“Ukraine needs a new conversation.” That’s the thesis of Kyiv of Mine, a sweeping, three-part documentary that dares to reframe how the world sees Ukraine – not as a war zone defined by tragedy, but as a living, breathing city filled with resilience, humor, and aspiration.
When producer Ronnie Apteker, a self-proclaimed “tech nerd,” and his international team of friends and filmmakers first landed in Kyiv in the late 2010s, they didn’t find a place resembling the caricatures peddled in Russian propaganda or Western stereotypes. Instead, they discovered a cosmopolitan hub buzzing with artists, chefs, musicians, and innovators building a future-facing city. It was love at first sight – and they decided to move in.
But when they explained their newfound love affair with the Ukrainian capital and its people, Western friends back home seemed perplexed: “Isn’t Kyiv like Borat?”
Something had to be done. They decided it was time to confront, head-on, years of absurd cultural stereotypes – often rooted in Russian propaganda – by telling Ukraine’s story with a splash of beauty and humor.
Kyiv of Mine is completely unique because it was inadvertently shot in real time over eight years. What might have been a short-term project became a long-haul journey. What began in 2018 as a kaleidoscopic portrait of Kyiv’s creative boom evolved into something larger as the city lived through a pandemic and endured the full-scale invasion in 2022. Over eight years, the cameras captured lives in the moment – dreams interrupted, businesses destroyed, and families forced into survival mode. Yet Kyiv of Mine is anything but despairing. It is, at heart, a celebration of a people who refuse to surrender their dignity.
A cinematic time capsule
Shot in chapters, the film follows more than a dozen Kyivans as they chase ambitions, fall in love, marry, raise children, and endure the horrors of bombardment. One moment they’re opening restaurants; the next, they’re watching them burn – only to rebuild again. Life is lived on adrenaline, but also with humor, beauty, and music.
The documentary shines in its refusal to reduce Ukrainians to victims. Instead, it highlights their humanity, revealing a city where laughter and creativity persist even under fire. Western viewers will find themselves confronted not just with images of war, but with a deeper, richer understanding of Ukraine as a modern, soulful nation.
A timely counterpoint
The release of Kyiv of Mine could not be more timely. Arriving three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, following the Trump-Putin summit and amid escalating strikes on Kyiv, the film offers an uplifting counterpoint to headlines dominated by failed peace talks and political fatigue.
In recent years, Ukrainian cinema has given the world urgent masterpieces – Mstyslav Chernov’s Oscar-winning 20 Days in Mariupol, Pamfir, Checkpoint Zoo, and the intimate A Picture to Remember. Yet while these works sear with the brutality of war, Kyiv of Mine brings something different: demystification. It dismantles absurd stereotypes and instead reveals a Ukraine that is funny, tender, and deeply human.
On a recent broadcast, podcast host “Anna from Ukraine” captured it best, calling the series “beautiful” and praising the filmmakers as “a very sensitive crew who noticed the beauty of Kyiv and fell in love with the city after coming from different corners of the world.”
Final verdict
When asked to describe the eight-year filmmaking journey, producer Ronnie Apteker put it simply: “It was made with love.” That love shines through every frame.
Kyiv of Mine is not only a film – it’s an invitation to see Ukraine as it truly is: a nation of dreamers, creators, and survivors. In a global climate clouded by cynicism, it is a rare work of cinema that leaves the viewer not only informed, but uplifted.
Kyiv of Mine makes an excellent family viewing choice, as Sept. 13 marks Ukrainian Cinema Day and the launch of a month of global festivals celebrating the nation’s filmmakers and the vitality of Ukrainian film.
A stirring, humane portrait of a city and its people, bursting with resilience and hope.
Now streaming worldwide.
- Chapter 1 – The Ukrainian Dream (before the full-scale invasion)
- Chapter 2 – It’ll Be Over in Three Days (the war begins)
- Chapter 3 – Holding Onto the Summer (hope endures)
Watch the trailer here: