occupations|

* Flags used in Russian-occupied Ukraine

Ongoing|

* Annexation referendums
* Annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts
* Elections in Russian-occupied Ukraine
* Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine
* Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol
* Donetsk Oblast
* Kharkiv Oblast
* Kherson Oblast
* Luhansk Oblast
* Mykolaiv Oblast
* Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Previous|

* Chernihiv Oblast
* Kyiv Oblast
* Odesa Oblast
* Sumy Oblast
* Zhytomyr Oblast

Potentially
related|

* Black Sea drone incident
* Mystery fires in Russia
* Nord Stream pipeline sabotage
* Transnistria attacks
* Zagreb Tu-141 crash

Other|

* 2022 Crimean Bridge explosion
* 2023 Crimean Bridge explosion
* Assassination attempts on Volodymyr Zelenskyy
* Coup d'état attempt in Ukraine
* Bridges in the Russo-Ukrainian War
* Dragon drone
* Violations of non-combatant airspaces
* Missile explosion in Poland
* Operation Synytsia
* Ukraine and electronic warfare
* Use of long-range weapons by Ukraine in Russia
* 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive
* 2024 Ukrainian cyberattacks against Russia
* Wagner Group rebellion

War crimes

General|

* Accusations of genocide in Donbas
* Allegations of genocide of Ukrainians
* child abductions
* Attacks on hospitals
* Cluster munitions
* Incendiary weapons
* Landmines
* Russian filtration camps
* Russian mobile crematoriums
* Russian theft of Ukrainian grain
* Russian torture chambers
* Looting
* Sexual violence
* Mistreatment of prisoners of war

Attacks on
civilians|

* February 2022 Kharkiv cluster bombing
* Kharkiv government building airstrike
* 3 March Chernihiv bombing
* Irpin refugee column shelling
* Mariupol hospital airstrike
* Stara Krasnianka care house attack
* Mykolaiv cluster bombing
* March 2022 Donetsk attack
* 2022 Borodianka airstrikes
* Chernihiv breadline attack
* Mariupol theatre airstrike
* Kyiv shopping centre bombing
* Sumykhimprom ammonia leak
* March 2022 Kharkiv cluster bombing
* Mykolaiv government building missile strike
* Bucha massacre
* Kramatorsk railway station attack
* April 2022 Kharkiv cluster bombing
* Bilohorivka school bombing
* Shooting of Andrii Bohomaz
* Maisky Market attack
* Kremenchuk shopping mall attack
* Serhiivka missile strike
* Chasiv Yar missile strike
* Olenivka prison massacre
* Kharkiv dormitories missile strike
* Chaplyne railway station attack
* Izium mass graves
* September 2022 Donetsk attack
* Zaporizhzhia civilian convoy attack
* Kupiansk civilian convoy shelling
* Zaporizhzhia residential building airstrike
* Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
* 2023 Dnipro residential building airstrike
* Sloviansk airstrike
* Uman missile strike
* Kramatorsk restaurant missile strike
* Lyman cluster bombing
* 2023 Pokrovsk missile strike
* Chernihiv missile strike
* Kostiantynivka missile strike
* Hroza missile attack
* Volnovakha massacre
* December 2023 strikes
* 2024 Pokrovsk missile strike
* 2024 Donetsk attack
* Lysychansk missile strike
* 6 March 2024 Odesa strike
* March 2024 strikes
* May 2024 Kharkiv strikes
* 8 July 2024 strikes
* 2024 Kostiantynivka supermarket missile attack
* 26 August 2024 strikes
* September 2024 Poltava strike

Crimes
against
soldiers|

* Torture of Russian soldiers in Mala Rohan
* Torture and castration of a Ukrainian POW in Pryvillia
* Rape of Donetsk People's Republic soldiers by Kadyrovites
* Murder of Yevgeny Nuzhin
* Makiivka surrender incident
* Execution of Oleksandr Matsievskyi
* 2022 Ukrainian prisoner of war beheading

Legal cases|

* ICC investigation
* Arrest warrants
* ICJ court case
* Task Force on Accountability
* Universal jurisdiction
* Crime of aggression
* Criminal proceedings
* Vadim Shishimarin
* Alexander Bobikin and Alexander Ivanov
* Anton Cherednik

Reactions

States
and
official
entities|

| General|

* Sanctions
* people and organizations
* restrictions on transit to Kaliningrad Oblast
* Military aid
* European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine
* People's Bayraktar
* Signmyrocket.com
* Humanitarian aid
* Sanctioned yachts
* Relations with Russia

|

Ukraine|

* Application to NATO
* Be Brave Like Ukraine
* Brave1
* Ban on Russia-associated religious groups
* Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
* Decolonization and derussification law
* Delta
* Destroyed Russian military equipment exhibition
* For Courage and Bravery (Ukraine)
* Grain From Ukraine
* Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
* Hero City
* I Want to Live
* International Legion and other foreign units
* Belarusian Volunteer Corps
* Terror Battalion
* Black Maple Company
* Canadian-Ukrainian Brigade
* Freedom of Russia Legion
* German Volunteer Corps
* Karelian National Battalion
* Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment
* Norman Brigade
* Pahonia Regiment
* Polish Volunteer Corps
* Romanian Battlegroup Getica
* Russian Volunteer Corps
* Separate Special Purpose Battalion
* Sibir Battalion
* Turan Battalion
* International Sponsors of War
* Forced confiscation law of Russian property [ru; uk]
* Look for Your Own
* Lukoil sanctions
* Martial law
* Mobilization
* Media Center Ukraine
* National Council for the Recovery of Ukraine from the War [uk]
* National Multi-Subject Test [uk]
* North Korea–Ukraine relations
* Points of Invincibility
* Recognition of Ichkeria
* Rescuer City
* Save Ukrainian Culture [uk]
* Syria–Ukraine relations
* Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra
* United24
* United News

Russia|

* highways in the annexed territories
* A290
* A291 "Tavrida"
* R260
* R280 "Novorossiya"
* 2022 Moscow rally
* 2023 Moscow rally
* 2022 Moscow Victory Day Parade
* 2023 Moscow Victory Day Parade
* 2024 Moscow Victory Day Parade
* 2023 Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly
* Blockade of Ukraine [ru]
* Bohdan Khmelnytsky Battalion
* Censorship in Russia [ru]
* Chechnya
* Pro-Ukrainian Chechen fighters
* Conmemorative Medal "Participant of a Special Military Operation" [ru]
* Conversations about Important Things
* Krasovsky case
* Legalization of parallel imports [ru]
* Manifesto of the South Russian People's Council
* Martial law
* Masha Moskalyova case
* Metropolis of Crimea
* Mikhail Simonov case
* Mobilization
* Recruitment of irregular forces [ru]
* Operation Doppelgänger
* Opinion polling [ru]
* Orthodox Christmas truce proposal
* Wagner Group–Ministry of Defense conflict
* Russian Orthodox clergymen appeal against war
* Salvation Committee for Peace and Order
* Special Coordinating Council
* Ukraine bioweapons conspiracy theory
* Unfriendly countries list
* War censorship laws
* We Are Together. Sports
* "What Russia Should Do with Ukraine"

United States|

* 2022 Joe Biden speech in Warsaw
* 2022 State of the Union Address
* Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022
* Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
* Disinformation Governance Board
* Executive Order 14071
* Pentagon document leaks
* Task Force KleptoCapture
* Ukraine Defense Contact Group
* Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act
* Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative

Other countries|

* Belarus
* Canada
* Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel
* China
* Closer ties with Russia
* Chinese peace plan
* Hong Kong
* Croatia
* Denmark
* Danish European Union defence opt-out referendum
* Federated States of Micronesia
* Federated States of Micronesia–Russia relations [ru]
* France
* Mission Aigle
* Georgia
* Germany
* German Taurus controversy
* Taurus leak
* Zeitenwende speech
* Hungary
* India
* Operation Ganga
* Iran
* Closer ties with Russia
* Israel
* Operation Israel Guarantees
* Lithuania
* Moldova
* New Zealand
* Russia Sanctions Act
* North Korea
* Poland
* border crisis with Ukraine
* Syria [ru]
* Taiwan
* United Kingdom
* Economic Crime Act
* Homes for Ukraine
* Operation Interflex

United Nations|

* Emergency special session
* Resolution ES-11/1
* Resolution ES-11/2
* Resolution ES-11/3
* Resolution ES-11/4
* Resolution ES-11/5
* Resolution ES-11/6
* Security Council Resolution 2623
* Resolution A/RES/77/229
* Easter truce

International
organizations|

* Accession of Moldova to the EU
* Accession of Ukraine to the EU
* Brussels summit
* European Political Community
* 1st summit
* 2nd summit
* 3rd summit
* Madrid summit
* NATO virtual summit
* Operation Oscar
* Ramstein Air Base meeting
* EU–Ukraine Summit
* REPowerEU
* Steadfast Defender 2024
* SWIFT ban against Russian banks
* Ukraine Recovery Conference
* Versailles declaration
* 2023 Vilnius summit
* 15th BRICS summit
* 2024 Washington summit

Other|

* Consecration of Russia
* F-16 training coalition
* Finland–NATO relations
* Finland–Russia border barrier
* Iron diplomacy
* Proposed Russian annexation of South Ossetia
* Recognition of Russia as a terrorist state
* Removal of monuments and memorials
* Streets renamed
* Ukraine Square, Oslo
* Serving heads of state and government that have visited Ukraine during the invasion
* Sweden–NATO relations
* Swedish anti-terrorism bill

Public|

| Protests|

* In Ukraine
* in Russian-occupied Ukraine
* demolition of monuments to Alexander Pushkin
* ArmWomenNow
* Ukrainian Artistic Front
* In Russia
* Angry patriots
* Club of Angry Patriots
* Anti-War Committee
* Suspicious deaths of Russian businesspeople
* Congress of People's Deputies
* Council of Mothers and Wives
* Feminist Anti-War Resistance
* Flower protests
* Marina Ovsyannikova
* Russian Action Committee
* North Caucasian protests
* 2022 Russian Far East protests
* State Duma initiative for charging Vladimir Putin of high treason
* White-blue-white flag
* In Belarus
* In China
* Great Translation Movement
* In Czech Republic
* Czech Republic First!

|

Companies|

* Address of the Russian Union of Rectors
* Boycott of Russia and Belarus
* "Do not buy Russian goods!"
* E.N.O.T. Corp.
* Igor Mangushev
* McDonald's in Russia
* Vkusno i tochka
* NashStore [ru]
* People's Satellite
* Starlink satellites
* Stop Bloody Energy
* Wagner Group
* Andrey Aleksandrovich Medvedev
* Death of Nemes Tarimo
* Yale CELI List of Companies

Technology|

* Anonymous and the invasion
* alerts.in.ua
* DDoS attacks on Romania
* DeepStateMap.Live
* IT Army of Ukraine
* Killnet
* Liveuamap
* Open-source intelligence
* peacenotwar
* Russian Asset Tracker
* Squad303 [pl]
* Ukraine Siren Alerts
* Wikipedia
* threat to block in Russia
* detention of Mark Bernstein

Spies|

* Diplomatic expulsions during the Russo-Ukrainian War
* Russian spies in the Russo-Ukrainian War

Other|

* Association of Azovstal Defenders' Families
* Black Sea Grain Initiative
* Collaboration with Russia
* We Are Together with Russia
* Concert for Ukraine
* Free Buryatia Foundation
* Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum
* Game4Ukraine
* Get Lost
* Global Tour for Peace
* Go by the Forest
* Guide to the Free World
* Mozart Group
* Olena Zelenska Foundation
* Open letter from Nobel laureates
* Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion
* Rubikus.HelpUA
* Ruslan Shostak Charitable Foundation
* Russia's War Crimes House
* Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online
* Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation
* Spain letter bomb attacks
* Yermak-McFaul Expert Group on Russian Sanctions
* Pavel Filatyev
* True Russia
* Volos Declaration
* Wimbledon ban

Impact

Effects|

* Aircraft losses
* Casualties
* journalists killed
* Russian generals killed
* Economic impact
* Inflation surge
* Moldovan energy crisis
* protests
* Russia–EU gas dispute
* 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage
* Russian debt default
* 2022 Russian oil price cap
* 2022-2024 German economic crisis
* 2023 Russian oil products sanctions and price cap
* EU natural gas price cap
* Education
* End of the Whisky War
* Environmental impact
* Eurovision Song Contest 2022
* Russia
* Ukraine
* Eurovision Song Contest 2023
* Food crises
* Impact on theatre [uk]
* List of notable deaths
* Lukoil oil transit dispute
* Nuclear power plants
* Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant crisis
* Nuclear risk
* Religion
* Russian emigration
* The Ark
* Ship losses
* Ukrainian cultural heritage
* art theft and looting
* damaged cultural sites
* Trauma
* Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod pipeline explosion
* Ukrainian energy crisis
* Violations of non-combatant airspaces
* Women

Human
rights|

* Humanitarian impact
* Ukrainian refugee crisis
* Sobieskiego 100
* UN Commission of Inquiry
* UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission

Terms and
phrases|

* "And now I will show you where the attack on Belarus was prepared from"
* "Anglo-Saxons"
* "Bavovna"
* "Grandpa in his bunker"
* "Good evening, we are from Ukraine"
* "Orc"
* "Putin khuylo!"
* "Khuy Voyne!"
* "Russia is here forever [uk]"
* "Russian warship, go fuck yourself"
* "Slava Ukraini!"
* "Special military operation"
* "To bomb Voronezh"
* "Strength is in truth"
* "Westsplaining"
* "Where have you been for eight years?"
* "Without you"

Popular
culture|

| Songs|

* "12"
* "Bakhmut Fortress"
* "Bayraktar"
* "Bilia topoli"
* "City of Mary"
* "Flowers of Minefields"
* "Generation Cancellation"
* "Generation Z"
* "I'm Russian"
* "Oyda"
* "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!"
* "Mama ŠČ!"
* "Oi u luzi chervona kalyna"
* "Slava Ukraini!"
* "Stefania"
* "Ukraine"
* "Crushed"

|

Films|

* 20 Days in Mariupol
* A Rising Fury
* Follow Me
* Intercepted
* Russians at War
* Turn in the Wound
* Ukraine on Fire 2 [uk]

Other|

* Babylon'13
* Back to the Cold War
* Borodianka cat [uk]
* Ghost of Kyiv
* Kherson watermelon
* Královec Region
* Madonna of Kyiv
* North Atlantic Fella Organization
* Newspeak in Russia [ru; uk]
* Patron
* "Putler"
* "Putinversteher"
* Raccoon of Kherson
* Saint Javelin
* Saint Mariuburg [ru; uk]
* Vasylkiv maiolica rooster
* Vladimir Putin's meeting table
* Walk of the Brave
* "Z" military symbol

Key people

Ukrainians|

* Volodymyr Zelenskyy
* speeches during the invasion
* visit to the United States
* visit to the United Kingdom
* visits to Europe
* Andriy Biletsky
* Denys Shmyhal
* Denys Kireyev
* Denys Monastyrsky
* Denys Prokopenko
* Iryna Venediktova
* Kyrylo Budanov
* Mykola Oleschuk
* Oleksandr Pavlyuk
* Oleksandr Syrskyi
* Oleksii Reznikov
* Oleksiy Danilov
* Oleksiy Neizhpapa
* Ruslan Khomchak
* Rustem Umerov
* Sergiy Kyslytsya
* Serhiy Shaptala
* Serhii Sternenko
* Valerii Zaluzhnyi
* Vitali Klitschko
* Yevhen Moisiuk

Russians|

* Vladimir Putin
* Aleksandr Dvornikov
* Aleksandr Lapin
* Aleksey Dyumin
* Aleksey Nagin
* Alexander Bortnikov
* Andrei Kolesnikov
* Andrei Sychevoi
* Andrey Belousov
* Andrey Vorobyov
* Dmitry Medvedev
* Gennady Zhidko
* Igor Kastyukevich
* Ivan Popov
* Mikhail Mishustin
* Maria Lvova-Belova
* Nikolai Patrushev
* Oleg Salyukov
* Oleg Tsokov
* Ramzan Kadyrov
* Roman Berdnikov
* Rustam Muradov
* Sergey Kobylash
* Sergey Lavrov
* Sergey Naryshkin
* Sergei Shoigu
* Sergey Surovikin
* Timur Ivanov
* Valery Gerasimov
* Viktor Sokolov
* Viktor Zolotov
* Vitaly Gerasimov
* Vyacheslav Gladkov
* Vyacheslav Volodin
* Yevgeny Prigozhin

Other|

* Alexander Lukashenko
* Denis Pushilin
* Leonid Pasechnik

Related

* 2023 North Korea–Russia summit
* 2024 Korochansky Ilyushin Il-76 crash
* Anti-Russian sentiment
* Anti-Ukrainian sentiment
* Antonov An-225 Mriya
* Axis of Upheaval
* Azovstal Iron and Steel Works
* Belgorod accidental bombing
* Brovary helicopter crash
* Bryansk Oblast military aircraft crashes
* Claims of Vladimir Putin's incapacity and death
* Decolonization in Ukraine
* Decommunization in Ukraine
* Derussification in Ukraine
* Demolition of monuments to Alexander Pushkin in Ukraine
* Foreign leaders that have visited during the invasion
* Institute for the Study of War
* Irkutsk military aircraft crash
* Ivanovo Ilyushin Il-76 crash
* Kyivstar cyberattack [ru; uk]
* Lady R incident
* Nord Stream 2
* Proposed Russian annexation of Transnistria
* Punisher
* Russian nuclear weapons
* Sarmat
* Russian military presence in Transnistria
* Ryazan military aircraft crash
* Siberian wildfires
* Sinhury mid-air collision [uk; zh]
* Soloti military training ground shooting
* Soviet imagery
* Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support
* Turtle tank
* U-24 association
* Ukrainian conscription crisis
* Western long-range weapons in Russia
* Ural Airlines Flight 1383
* Voronezh military aircraft crash
* "The Vladimir Putin Interview"
* Yeysk military aircraft crash
* Moldovan coup d'état attempt allegations
* 2023 visit by Joe Biden to Ukraine
* 2023 visit by Fumio Kishida to Ukraine
* 2023 visit by Xi Jinping to Russia
* 2023 visit by Yoon Suk Yeol to Ukraine
* Wagner Group plane crash
* Yaroslav Hunka scandal

* Category

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