The unspeakable

Today, Ukrainian soldiers are fighting and dying every day for the freedom of their country. They are defending the independence of Ukraine, which is being threatened by Russia with its aggressive attacks. It is a shame that so many of them have lost their lives, both soldiers and civilians. Others were victims of serious war crimes committed by the Russian aggressors.
Shortly after the invasion in February 2022, reports of serious war crimes emerged, including sexual violence by the Russian occupiers.
As the reports piled up and nobody was looking closely at what was happening there, we decided to do our own research in April 22. By chance, I met Vera Yakovenko, a filmmaker who had fled to Germany, and I worked with her on the film project from start to finish. In July, we filmed for four days with a local team, after many weeks of research, because it was extremely difficult to find people who were willing to speak. We were supported by Nataliia Shchuka from Kiev, who tirelessly tried to encourage those affected to speak and who also conducted the interviews.
For the safety of the survivors and to avoid re-traumatization, we had the interviews with them re-enacted by the Ukrainian actress Natalia Yaroshenko. The filming was supplemented by interviews with psychologists who had experience with a large number of those affected and helped us to analyze the situation. These were the psychologist Alexandra Kvitko, Alyona Krivulyak from the aid organization “La Strada” and the Nobel Peace Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk. Once again, many thanks to all our supporters.
We don’t know exactly why our film proposal was rejected by 8 editorial offices. I was able to talk to one editor. He missed the “other side,” he meant Russian voices in the film. But we didn’t want that because it wouldn’t be appropriate for the pain of the victims. The material should shock and show what an occupying power Russia does.
Today, there are increasing calls in Germany for Ukraine to lay down its arms and come to an agreement with Russia. This would not only be a forced peace in favor of Russia, but also a death sentence for over a million Ukrainians in the occupied territories.
That is why we are making this short, self-financed teaser freely available online. Nobody should be able to say that we didn’t know how badly the Russian soldiers treat women and children. The Russian aggressors use rape as a weapon in hybrid warfare.
The shooting covered the first phase of the war in Bucha and Irpin. One can only imagine how many similar war crimes have been and are being committed by the Russian military in the meantime. By publishing this video, we hope to contribute to making sexual violence visible and hopefully punishable.
Published on the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, 24.8.2024