On June 19, 2024, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Estonia, in collaboration with the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia, organized a screening of the iconic Ukrainian documentary film "20 Days in Mariupol." This film has won over 20 awards and received 40 nominations at festivals worldwide. It has been awarded the British BAFTA, the Cinema for Peace award in Germany, and an Oscar in 2024.
The event was attended by ministers of the Estonian Government and members of the Riigikogu, officials from the state authorities of the Republic of Estonia, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Estonia, Estonian businessmen, cultural figures, and members of the Ukrainian community.
In his speech, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia, Maksym Kononenko, emphasized that the purpose of the film screening was to give the Estonian audience and the international community an honest and truthful account of the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian siege of the half-million city, and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe.
"This is our shared opportunity to honestly learn about what happened in Mariupol during the first three weeks of the great war. The film debunks any attempts by Russian propaganda to obscure the reality: the material was filmed by an Associated Press team, the last journalists trapped in the city besieged by the Russians who continued their work despite the constant threat of death every minute. They witnessed the crimes of the Russians, the mass burials of civilians, the dedicated work of our doctors, and the courage of our defenders. They could have died at any moment, but they were lucky to escape and bring us the truth about these events, a truthful view from the inside, from direct witnesses and participants. This is the highest level of professionalism when a journalist is ready to sacrifice themselves for the sake of truth," emphasized the Ambassador.
In his speech, Maksym Kononenko called on all those present to understand what happened, to grasp the horror of Russian aggression, and to help Ukraine ensure that the Russian occupiers can never repeat what they have done.
Speaking at the event, Mark Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, emphasized the need for the entire European community to support Ukraine. He underscored Estonia's ongoing efforts to provide comprehensive assistance to Ukraine in the Euro-Atlantic direction and in military, humanitarian, technical, energy, reconstruction, and development areas.
In his address, the Chairman of the Board of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia, Volodymyr Palamar, called on Estonians and Ukrainians who have lived in Estonia for a long time to spread information about the horrors of the occupation of Mariupol, to remind the entire diplomatic community in Estonia that the war is not over and we still need to take steps to bring the victory of the civilized world over autocracy closer.
A special guest, Andres Siplane, an employee of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented a book in Estonia that he had written after visiting Mariupol on the eve of the full-scale Russian invasion. The author drew parallels with Narva, which was destroyed by Russia, and expressed confidence that Mariupol would return to Ukraine and be revived, and its past glory would not disappear even under the Russian assault.
We express our gratitude to the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia for their cooperation in organizing the screening of this outstanding film.