The Ukrainian community in Italy, in collaboration with MPs from the Democratic Party, organized a screening of the 20 Days in Mariupol documentary in the country’s parliament, announced Oles Horodetskyy, the president of the Christian Association of Ukrainians and Ukrainian community leader in Rome.
“All 300 seats in the parliamentary factions hall were filled. Among the audience were Italian politicians, journalists, public figures, and representatives of the Ukrainian community,” Horodetskyy wrote.
Before the film presentation, in addition to the Italian MPs, participants in the events, volunteer and paramedic Yuliia “Taira” Paievska, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko, and adviser at the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy Oksana Amdzhadin, joined.
“Among the three hundred viewers, there probably wasn’t a person who didn’t cry. When the film ended and the lights came on, there was a solemn silence in the hall. Absolute silence for several minutes. … Applause began, the audience stood up, applauding for a very long time and loudly. Not only for the creators of the film but, first of all, for the defenders of the city of Mariupol and the thousands of peaceful residents killed by Russia and Russians. When the applause subsided, Vasylyna Ilkiv [one of the event participants], unexpectedly for the audience, started singing ‘Shche ne vmerla Ukrayina!’ (‘Ukraine has not yet perished!’) Everyone present Ukrainians supported her. It was one of the most sensitive and emotional renditions of the Ukrainian anthem that I remember,” wrote Horodetskyy.
The head of the Ukrainian community in Italy believes that the documentary filmmakers were able to show the realities of Russian aggression against Ukraine, and as many people should see the film in Italy as possible.
“I want to thank the film’s creators – a documentary evidence of Russia’s crimes for future legal processes – and all those who contributed to organizing the screening in the Italian parliament. Telling the truth about Moscow’s aggression is our duty. This terrible truth makes people worldwide think and urges them to support Ukraine,” concluded Horodetskyy.
