Ukrainian-American singer-songwriter Kelsie Kimberlin has released the official music video for “Star,” a poignant track dedicated to every Ukrainian fighting for freedom, culture, and national survival.
The powerful video features original footage from the documentary film The Last Message, which, as of November 1,2026, has accumulated 58 international film festival awards, selections, and nominations. The film has been officially submitted for consideration at the Academy Awards (Oscars) in both the Best Original Song (“Star”) and Best Documentary Feature categories.
The story behind “Star” stems from personal loss. On February 22, 2024, Kelsie’s 21-year-old cousin, Andrii Rachok, was killed in action during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bound by a closeness as deep as any siblings, Kelsie wrote “Star” in his memory. However, she chose to withhold recording the song until she could travel to Ukraine to honor Andrii and say goodbye.
Her journey brought her directly to the frontline, making her the only international artist permitted to enter Ukrainian combat zones to film a documentary about the war. Over a month of intensive filming across frontline areas, Kelsie and her team captured the lived experiences of frontline soldiers and civilians.
“After spending a month filming, I realized that every Ukrainian is a star who courageously fights for their freedom, culture, and country.” — Kelsie Kimberlin.
Upon returning home, Kelsie recorded “Star.” The music video opens in the frontline city of Izyum, where Kelsie performed for service members of Andrii’s unit, the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. Tragically, defender Nikita—who appears at the 3:45 mark in the video—was killed in action in August 2026, prior to the film’s public screening.
The full documentary The Last Message is scheduled for worldwide release in 2027.
For more details on the documentary film and festival honors, visit the official website at The Last Message Movie
Tags: 3rd Assault Brigade Izyum Kelsie Kimberlin Oscars 2027 Stand With Ukraine the last message Ukraine war documentary
