This marks the first time an Ukrainian film has been honoured with an Oscar.
Director Mstyslav Chernov told the awards ceremony in Los Angeles: “I will probably be the first director on this stage who will say I wish I had never made this film. I wish to be able to exchange this for Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities.”
Chernov added: “Russians are killing tens of thousands of my fellow Ukrainians. I wish for them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers who are protecting their lands, all the civilians who are now in their jails. But I cannot change the history. I cannot change the past.”
In 2022, Chernov, together with his team, remained in the city of Mariupol as it came under heavy artillery bombarding.
His film shows the atrocities committed by the Russians, including a maternity hospital being bombed and mass graves.
(mk/gs)