The War They Play

The War They Play

2025 · 65 min

The documentary follows the story of Iryna's family (name changed), who fled Russian occupation to save her son from possible conscription. Before leaving, representatives of the occupation authorities pressured her to enroll her children in a local school, threatening to send them to an orphanage if she didn't. Another key figure in the investigation, Oksana (name changed), was promised a holiday in Crimea on the Black Sea coast by the occupying authorities. Instead, she was taken to a military training camp in Russia — part of a program established under Putin's initiative after 2022. At the camp, Oksana was taught to dig trenches, operate drones, and carry out tasks under the supervision of Russian military instructors, who in some cases fought in Russia's war against Ukraine.

Directed by Maksym Yakobchuk · Written by Olesia Bida

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Camp Fire Stories

Camp Fire Stories · 2020

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The horror story, imbued with the search for the true evil in this world. The most ancient legends of folklore will be recreated from the ancient beliefs about the otherworldly evil of the Kazakh region. Retelling again, they will merge into the realities of our days. We will see Zhestyrnak, Zhalmauyz Kempir and the Ghost from the Kapchagai highway. In their appearance, the heroes of the film will try to recognize the authenticity of evil, which for centuries has cooled blood and deprived of life. But the bitterness of truth itself will find them - "There is no worse in the world - man."

Volunteers

Volunteers · 2015

MovieDocumentaryWar

They could not look indifferently at the bloody wounds of Ukraine, did not stand aside when the Ukrainian East fell into darkness. The story of those who became a symbol of the war for independence.

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Curated Theft · 2025

Russian forces looted two museums in Kherson in the fall of 2022 — the Art Museum and the Museum of Local History. As the Russian army retreated amid the Ukrainian counteroffensive, it seized over 33,000 pieces of art and historical artifacts, including Scythian, Gothic, and Sarmatian gold. This heist became the largest in Europe since World War II.

Torture Culture

Torture Culture · 2026

Torture Culture

MovieDocumentary

Torture in Russian captivity is systematic. In a new documentary, The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigations Unit uncovers the torture of Ukrainian civilians held by Russian forces and traces the roots of these practices through Russian history. The documentary features civilians from different regions and backgrounds who were detained in occupied Ukrainian territories and in Russia itself. Despite being held at different times and in different locations, their testimonies describe strikingly similar patterns of abuse. By combining firsthand accounts with historical research, the investigation shows how torture has persisted across generations and continues to shape Russia’s war against Ukraine.

No God But Theirs

No God But Theirs · 2025

No God But Theirs

MovieDocumentary

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Shadows Across the River

Shadows Across the River · 2024

Shadows Across the River

MovieDocumentary

A rare glimpse into Russia's ongoing terror in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Through personal stories and firsthand accounts, the film's author, Danylo Mokryk, reveals the horrific realities of life under occupation on the east bank of the Dnipro River in the southern Kherson Oblast since 2022. The film uncovers how Russian soldiers and occupational authorities terrorize the local community, including the tragic case of Ruslan Rusnak, who was taken from his home in the village of Hornostaivka and met a heartbreaking fate in November 2023.

He Came Back

He Came Back · 2024

MovieDocumentary

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Destroy, in Whole or in Part

Destroy, in Whole or in Part · 2024

Destroy, in Whole or in Part

MovieDocumentary

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Faces of Torture · 2023

Faces of Torture

MovieDocumentary

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Crimea: The War Before the War. Part 1

Crimea: The War Before the War. Part 1 · 2026

Crimea: The War Before the War. Part 1

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When the Water Screams · 2025

When the Water Screams

MovieDocumentary

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The Portrait

The Portrait · 2014

Novel film: the story of the interesting life path of one picture and its unusual use at the end.

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