See Ukraine

See Ukraine speaks out against political myths On the whole, Greeks, just like Ukrainians, receive the lion's share of imformation from unreliable sources. Even so, there is a local saying stating that one image is worth a thousand words. In this respect the festival See Ukraine: Docudays UA on tour seems to be unique for the Greek society and its Ukrainian community. With the help of the expressive cinematic language, the project will share some perspectives on the reality of Ukraine and become a meeting place for experts from both countries, who will talk to the audience about the most uncomfortable and complex issues during topic-based discussions. Despite the fact that Ukraine and Greece have a thousand-year common history, Greek viewers have very little understanding of the Ukrainian cinema. It is difficult to embrace all the history, which famously starts in the Monastery of Great Lavra (Mount Athos), where the first written record about the Kyivan Russian monkhood is kept. During the year of the Soviet Iconoclasm any references to the importance of Athos for the Ukrainian culture and spirituality were denied. Possibly, because of this spiritual commonality, Ukrainian and Greek community have always worked closely in different parts of the world. The lack of information about Ukraine is also related to the fact that Greece traditionally belongs to the sphere of influence of Russia. The Greek audience tends to be benevolent to the Russian media sources and has a vague, if not misleading, notion about Ukraine, repeating the myths that the Ukrainian language and state have never existed. For decades, social thinking in Greece has been influenced by the Soviet documentary and feature films which have also systematically been broadcast for the past 25 years after the collapse of the Soviet empire and during the establishment of the independent Ukrainian state. The new waves of the Russian propaganda, which have become part of the so-called hybrid war 2014-2016, make the Greek society even more misinformed. Greece which is also going through a severe political and economic crises is misled into believing that Russia, "friendly nation which shares the same religion", is willing to come to the rescue. The passionate activism of the Ukrainian community in Greece looks uncomfortable, if not merely incomprehensible, to the majority of Greeks, as this political position disproves the Russian propaganda interpretation according to which Ukrainians in East Ukraine have rebelled against fascism. One needs to cope with this, break the stereotypes, search for information, even change one's mindset. It is really complicated. Why should the Ukrainians be a separate nation? Why should they speak their native language? Why should they fight for their independence? However, freedom and struggle for independence are essential concepts for Greeks. In this respect, Greek Ukrainians' position causes a lot of anxiety in the Greece. The beginning of the open military aggression of Russia towards Ukraine in 2014 acted as a catalyst for political activism of Ukrainians all over the world. Greece was not an exception. The majority of Ukrainians from different regions of the country became conscious of their national identity. They realized that they want their native land to remain independent, to embrace European democratic values and get rid of the oppressive Soviet legacy. They took to the streets of Athens with blue-and-yellow flags, wearing vyshyvankas and wreaths and holding posters with slogans against the Russian aggression, against the annexation of Crimea and in support of the illegally imprisoned hostages of the Kremlin. They created a powerful volunteer movement and launched an information website. Freedom is undoubtedly above all else for any nation. And now Ukrainians feel proud of their land and their heroes, who are willing to die for the freedom of Ukraine. And the members of our Ukrainian community do their best to inform the Greek society about Ukraine and its heroic people. That is why See Ukraine: Docudays UA on tour must come to Greece.