The Kyiv Independent

Recording: Q&A with Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko on their documentary about the mental health of military medics (Patreon)

Published:

2024-12-18 10:01:07

Imported:

2026-09

Tags:

recording

Content

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you to those who attended our exclusive online premiere of our documentary “Can You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics.”

The film follows a group of Ukrainian military medics as they journey from the heat of battle in war-torn Ukraine to the serene forests of Sweden for a short mental health retreat.

After the premiere, the authors of the film Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko answered your questions, including how they chose the characters for their film, what conditions on the battlefield actually look like, and if there is sufficient access to mental health resources for those serving in the military, both in the present day and in the long term.

Thank you to those who sent in their questions and to those who left kind comments after the screening. We really appreciate hearing from our members! Thank you for continuing to stand with us.

Files

Exclusive premiere of “Can You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics”

We’re getting ready to present our documentary “Can You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics.” The film follows a group of Ukrainian military medics as they journey from the heat of battle in war-torn Ukraine to the serene forests of Sweden for a short mental health retreat. Although the issue of medics’ psychological well-being is critical to address, it is rarely talked about and often overlooked, leaving them alone in this invisible battle. As they find themselves in a peaceful, quiet environment in Sweden for the first time since 2022, the medics have a chance to process the accumulated trauma, opening up about losing brothers-in-arms, surviving Russian captivity, and the inescapable feeling of guilt for not being able to save some of the soldiers they treated. Before the film’s premiere, we will have an exclusive online screening for The Kyiv Independent’s community members, followed by a Q&A with the film’s authors Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko.