“Every Life Matters”: Documentary About Animals From Frontline Areas to Be Screened in Ukraine

As part of the Odesa International Film Festival, which will take place in Kyiv from August 27 to September 4, 2026, the Ukrainian premiere of the documentary film Rescue will be held.

The film was produced as a co-production between the American independent production company We Are All Animals and the Ukrainian organization Kozhna Tvaryna. This was reported by Unian.

Over the four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion, thousands of animals — from pets to farm animals — have been left in active combat zones. Few people return to rescue them. The film’s protagonists travel to frontline areas, risking shelling to save animals. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 30,000 animals have been rescued in this way.

“Animals often remain invisible during war, especially farm animals. Rescue shows that every animal, every life, deserves to be saved. In wartime, questions of vulnerability and responsibility become particularly acute, and this film is not only about evacuation, but also about making ethical choices under extreme circumstances and compassion as a conscious and radical act. I am confident that Ukrainian audiences will connect with these stories of courageous people who are willing to do anything for every life,” says the film’s producer, activist, and head of the NGO Kozhna Tvaryna, Tamara Human.

The film was shot in frontline regions — from Kostiantynivka to Pokrovsk, and from the Kharkiv region to Zaporizhzhia. Its protagonists are people from different parts of the world, united by one belief: every life matters. They include a former Ukrainian soldier who became an animal rescuer; a volunteer from Switzerland who left behind a safe life; a Bulgarian woman who moved to Ukraine at the beginning of the invasion and rescues cats that survived the war; and an Italian man who founded a shelter in the Kyiv region and stayed.

Among those rescued is Olenka, a baby goat evacuated from a bombed-out village. She became a symbol of the film — and a reminder of the price every decision can carry.

British actress and director Sadie Frost (Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Final Cut) served as the project’s executive producer.

The film was directed by Italian-American documentary filmmaker Alessio Schiazza. For several years, his work has explored the inseparable bond between humans and animals. For example, his 2024 film Cuori Liberi tells the story of the fight for animal rights at a shelter in Italy.

“As an artist, I explore the intersection of humanity and social issues in my work, creating stories that inspire empathy and reflection. Rescue became a turning point in my practice: it delves into the complex issues of war and compassion, drawing attention to the plight of animals in conflict zones, which is often overlooked,” director Alessio Schiazza says.

The film had its international premiere at the Raindance Film Festival, London’s leading independent film festival, in June 2026.