Ukraine opens criminal case against Russians at War filmmaker accused of propaganda

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has initiated a criminal investigation into Anastasia Trofimova, the Russo-Canadian director of the documentary “Russians at War,” which is criticised for being “pure propaganda, not art.” 

The film was screened at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, but sparked controversy for humanizing Russian soldiers without showcasing the destruction and war crimes committed during the ongoing war. It also portrays the war as a struggle between “brotherly nations,” and depicting Russian soldiers sympathetically.

The case centers on allegations that Trofimova illegally entered Ukraine with Russian troops to film the documentary which fuels Russian narratives, according to Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, People’s Deputy of Ukraine. 

Trofimova, a Canadian resident, spent seven months near the front lines in Ukraine to create the documentary.

The project, which was partially funded by Canadian taxpayers, has ignited debate in both Ukraine and Canada. 

Last week, a Canadian parliamentary committee on national security discussed the threats posed by Russian disinformation and concluded that the state should not finance such films. Yurchyshyn expressed gratitude for this response but advocated for stricter penalties for violating Ukrainian law.

The documentary’s screening at the Venice Film Festival drew condemnation from the State Film Agency of Ukraine, which labeled it “veiled Russian propaganda.”

Ukraine has also added Trofimova to its national security threat list for promoting Russian propaganda. Ukraine’s Minister of Culture emphasized the need to combat the use of art for propagating misinformation. 

After calls for cancellation from Ukrainian officials and community, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) initially removed the film from its lineup citing security concerns, however it eventually decided to screen “Russians at War.” 

In defense of her work, Trofimova stated that her aim was to find “points of contact” between Russia and the West and show a different perspective on the war. However, her claim that she observed no signs of war crimes during filming has been met with skepticism.

Related:

• Why “Russians at War” is pure propaganda, not art
• Toronto film festival to screen Russians at War film amidst propaganda claims
• Ukraine adds Russians at War filmmaker to national security threat list
• Ukrainian Canadian Congress calls for investigation into budget funding of “Russians at War” film