I arrived in Kyiv just before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The news was filled with grim predictions of further attacks on the city; I came anyway. Visiting Ukraine was a great honour for me, and my pride in the invitation outweighed my fear.
This invitation came almost by chance. When the war began, I wanted to do something to help. I organised a charity auction for Ukraine, collecting items from movies, actors, from producers and directors who gave them to me to put up for sale. Together, we raised 250,000 euros, and I wanted to be sure it all went to the best cause. This was how I found out about United24, a global initiative to support Ukraine, launched by Volodymyr Zelensky. It was the perfect way to get the money to the country reliably.
And after I donated the money – half to United 24 and half to Olena Zelenska’s foundation – the United24 team invited me to become an ambassador for their charity, and then to Ukraine to see Kyiv, and meet President Zelensky.
In the city itself, my first feeling was shock. Shock at the violence that has happened here, at the buildings marked by bullets and bombings, at the stories from people who were in Bucha or Irpin and who have experienced the violence of the Russian army. When you are here in person, it feels very different to looking at a photograph.
But then you see the faces of people on the streets, and beyond the scars and pain and loss, there is hope and determination. I was struck by their resilience. They joked and laughed, even in the face of adversity. They don’t pose as heroes, or pretend to be different people. They want to return to their normal lives and rebuild what has been destroyed. Life goes on, and even in the darkest of times, there is hope.
Meeting Zelensky was a great honour. I can’t reveal any deep defence secrets, but I can say he was charismatic and easygoing. He has kept his sense of humour, and he still smiles. And he told me that while money helps, messages also mean something. Ukraine wants to know that we are with them, that we stand by them. Even moral support is important.
I’ve been asked if my support is because of my roots (my grandmother is from Ukraine, the rest from Poland and Lithuania), but I rather hope it isn’t. Ten years ago I directed a film called The Search, set in the Russian invasion of Chechnya. The research process made it clear to me that the Russian army is still today what it was then; an organisation which creates cruel men, and lets them loose to commit acts of unspeakable violence. Who wouldn’t want to do their part to stand up to this?
My fundraising efforts are a small part of Ukraine’s victory. I’m raising funds for one building among many; it has no roof, it is missing floors and 300 people who call it home have left. But whether they’re in Europe, western Ukraine, or the frontlines, one thing is sure: they want to come back, and we want to give them back their homes. I have already raised 125,000 euros to restore it. Only 25,500 euros remain to complete the fundraiser. So if you have a few spare pounds, it's a great way to spend them.
This is a war, and the price of peace will be steep. Things take time. The war goes on longer than expected, and even once finished we will need to help the country rebuild. But I’ve seen how much power and faith Ukrainians invest every day into their victory. And when they win, it will become my peace too, the peace of every European. And if my part to make the victory closer is in collecting donations, then I will do it.
Michel Hazanavicius is a French film director. He is best known for his 2011 film, The Artist, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. You can listen to the interview with him on Telegraph’s daily podcast Ukraine: The Latest here.
He is raising funds for UNITED24 to help rebuild homes in Ukraine. You can find more information here
