Ukrainian Activists Block Screening of Kremlin Propaganda Film

Ukrainian activists in Switzerland have successfully halted the screening of a Russian state propaganda film that attempts to legitimize Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and distort the history of the 2014 Maidan uprising, according to Ukrainian news outlet LB.ua.

The documentary, titled “Maidan, the Road to War,” produced by Russian state broadcaster RT, was scheduled for screening on January 29, 2026, in Muralto, a town in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking Ticino canton. The film presents a heavily manipulated account of Ukraine’s 2013-2014 Revolution of Dignity, falsely attributing the shelling of civilians in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region to Ukrainian forces rather than Russian-backed separatists.

Swiss authorities canceled the event following coordinated pressure from Ukraine’s diplomatic and cultural representatives, as well as the local Ukrainian diaspora. Ukrainian artist Iryna Vinnik played a key role in mobilizing opposition to the screening, with official backing from Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the State Film Agency.

The event organizers have well-established ties to the Kremlin’s propaganda apparatus. Vincenzo Lorusso, founder of the disinformation group Donbass Italia, has openly supported Russia’s proxy authorities in occupied eastern Ukrainian territories. Fellow organizer Eliseo Bertolasi has worked extensively with Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik, both of which have been sanctioned in the European Union for spreading disinformation.

This incident reflects a growing awareness across Europe about Russia’s use of cultural and informational channels to advance its geopolitical objectives. European authorities increasingly recognize that what Russia presents as documentary filmmaking often serves as sophisticated propaganda designed to undermine support for Ukraine and justify Moscow’s territorial aggression.

The successful cancellation in Ticino follows similar action in the Italian city of Gorizia, where local authorities also prevented a screening of the film. However, according to Ukrainian sources, the film’s promoters continue attempting to organize private, invitation-only screenings in other European locations to circumvent public scrutiny.

Ukrainian advocates emphasize that films like “Maidan, the Road to War” are not legitimate cultural expressions protected by free speech principles but rather components of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy. These productions systematically distort historical events, fabricate evidence, and employ emotional manipulation to create a parallel reality that serves the Kremlin’s interests.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, European countries have become increasingly vigilant about Russian disinformation efforts. This heightened awareness represents a significant shift from previous years when Russian state-sponsored content often found receptive audiences in Western Europe, particularly among far-right and far-left political circles skeptical of NATO and the European Union.

The Swiss decision to cancel the screening highlights the delicate balance democratic societies must strike between protecting freedom of expression and preventing the weaponization of that freedom by hostile foreign actors. Ukrainian officials argue that Russia exploits Western commitment to free speech as a vulnerability, deliberately testing the limits of democratic tolerance to spread narratives that ultimately undermine democratic institutions themselves.

For Switzerland, which maintains a tradition of neutrality in international conflicts, the decision reflects growing recognition that Russian disinformation constitutes a threat not only to Ukraine but to the integrity of the European information space and democratic discourse more broadly.

As the war in Ukraine continues into its third year, the battle against Russian propaganda remains a critical front in the wider conflict, with Ukrainian communities abroad playing an increasingly important role in countering Moscow’s narrative warfare.