On October 14, see the documentary Can You Hear Me? the Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics, followed by a discussion with Alexandra Domaradsky (Razom for Ukraine), Dr. Anastasiia Vlasenko (the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University), and Sebastian Lindstrom (Head of International Cooperation at the Charitable Foundation Repower), moderated by award-winning journalist Jane Ferguson.
Filmmakers Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko followed a group of Ukrainian military medics as they journeyed from the heat of battle in war-torn Ukraine to the serene forests of Sweden for a short mental health retreat. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, witnessing an endless conveyer belt of severe injuries and deaths has taken a heavy toll on the medics’ mental health. Although crucial to address, the issue of their psychological well-being 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. Together, they open 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.
Filmed over the course of nine months, including multiple trips to the front line in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as well as a 10-day visit to Sweden, the documentary also highlights the work of Repower NGO, which brings groups of medics to mental health trips in Sweden, Denmark and Spain. Since the organization’s founding in 2023, 755 military medics have participated in their program.
The film will be screened in Ukrainian with English subtitles, and will be followed by a reception.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Jane Ferguson is an Emmy- and George Polk Award–winning journalist, author, and media entrepreneur known for her frontline reporting from the Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine. Born in Northern Ireland, she studied English and Politics at the University of York. She has reported for CNN, Al Jazeera English, and PBS NewsHour, focusing on the human cost of war. Her memoir No Ordinary Assignment explores courage and resilience in journalism. She teaches at Princeton and runs the Jane Ferguson Foundation, supporting young female reporters.
Alexandra Domaradsky is the Co-Pilot Project Coordinator at Razom for Ukraine, connecting Ukrainian and U.S. medical professionals. She earned her B.A. in Biology from Muhlenberg College (2018) and her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Salus University (2022). A former physician’s assistant in interventional cardiology, Alex now leads medical training and exchange programs, collaborates with trauma surgeons in Dnipro, and supports tactical combat care for Ukrainian soldiers. In 2024, she expanded partnerships with Ukraine’s Military Medical Academy and Command of Medical Forces and is organizing a national Tourniquet Forum in Kyiv.
Sebastian Lindström is a Swedish journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Head of International Cooperation at Repower.ngo, a Sweden–Ukraine initiative supporting the recovery of frontline medics and doctors. Based between Kyiv and Stockholm, he has led 16 recovery programs in Sweden, Denmark, and Spain for over 1,200 Ukrainian medical personnel. A co-founder of the global film collective What Took You So Long and producer of the Kyiv Independent’s documentary Can You Hear Me?, he combines storytelling, psychology, and diplomacy to restore those who save lives on the front line.
Anastasiia Vlasenko is the Petro Jacyk Postdoctoral Research Scholar in Ukrainian Studies at Columbia University’s Harriman Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Florida State University. Her research focuses on lawmaking, corruption, and political networks in Ukraine. Previously, she was a research fellow at Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute and NYU’s Jordan Center, and a visiting scholar at the Hertie School in Berlin.
ABOUT THE DIRECTORS
Francis Farrell is an Australian-born reporter at the Kyiv Independent. After studying politics and international relations with a focus on the post-Soviet region at Leiden University in The Hague and University College London, he began working as a journalist after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the Kyiv Independent, Francis’ work focuses on covering the battlefield, including front-line field reports, broader military analysis, and the toll of Russia’s war on civilians.
Olena Zashko is a videographer at the Kyiv Independent. She has worked in journalism for eight years, most recently focusing on news and documentary projects, including from the front lines of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
