In a Facebook post, the State Film Agency of Ukraine has strongly criticized Italy’s decision to host screenings of Russian propaganda films in several cities throughout January and February 2025.
The films, titled "Maidan, the Road to War" and "Children of Donbass", are being organized by the pro-Russian group Donbass Italia.
According to United24 Media, the group is known for distributing materials that align with the Kremlin's narrative of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Both films are accused of promoting Russian disinformation.
"Maidan, the Road to War", produced by Russia Today, allegedly questions the legitimacy of Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity and portrays events leading to the current conflict in a distorted manner.
Similarly, "Children of Donbass" uses emotionally charged themes to misrepresent the reality of the war in eastern Ukraine.
“These films risk manipulating public opinion and spreading disinformation at a time when Ukraine is enduring a full-scale invasion,” the Ukrainian film agency stated to United24 Media.
The agency has urged Ukraine’s Embassy in Italy, led by Ambassador Yaroslav Melnyk, and other diplomatic channels to intervene and prevent the screenings. It also appealed to the international community and the Italian public to reject the dissemination of Russian propaganda materials.
“Screening such content in cultural venues is not just insensitive but also contributes to the Kremlin's agenda of distorting the truth about the war and Ukraine's fight for sovereignty,” the agency said. "We thank everyone who continues to support Ukraine’s fight against aggression and disinformation," the agency concluded.
Ukrainian officials have also stressed that allowing such films undermines international solidarity in opposing Russian aggression.
In a similar controversy, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) in Estonia recently refused to remove the film Deaf Lovers by Russian filmmaker Boris Guts, despite objections from Ukraine’s State Film Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
