The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Monday afternoon thanked the creators of the documentary film “20 Days in Mariupol”, which on Sunday brought Ukraine the first ever Oscar award, Ukrainian Pravda reports.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy near the memorial to fallen Ukrainian soldiersPhoto: Office of the President of Ukraine / Alamy / Profimedia

On the social network, the Kyiv leader noted that the award “allows us to speak out loud about Russia’s war against Ukraine” and that “we remember and will never forget a single day of this war, every day of Mariupol, its defenders.” .

“We remember everyone who fought for the city. We remember and must release from Russian captivity all the defenders of Mariupol and [uzinei] “Azovstals”, who are still being held in inhumane conditions,” said the President of Ukraine.

He also thanked journalists around the world who are reporting the truth about the struggle in Ukraine.

“Thank you to everyone who spreads the truth about this war, about the courage of our people and about the pain of our people. Truth conquers all. And I thank all those in the world who, from the first days of this war, supported our state, our people,” he added.

The documentary “20 days in Mariupol” was created by director Mstislav Chernov, photographer Yevhen Maloletka and producer Vasylisa Stepanenko. After the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, they remained in Mariupol and recorded the beginning of the destruction of the city by the invading forces.

Message from the director of “20 Days in Mariupol” after receiving the Oscar for the documentary.

“20 Days in Mariupol” was named the best documentary of 2023 at Sunday’s Oscars gala when it was released early last year.

“I wish I had never made this film,” director Mstislav Chernov said emotionally on stage. “I want to change the award to ‘Russia has never attacked Ukraine.’ Cinema creates memories, and memories create history,” he said.

“I would refuse any recognition so that Russia would not kill tens of thousands of my Ukrainian compatriots. I want them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers defending their lands, all the civilians who are now in their prisons. But I can’t change history, I can’t change the past,” he added.

“20 Days in Mariupol” previously won the 2023 BAFTA, Britain’s equivalent of the Oscars, for best documentary.