‘Russians at War’ Director Placed on ‘National Security Threat’ List

Ukrainian Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi announced on Monday the addition of Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova to the list of “persons posing a threat to national security” of Ukraine, mainly because of her controversial documentary titled Russians at War.

The film, which deals with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the perspective of Russian soldiers, has drawn harsh criticism in kyiv. Premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September, the documentary is seen by Ukrainian authorities as “Russian propaganda.”

“An anti-war documentary”

Director Anastasia Trofimova, who spent months immersed in a Russian battalion fighting in Ukraine, defends her film by saying it is an “anti-war documentary” and that it features “ordinary people.” However, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture sees the film in a very different light.

In its statement, the ministry stated that Russians at War does not take into account the atrocities committed by Russian forces since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The documentary is accused of “promoting the idea” that Russian soldiers are as much victims as Ukrainians, a notion deemed “unacceptable” by kyiv.

The 233rd person on the list

Anastasia Trofimova thus becomes the 233rd person to be included in the list of individuals perceived as a threat to Ukrainian national security. Minister Mykola Tochytskyi, quoted in a statement, stressed that Trofimova’s case is emblematic of the “broader information war launched by Russia, which tries to justify its aggression through culture and the media.” The film is seen as part of a broader strategy aimed at legitimizing the Russian invasion through cultural and media means.

The impact of this controversy was also felt outside Ukraine. The North American premiere of Russians at Warwhich was scheduled to take place at the Toronto International Film Festival, was canceled at the last minute, with organizers citing “threats.” However, AFP reports that two screenings will ultimately take place on Tuesday, while the festival ended Sunday evening.

The film’s producer, Philippe Levasseur, also spoke out to defend the project, telling AFP that the documentary is “the story of a machine that crushes men.”