[Movies that Matter film screening] The Reckoning Project: Ukraine testifies
Published 21 March 2025
Still from CHORNOBYL22 - Author: Oleksiy Radynski
Join us on Wednesday 26 March, for a free screening of three powerful short documentaries from The Reckoning Project, a vital initiative bearing witness to the realities of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These films document crucial testimonies and investigate war crimes and environmental crimes through the compelling voices of those directly affected.
Following the screenings, we will engage in an in-depth panel discussion exploring the importance of evidence gathering and documenting war and environmental crimes to support accountability efforts in Ukraine. Our panel will feature journalist and war crimes documenter Svitlana Oslavska, alongside experts in climate litigation, international criminal law, and humanitarian law: Laura Burgers, Valerie Gabard, and Gabrielė Chlevickaitė (moderator).
A Q&A session will follow, providing an opportunity to ask questions about documentation, testimony, ecocide, and the critical importance of bearing witness during conflict.
When: 26 March 2025
Starts at: 18.00 hrs CET
Fee: Free
Venue: Asser Institute
The Reckoning project films that will be screened:
1. The Most Frightening Days of My Life. Yahidne.
Duration: 18:20 min
Authors of the film: Svitlana Oslavska, Nataliya Gumenyuk, Angelina Kariakina, Lyuba Knorozok, Yuriy Dunay, Peter Pomerantsev, Andriy Bashtovyi, Andriy Lysetskyi, Anna Tsyhyma (in partnership with TIME magazine)
Yahidne, a small village in the Chernihiv region, was occupied by the Russian army from 3 March to 30 March 2022. The Russians locked up 367 local residents in a village school basement and held them there for an entire month. Dozens of children and elderly people in a room of 86 m2. People were imprisoned, denied food and medication, forced to sleep sitting in chairs and on the floor. On the 5th day, the first death occurred as a result of asphyxiation. In total, ten people died inside the basement. The dead bodies remained inside the room, alongside those who were still alive, for an extended period of time, as the occupiers would not allow those bodies to be buried. Fifteen more people were killed outside of the basement. The film tells the story of how it all happened, and how people managed to survive the cruelty of the Russian army.
2. Big Water
Duration: 12:47 min
Authors of the film: Anna Tsyhyma, Ghanna Mamonova
A groundbreaking investigation into a new type of war crime: ecocide. Following the Russian destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023, five Ukrainian regions and occupied Crimea suffered catastrophic flooding. More than 50 villages and towns were submerged within hours, with water levels rising 5-7 meters and trapping 100,000 people. The film follows State Environmental Inspectorate employees as they work under fire to collect evidence of environmental crimes, collaborating with the Prosecutor General's Office. Their dual role as both investigators and victims offers a unique perspective on documenting a disaster whose full consequences may take years to unfold.
CHORNOBYL 22 (with Kinotron Group)
Duration: 21:13
Author of the film: Oleksiy Radynski
Directed by Oleksiy Radynski, this film features clandestine footage taken by a local informant during the Russian occupation of the Chornobyl Zone in early 2022. Workers from the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station recount their experiences during the Russian military takeover—an act of nuclear terrorism that threatened another global disaster at this notorious site. The film weaves together past and present catastrophic scenarios unfolding in this emblematic location.
Preliminary programme
17.30: Registrations open
18.15: Opening speech
18.20: Screenings
19.10: Q&A discussion with Svitlana Oslavska, Dr Laura Burgers, and Valerie Gabard (moderated by Gabriele Chlevickaite).
Registration
Attendance is free, but registration is required due to limited seating.
Register now.
For more information, please contact the Asser Institute at educationtraining@asser.nl
This event is part of the Movies that Matter series, dedicated to highlighting human rights issues through film.
About the The Reckoning Project
The Reckoning Project brings on-the-ground investigative journalists, who collect witness testimonies from sites of human rights violations, war crimes, and atrocities, together with lawyers. They work together to stamp out impunity through the courts of law, courts of public opinion, and available accountability pathways. Read more.
About the speakers:
Svitlana Oslavska
Svitlana is a Ukrainian journalist, writer, and cultural researcher. She has been working as a war crimes documenter with The Reckoning Project since its establishment in 2022. Svitlana is an author of several reportage books. Her new book "On Their Own Skin" based on the testimonies of Russia's war crimes witnesses will be published in Ukraine this year.
Laura Burgers
Laura Burgers works as assistant professor at the Amsterdam Centre for Transformative private law. She specialises in climate litigation, rights of nature and rights of future generations. She is one of the national experts in the UN Network Harmony with Nature.
Valerie Gabard
Valeria is the co-Director of UpRights, expert in international criminal law, international humanitarian law, human rights law, and transitional justice with over a decade of experience as a legal adviser for the United Nations.
Gabrielė Chlevickaitė (moderator)
Gabriele Chlevickaite is international criminal law researcher at the Asser Institute where she coordinates international criminal law-related projects and conducts research into fact-finding in international criminal investigations and prosecutions.
