The international production center “For-Post” with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Fund showcased a film about the combat exploits and daily lives of pilots of Ukrainian attack and fighter aviation.
The main hero is the Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Rostyslav Lazarenko (call sign “Thunder”), deputy commander of the Su-25 brigade. From the first day of the full-scale invasion, he led young pilots into the sky, carried out the most complex combat missions, and set a record for the number of combat sorties, surpassing even the legendary WWII ace Ivan Kozhedub.
Unique aerial footage, personal stories, and the losses of comrades are all centered around Commander “Thunder” and his iron bird. The film gains particular emotional depth from Rostyslav’s decision to take care of the daughter of his fallen friend, pilot Vladyslav Rykov – Miroslava. The girl was also present at the premiere and received a standing ovation from the audience.
Rostyslav Lazarenko himself admitted that the hardest part was balancing filming with combat duties. The responsibility for his team was compounded by the responsibility for the film crew working in combat conditions: “an extra shot could have been devastating”.
His comrades came to support him: Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Smerechanskiy “Smereka” and Hero of Ukraine Colonel Ihor Parkhomenko. They carried out dozens of successful attack sorties, risking their lives in enemy air defense zones. All emphasized that a commander as responsible and sincere as “Thunder” is hard to find.
The head of the communications service of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat, noted: “Ukraine’s aviators, with incredible efforts, hold our skies. The legendary cohort present here impresses with their effectiveness and readiness to carry out any assigned task. I am proud to be the spokesperson for such heroes”.
Brigadier General, Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhii Holubtsov, during his speech, emphasized: “This film is about memory. We saw mentions of Vlad Rykov in the film and just met Ihor, who returned to aviation after the loss of his son. In total, about 200 Air Force and aviation pilots have died. On the Day of Remembrance of Defenders, it is especially valuable to honor their heroism”.
On behalf of the creative team, director and cinematographer Ivan Yasnii, who recently joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, spoke: “Filming aviation in a documentary genre is extremely challenging due to numerous restrictions. But thanks to a strong hero, we created a sincere portrait that tells the unique story of a Ukrainian pilot”.
General producer Oleksandr Driz emphasized that the film was shot in six months, adhering to all security protocols, and another six months were spent creating the cinematic version that was presented. Starting from September 18, the film will be available in wide theatrical release.
Among the premiere’s audience was the well-known Ukrainian actress Irma Vitovska. Addressing the pilots, she noted: “Each of you deserves your own page in history. We must create both documentary and feature films about our pilots. This is the birth of a new Ukrainian myth, and for that, we must know our true heroes”.
Glory to the Heroes of the Ukrainian sky!
