French ARTE Channel Refuses to Screen Russian Propaganda Film 'Russians at War'

The French channel ARTE has refused to broadcast Russian propagandistic documentary film “Russians at War.”

This was stated in a message from the Ukrainian Embassy in France on Facebook.

“A few days ago, the embassy received information that the creators of the controversial film “Russians at War” had received financial support from the French National Center for Cinema and planned to air the film soon on the ARTE channel,” the message reads.

“Ambassador Vadym Omelchenko sent letters to the leadership of CNC and ARTE, in which he detailed that this film deliberately distorts the realities of the brutal war against Ukraine and serves as a tool of Russian propaganda and hybrid aggression. It is an attempt to justify the occupation of Ukraine and whitewash the war crimes of the Russian army.”

Omelchenko also reminded that the film's director Anastasia Trofimova had worked for several years at the sanctioned Russian channel Russia Today and has been listed by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine as a person posing a threat to Ukraine's national security.

In a response letter, ARTE President Bruno Patino stated that he and his team have been closely following the controversy surrounding the scandalous film.

"Russians at War" premiered at the 81st Venice Film Festival earlier in September, depicting Russians forces as "ordinary people” and failing to show the destruction and war crimes they commit. The State Agency of Ukraine for Cinema condemned the film's screening, calling it "covert Russian propaganda."