A special screening of The Kyiv Independent’s documentary “Can You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics” took place at the French Embassy in Washington. The event was co-organized by the Embassies of Ukraine and Sweden in the United States in partnership with the Repower Charitable Foundation.
This was reported by The Kyiv Independent.
According to The Kyiv Independent, the film, created by journalists Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko, follows Ukrainian military medics who went from the front lines of russia’s war against Ukraine to a short rehabilitation retreat in Sweden. For the first time since 2022, the heroes of the film were able to reflect on their experiences — captivity, the loss of comrades, and the survivor’s guilt for those they could not save.
In her opening remarks, Katya Smagliy, Counselor of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, speaking on behalf of Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna, emphasized that “the emotional solidarity of friends, partners, and allies is vital for Ukraine’s resilience and post-war recovery.”
After the screening, a discussion took place featuring The Kyiv Independent’s editor-in-chief Olga Rudenko, moderated by Scripps News international correspondent Jason Bellini. The conversation focused on the courage of ordinary people during the war and the role of journalism in telling the truth about Ukraine’s struggle for freedom.
The organizers expressed gratitude to Damien Christofari from the French Embassy and Martin Rosen from the Swedish Embassy for their support, as well as to Repower Charitable Foundation for co-organizing the event and assisting Ukrainian medics.
Background
The documentary “Can You Hear Me?” was created by The Kyiv Independent journalists Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko. Its premiere took place in Kyiv on December 12, 2024. Since then, the film has been screened in 18 countries — including at embassies and the European Parliament — with the support of Ukrainian and Swedish diplomatic missions. The documentary highlights the psychological toll of war on Ukrainian military medics and reminds the world of the power of human resilience.
Author: Danylo Pievchev