Ukraine’s first Oscar hailed as reminder of battle’s horrors as Russian drones strike buildings

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine awoke Monday to a different day of battle — Russian drones blasted buildings within the Kharkiv and Odesa areas — but additionally the information it had received its first Oscar.

The most effective documentary victory for Mstyslav Chernov’s “20 Days in Mariupol,” a harrowing first-person account by The Related Press journalist of the early days of Russia’s invasion in 2022, was bittersweet.

“That is the primary Oscar in Ukrainian historical past, and I’m honored,” an emotional Chernov mentioned Sunday on the Academy Awards. “Most likely I would be the first director on this stage to say I want I’d by no means made this movie, I want to have the ability to trade this to Russia by no means attacking Ukraine.”

Again dwelling in his native Ukraine, the award was applauded for exposing the brutal devastation of the battle and the message Chernov had despatched to the world from one of many largest phases.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he was grateful to the staff for creating the movie and cheered the award as “vital for our total nation.” He mentioned the demise toll in Mariupol stays unknown however satellite tv for pc photos present “1000’s and 1000’s” of graves.

“The horrors of Mariupol mustn’t ever be forgotten,” he mentioned on social media. “The complete world should see and keep in mind what the inhumane Russian invasion dropped at our folks. Cities and villages had been destroyed, properties had been burned, and full households had been killed by Russian shells and buried in their very own backyards.”

The AP staff of Chernov, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko arrived an hour earlier than Russia started bombing the port metropolis. Two weeks later, they had been the final journalists working for a global outlet within the metropolis, sending essential dispatches to the surface world displaying civilian casualties of all ages, the digging of mass graves, the bombing of a maternity hospital and the sheer extent of the devastation.

A joint manufacturing of AP and PBS’ “Frontline,” statuettes had been awarded to Chernov, producer and editor Michelle Mizner and producer Raney Aronson-Rath. The Oscar — and nomination — was a primary for each Chernov, an AP video journalist, and the 178-year-old information group. This was the third nomination and first win for “Frontline.”

Police officer Volodymyr Nikulin, who’s featured prominently within the movie as he helped the crew cowl the story and in the end escape Mariupol as Russian forces closed in, mentioned he was completely satisfied the film had received the distinguished award.

Nikulin, who was later injured serving to victims of a Russian assault on Pokrovsk within the Donetsk area, ferried the crew round Mariupol in a determined try to assist them discover a place the place they may transmit their footage as a result of he mentioned it was important the world might see what was happening. He mentioned the movie served as an vital reminder of “probably the most troublesome time for our nation.”

“Proper now, we could also be going through a equally difficult second,” he instructed AP in Kyiv on Monday.

“However this movie has proven that we are able to defend our nation, that we’re united. And at the moment, if the world sees that we’re combating, the crimes the aggressor is committing in our nation, the way it destroys our cities, I consider that the world will assist our efforts within the combat, and this can be decisive at the moment.”

Ukraine’s human rights chief Dmytro Lubinets praised the documentary for displaying “the reality to the entire world”.

“This awards ceremony is a chance to deal with thousands and thousands of individuals. That is what the movie director did by mentioning the occupation, prisoners of battle, killing of Ukrainians by Russia, and unlawful abduction of civilians,” he wrote on Telegram.

The award, considered one of many the documentary has garnered together with the Pulitzer Prize, comes because the battle has entered its third 12 months. Ukraine’s forces and ammunition are depleted and Russian troops are attempting to push deeper into the Ukraine-held western a part of the Donetsk area and penetrate the Kharkiv area to the north.

Drone assaults in a single day broken two multistory buildings, a resort and a municipal constructing within the jap metropolis of Kharkiv, mentioned regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. No casualties had been reported.

An infrastructure facility within the Odesa area was destroyed and home windows had been shattered, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper mentioned.

The award marks the second consecutive Oscar documentary awarded for a movie that has shone a harsh mild on Russia.

Final 12 months, “Navalny,” in regards to the Russian opposition chief who died simply final month in jail, received greatest documentary.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday refused to touch upon “20 Days in Mariupol,” saying it wasn’t the Kremlin’s prerogative. “I’ve nothing to touch upon,” Peskov mentioned.

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Related Press author Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia contributed to this report.

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Observe AP’s protection of the battle in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine