Ruslan Gusarov

‘We will Survive’ is a sequel of ‘I Want Peace and Quiet’ documentary, delving into the challenges of post-traumatic stress and the enduring impact of war. The film presents three compelling and inspiring stories: a militia fighter, a mobilised soldier, and a civilian. All of them faced severe injuries and amputations but managed to survive and now rebuild their lives. Through their experiences, the documentary showcases the remarkable strength, courage, and determination of those who confront and overcome the harsh realities of conflict.

Spatial and time disorientation, sleep disturbances, and severe anxiety—these are common experiences for people with PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. «The huge scale means they all need psychological help, but not everyone has chosen to seek it out yet,» notes Inna Silenok, the Head of Crisis Counselors' Group, People's Front. She and her colleagues travel to Donbass to offer assistance to those who survived Ukrainian shelling and have lost their closest relatives. Employing internationally recognized techniques for dealing with psychological traumas, the team of psychologists guide people through the challenging process of dealing with their hurting hearts, ultimately easing their burden.

Everyday war correspondents travel to the most dangerous zones of Donbass. Though journalists have no military education, it’s vital to understand how to behave under shelling and be familiar with weapons. In 2014 a reporter, Evgeny Poddubny, went to cover the conflict in Donbass. For Evgeny and his colleagues, reporting the true story is more than just a job. They must be ready to perform their task quickly and with no second chances. Journalists often have to sleep in the streets and take turns guarding each other. They cannot stay at hotels as Ukrainian missiles regularly strike these buildings though they house civilians and journalists. How do war correspondents manage to perform their job in such harsh conditions?