Director of Oscar-nominated 20 Days in Mariupol talks about 'filming proof' of Russian war crimes

Almost two years since Russia launched its full scale war in Ukraine - we speak to a man who witnessed and recorded some of the worst brutality of the war. The AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov, together with two colleagues, arrived in Mariupol just an hour before the invasion.
He began filming and didn't stop for three weeks, telling the story in the Oscar nominated documentary, 20 Days in Mariupol. Channel 4 News was one of many broadcasters who used his footage from inside the besieged city and we should warn you, our interview with him does contain some very distressing images - we began by asking him how difficult it was to watch those images again?
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[@panasiuk39]

#stoprussia #standwithUkraine 💙💛💙💛

[@menya00045]

Ukraine🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@OptimisticHominid]

Many thanks to the journalist for bringing us the story of what's going on in Ukraine at the hands of Putin's army.

[@OptimisticHominid]

@arlekino4688 The Nazis did similar kinds of propaganda too!

[@ricardoamendoeira3800]

​​​@arlekino4688True, Mariupol today has a few new empty buildings because the people were killed or had to flee, and most of the city remains destroyed. Those tiny parts of the city that they show look great if you enjoy ghost towns, though.

[@pip669]

Still are ,in Ukraine ​@@OptimisticHominid

[@inna_b_26]

I've watched the film, it was heartbreaking...

[@belkentens]

Yeah It does sound very boring

[@Bhghih]

Did you watch the 8 years gen/0/ cyde of Russian people who had no weapons or army in the south of Ukraine committed by Ukrainian American puppet unelected government and ukranian army, before your Russia-Ukraine war "started"? Have you heard of Slavyansk? Which was obliterated like Gaza? Have you heard of the mass(∆cre of Odessa where even a pregnant woman was B|_|R|\|ED alive while others shot and the ones that jumped from the high floors of the burning building were una-liv€d by nazis b€∆ting them with chains in the ground or shot? I have seen all of that. For 8 years I was crazy and no one cared. After 8 years of gen/0/cyde and Russia trying to solve everything diplomatically and failing, Russia decided to protect their own citizens. Ukranians didn't have any problem with what was happening nor did the world. Putin knew it was a trap for the west to get involved against him cause no one can take on Russia alone. But they failed, and are using Ukraine. The media will make you believe everything upside down. Yes Russia is not perfect and has many flaws. And they use many bad methods. But they use bad methods defending themselves. While the others were commiting a clear as the day gen0 cyder and making huge Nazi marches and supporting their master who I can't say the name cause for sure this comment would be deleted and una livving all russians. And now, everyone just keeps pretending there was nothing going on for 8 years before the war "started". That's the only thing they can do.. just keep pretending and don't speak about it.

[@menya00045]

And a lot of propaganda... it was very boring.

[@Saidifect]

Soulless people, brainwashed by Putin's propaganda.

[@dont_read_my_nickname]

@@menya00045 How can filming from a phone camera where you can clearly see a Russian tank with the letter Z shooting at a residential building be propaganda!? Are you brave to talk only while sitting on the couch in your own country?

[@tomwalker5555]

Two, real men, speaking here

[@menya00045]

🤣

[@belbrighton6479]

Very moving and a clear reason for journalism.

[@andykyriakides2144]

Maybe some of these " journalists " can go to Gaza and report events there .

[@Nastya2352]

Great interview! Film is horrible by its content but I strongly advice everyone to watch it and understand why all people need (not should) support Ukraine.

[@Mrgasman1978]

There is a word that describes a war without war crimes. It is "peace".

[@mindytachau1344]

Two years afterwards...AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. 😮😮🤔🤔

[@pip669]

Try 10 years

[@kathrinmuller7890]

Many thanks for bringing the story to us. I am a big supporter of Ukraine from Germany, although I have no connections to it. I have started studying Ukrainian last summer also out of respect to Ukrainians and resistance against Russia.

[@katkin1674]

Where is the video that shows the tank firing at the residential building??

[@BBBJOT]

the documentary is called "20 Days in Mariupol"

[@hamiltonau]

Having trouble finding the film on here 😢

[@laloelsalamanca]

because there isn't one, it's just cheap emotional propaganda.

[@TikoK7]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/naekqqyhh9uDeNE

[@truthwizard]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqLPYXeGbsuYocUsi=lDx7mVr68D5W3Oxh

[@truthwizard]

​@@laloelsalamancayou wish

[@mufcninja87]

Frontline PBS might have it

[@Dantes38]

Wow. They'll go nuts when they see the whole neighbourhoods turned to rubble in Gaza.

[@RazorMouth]

Channel 4 is against the slaughter in Gaza. So who is "they" you're talking about?

[@anatoliypankevych4853]

„15 roubles“ entered the chat

[@Dumka78]

​@@RazorMouthThat's like Joe Biden saying he is against Genocide in Gaza but doesn't actually mean it.

[@oskarfabian5200]

I didn't see ukrainians in Mariupol dancing in the streets on corpses of russian civilians.

[@edwin-jq4dp]

More civilians died in Mariupol alone than in whole Gaza, you whataboutist vatnik

[@s6edge706]

"Russia shoots at residential buildings"... meanwhile in gaza

[@c.krueger9530]

the double standards.

[@olivka7560]

Exactly

[@ferry602]

That neocon journalist must compare the casualties with Gaza during months bombardments, how many innocent civillions died? More than in Ucraine since February 2022.

[@ricardoamendoeira3800]

That is also wrong, we agree, right? Or do you think both cases are actually ok?

[@andriyhv]

Ukraine did not attack russia first Ukraine did not breakthrough border Ukrainian soldiers did not rape , captured , tortured, kidnapped russians So russians did not have any single reason to attack Ukraine on Feb 22

[@pandyy1028]

Please make this film available in cinema all over UK , Courageous army, brave nation , Ukraine will win 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@pip669]

Slava azov

[@stpd1957]

More good reporting by Chanel 4 News.

[@pip669]

Not as good as trans stripping in front of kids . Naked education

[@ua7847]

❤❤❤❤💙💙💙💙💙💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛Help mi UCRAINA

[@unregisturd]

Next news story, proof that Israel fires at residential building in Gaza! 🤡🤡🤡

[@GazilionPT]

The fact that other people do it too doesn't make it acceptable.

[@ricardoamendoeira3800]

"But whatabout..." Unless you're also ok with Israel doing it, how is that a defense?

[@mariontoffan1943]

The only thing that counts is the record. In Iraq it was a scribe sitting with drawing implements scattered on a desk. And here Chernov you used your camera. Dear scribe keep going after those important works. M.

[@FabioRossettiFI]

That's a bit naive, and I'm also referring to the interview. Obviously, the camera can also lie. We see a Russian tank shooting at a residential building: yes, but what if that residential was used by the Azov militiamen as a fortification, maybe with civilians locked in the basement or in the lower floors as human shields? It would make more sense (it doesn't, from a military point of view to shoot at a building just for kicks) and it would NOT constiture a war crime. Look for the advance clips from "The Edge of the Abyss" by Max Fadeev, an incredible documentary about the separatist Somali batallion about to be released. After almost two years, we do not know who was really responsible for the bombing at the hospital. We see a crater, not a very big one, just in the hospital courtyard. We see victims, luckily not many and not crisis actors as claimed initially by Russians, but besides that? Surely it was NOT an airstrike, the damage would have been much more substantial.

[@user-db6wv4rd9m]

The letter zed has gone by the wayside

[@hourbee5535]

Free Palestine

[@michaelthompson9548]

Free Ukraine from Russian imperialism and Iranian imperialism 🇺🇦❤️🫡

[@andriyhv]

Great Person and true Journalist who risk his life to show truth to the world!

[@markker2727]

ukraine cant rely on moral logic for western help. we in the west are committing genocide.

[@KhadarMaxamud-ot6vm]

Khadar

[@tellitasitis]

Wow how shocking almost as bad as whole neighbourhoods in Gaza raised to the ground. All but one hospital destroyed in Gaza..............

[@tetiana51]

Mariupol is literally 3 Gaza by its size. Stop making the stupid comparisons, it is not a fckig competition

[@ricardoamendoeira3800]

I'm confused, are you saying both cases are ok? Because I think they're both wrong.

[@andykyriakides2144]

Did you also identify the nationality of those soldiers firing from those residential buildings , at the Russian military ??

[@tetiana51]

I can identify you as a ruscist bot for example

[@vvk560]

What are the options? Ukrainian men left the house, went to the military office, took weapons there to protect their families and homes, and started shooting at the same houses?

[@user-xp4bj1bv7m]

Що російські військові роблять на території України?

[@proshacot]

What is russian military doing in Ukraine at the first place?

[@emiliobello2538]

Should have been Best Documentary Feature 20 Days In Mariupol American Symphony Bobi Wine The People’s President Every Body The Eternal Memory Winner 20 Days In Mariupol

[@constantinvaldor3742]

You think that's bad you should see the crime's next door to Jordan and Egypt. Hopefully not naming the country will not get my comment deleted

[@proshacot]

So go to that country and record what's going on there. For now, that country wants the world believe in what the Hamas Ministry of Health says

[@Yusheesan]

Aha, the "living proof" of carefully edited videos for the target bleeding heart Western audience who couldn't find Ukraine on the map 2 years ago.

[@KhadarMaxamud-ot6vm]

Khadar 0:33

[@maria_D111]

Thank you for showing the real situation in Mariupol and Ukraine! The world has the right to know it! Please stand with Ukraine 🙏🏻🇺🇦

[@easternobolo8176]

What about Gaza

[@susanwestern6434]

I hope that you, on Gaza news items, comment on Russia's War on Ukraine.

[@lordchaa1598]

They have plenty about Gaza. This video is about Ukraine. Whataboutisms have no place here.

[@katkin1674]

If you’re going to call it proof you should at least show the video footage that proves it.

[@ferry602]

They are working on the evidence video but must pass Zelensky's censorship first 😂🇷🇺🇷🇺

[@truthwizard]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqLPYXeGbsuYocUsi=lDx7mVr68D5W3Oxh

[@truthwizard]

​@@ferry602Russian fascist lover?

[@KhadarMaxamud-ot6vm]

Xxxx

[@kguehini]

i am wondering , did he shoot that Ukrainians soldiers were hiding in residential buildings ? or he specializes in shooting only the Russians side ?

[@arturpereira5428]

I think my man got carried away in the propaganda. Its an urban battle, the most terrible type of terrain to fight, enemies can be everywhere, residencial buildings turn into fortress, of course they will shoot it

[@proshacot]

So you are justifying russian seige of Mariupol? So who is carried away by ruzzian propaganda if not you?

[@johnsmusicpassions9740]

is this guy the prophet - why should i beieve him

[@proshacot]

He doesn't care about you believing him. He has evidence of war crimes recorded on the video.

[@Coolerman565]

More propaganda, there was a savage battle in that City between two armies, not like Gaza destroyed from the air, i would like this guy to have made a film called twenty days in Donetsk.

[@tetiana51]

There are a lot of photos of Donetsk and video from Mariupol how the ruscist army destroyed the city. And moreover, a lot of witnesses saw it. Take your glass of vodka and go home

[@daveday515]

Group of men pointing (a camera) at a tank, AF, FO.

[@olivka7560]

This war is actually very complicated. I met a family from Mariupol and they said majority of the city was pro Russian as they were Russian. They also were upset after 2014 Russia did not annex them like Crimea and Putin did not do enough to help them. I don’t blame Ukraine. I blame the West. Never support the coup. In Ukraine maidan was not even popular but they ousted the president that had around 70% vote in east of Ukraine. After that if you have foreign officials discussing whom to put in their government , any country would fall apart. I listened to Victoria Nuland discussing whom to put in Ukraine gov and all became clear. They did not want Ukraine to continue being Western puppet. Nothing was done in the east.

[@ironfistdave8571]

Patrick Lancaster and the people are telling a different story.

[@hamiltonau]

Because patty is a grifter

[@ricardoamendoeira3800]

You mean the Russian state employed propagandist? Why would he be defending Ukraine?

[@user-oi3kq8cl7q]

Russian propaganda is everywhere. you can go to Ukraine and talk to people who survived the Russian occupation. but who could be interested in this? because then it’s hard to repeat Russian nonsense about the Nazis and the attack of the Ukrainian military on civilians.

[@philipcoffman4372]

Of course if there’s a firing position of enemy forces. Ask anyone in Mariupol what was called an azov sandwich when they had one story of firing positions mixed with next story of ppl that lived there and then azov firing positions again. Go look how Mariupol looks like . If this guy had any UKRANIAN wrongdoings on camera, he wouldn’t be able to get an Oskar or whatever. Everything is scripted. Sean penn was there right on time , Zelenskiy outfit ( you can see it’s a public image)

[@RazorMouth]

😂😂😂😂 What are you talking about, you're just blabbering. Sean Penn arrived way later in Kiev your weirdo.

[@anatoliypankevych4853]

moskowitischen bot detected

[@Dumka78]

Now he should go film the building that Ukraine bomb in Donetsk which kill 20 people. I can gurentee that he wouldn't and even if he did Channel 4 will not give him interview.

[@RazorMouth]

@@Dumka78 Everything that happening in Ukraine is Russia's fault, if they never started any of this nobody would be getting killed. In short you're a fool.

[@RazorMouth]

@@Dumka78 Copy paste copy paste copy paste. Fool

[@pip669]

Channel 4 n,,z,i propaganda

[@hilariashiweda8557]

Propaganda 😂

[@belkentens]

Well that proves it then Russia really are the baddies Thanks channel 4 and sanctimonious filmmaker publicising his film

[@nromanov2150]

Bullshit

[@proshacot]

Is Bullshit your last name?

[@markcalzaverini]

Ok now please interview Patrick Lancaster and ask him about the Ukrainian military bombing their own citizens.

[@ferry602]

This journalist stays on the Neocons' payroll, no doubt. Just try justified the West their complicity. Not one word about all Ucraine Azov-Nazi warcrimes against Rusdian speaking citizens. Clown journalistic.

[@TheAArmstrong]

Never happened. Old paddy is a shill who would off his mother for a paycheque

[@hamiltonau]

Lol hes a paid hack

[@ricardoamendoeira3800]

Why would they interview a Russian state employed propagandist? To give him a platform to spread more Russian lies?

[@user-xp4bj1bv7m]

Це російська пропаганда

[@mat_j]

you can actually go to Mariupol and ask people who they support, who saved them and who was killing them... but no just get Ukrainian propagandist

[@ricardoamendoeira3800]

You mean ask the very few thay didn't flee and are under martial law and would be arrested for speaking out against Russia? Sure, sounds like a great idea.

[@mat_j]

@@ricardoamendoeira3800 i mean the vast majority of people who really live thier and don't support a puppet regime filled with literal n@zis

[@proshacot]

Or you can people who were lucky to flee Mariupol ro see what russia did to their city and people. You wouldn't want to hear their stories about eating rats and drinking rain water from paddles, seeing pieces of bodies everywhere

[@mat_j]

@@proshacot most people who left actually went to Russia. And those who stayed actally exposed what naxi units like Azov did to them and their city

[@mat_j]

@@ricardoamendoeira3800 talking about those who really lived their and had to endure terror of naxi Azov units that were transfered Mariupol from western Ukraine to terrorize local ethinc russian population

[@user-yc4xf8cv5y]

Rubbish propaganda as usual 😅😅

[@Outdoor_Cycling_Adventures]

Channel 4, why are you giving this a platform?

[@hamiltonau]

Stick to riding a bike ivan

[@joshuapaul2022]

This lie was exposed long ago. Maternity hospital building was used by Ukrainian army as an army barrack. Girl in the video that was forced to play a victim (she was pregnant at the time) gave an interview about her ordeal. She lives happily in Mariupol. Ukrainian troops deliberately shot dozens of civilians in Mariupol who they considered disloyal. Soldiers and officers of Ukrainian army that committed these war crimes were brought to justice. They got lengthy sentences or life imprisonment. Zelenskyy and his minions should also be brought to justice in Nuremberg 2.0. It would be a fresh lesson of accountability for all future war criminals around the world.

[@BorderJump13]

Hope you don't mind me stealing your comment and printing it out so I can show a doctor i'm mentally retarded and need every medication he can give me. Thanks!

[@menya00045]

Annnnnnnnd the winner for the world's best propaganda movie goes to... *drum roll* Ukraiiiinaaaaaaaas "20 Days in Mariupol"!!!!!!!! and second place the West.. now we give applause.

[@user-oi3kq8cl7q]

when Russians are shown evidence of their crimes, they call it Russophobia

[@maigepresents5840]

Wait a minute.... zaplonsky has said over and iver again that every Ukranian is a fighter... by that arguement, every building in the coubtry is a military site so fair game... you cant have it both ways lads...

[@leslievincent20]

It seems like lies to me. Why didn't they show the video? First he says he was in a hospital that was hit then they show another building been hit. I thought the Ukrainian army put Z on their tanks not Russia. And if Russians did put Z on their tanks then is it impossible for Ukraine to do the same just to blame Russia.

[@LuxLisbon32]

“I thought the Ukrainian army Z on their tanks not Russia”. You are wrong. The rest of your comment is nonsense too. “Why didn’t they show the video?” Their footage was broadcast on the Channel 4 news and has been made into an Oscar nominated film. Which they discussed during this clip.

[@lordchaa1598]

Quite possibly, one of the dumbest comments I’ve ever seen. Nice try, Comrade, now back to your troll farm to collect more worthless rubles. The whole world knows that Russia has used the Z symbol since the start of the war. Your deliberate lies and falsehoods only serve to fool the mentally compromised and to pay lip service to the fascist and Russian apologists alike. Pathetic!!!

[@Spencerlayne]

🌩 "Pregnant woman from Mariupol", Marianna Vyshemirskaya, shared her opinion on the Oscar-winning film "20 Days in Mariupol" with the Daily Storm. "As for this parade of hypocrisy - I'm not interested in it. It was clear to everyone from the beginning how it would end," Marianna Vyshemirskaya said. During the fighting for the city, a foreign correspondent photographed pregnant Marianna near a destroyed maternity hospital, after which the photo of the "Mariupol Madonna" went viral around the world. The author of "20 Days" Chernov also used the famous shots of her in his work. 💬 "I didn't watch the film and I didn't see the nomination either. I'm busy with more important things: work, humanitarian initiatives and spending time with loved ones in honour of my child's birthday," the young mother said. Vyshemirskaya will also not react to the use of footage of her in the film: "I'm not looking for reasons to react. While they are working on propaganda, I am working on helping people." Marianna Vyshemirskaya now lives in Russia and is engaged in volunteer work.