24 February, Labia Theatre, Cape Town – We witnessed Occupation, Resistance, Torture, Liberation, and existence Under Drone Attacks. This has been the reality of the past four years since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the city of Kherson, as depicted in the documentary by Zarina Zabrisky, Kherson Human Safari.

The film powerfully documents the reality of Russia’s crimes in Kherson: occupation, deportation of Ukrainian children, the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, and the hunting of civilians with drones, as if on a safari. Russian forces continue to target civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and local residents. Yet despite all these crimes, the city continues to live. People continue to create, care, and love despite suffering, loss, and trauma. Because only by caring and loving can one remain human.

The audience had the opportunity to see Kherson through a video message from the film’s creator, Zarina Zabrisky, and after the screening to ask her questions directly via an online connection. Please read interview with Zarina Zabrisky. The Truth Hounds have also provided the exhibition based on the report about the drone attacks on civilians in Ukraine. Click to see the exhibition.  The room was decorated with watermelons – the symbol of an agricultural city on the Dnipro River, Kherson.

“How can people be protected from drones? How fast is this technology developing? How can Ukrainians be helped?” – These were some of the questions from the audience. The screening ended in a deeply emotional moment when members of the audience originally from Kherson, through tears, shared their gratitude with Zarina for showing what their families and friends are going through.

“I only wish the audience could also see how beautiful Kherson was before russia so-called ‘liberated’ us. People in South Africa watching all the destruction in the film probably cannot imagine what a beautiful city Kherson was,” – shared Kateryna from Kherson.

All donations from the screening will go to Voices of Children in Ukraine for the psychological rehabilitation of children affected by the war in Kherson. You can also donate here.

The screening was organised by the Ukrainian Association of South Africa, in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine, to commemorate four years of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Special thanks to Olga and Keith for their hard work in making this event possible.

More information about Kherson.