Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemns intentions to screen scandalous film Russians at War at Zurich Film Festival

The film Russians at War by Russian director Anastasia Trofimova, which caused widespread protests in Ukrainian society, is to be shown at the Zurich Film Festival. This decision was condemned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian authority expressed their outrage over the plans of the Zurich Film Festival to include the Russians at War in its programme. The ministry condemned attempts to give Russia the floor in terms of art.

"We strongly condemn any attempts to give Russia the floor in terms of art in order to whitewash its war crimes, while Russian troops continue to commit atrocities against Ukrainians," the Foreign Ministry said.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) earlier set a new date for the presentation of the controversial film Russians at War by a Russian director after cancelling the first screenings amid a barrage of criticism.

In response, the Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto, Oleh Nikolenko, expressed his outrage at the decision of the organisers of the TIFF to screen the scandalous film.

The film Russians at War was screened on 5 September at the Venice International Film Festival. The director stated that she spent seven months with a Russian battalion fighting in Ukraine, and it was a shock for her to see that they were "absolutely ordinary guys with families and a sense of humour".