Ukrainians Rebuke 62-Year-Old Zvyagintsev’s Cannes Plea as 4 Died in Kyiv Barrage
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 28
Ukrainians Rebuke 62-Year-Old Zvyagintsev’s Cannes Plea as 4 Died in Kyiv Barrage
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 28
Mustafa Nayyem and other Ukrainian commentators blasted Andrei Zvyagintsev’s Cannes speech for describing “both sides of the front line,” saying it blurred Russia’s role as aggressor and cast Ukrainians and Russians as equal victims.
The backlash sharpened because the Grand Prix-winning director made his appeal to Putin on the same night Russia hit Kyiv with hundreds of drones and missiles in one of the war’s heaviest barrages, killing four people.
Ukrainian cultural figures said the episode fit a broader pattern in which Russian artists and dissidents condemn Putin yet avoid assigning responsibility to Russian society, frustrating hopes that Russians would meaningfully resist the war.
Zvyagintsev, 62, has criticized the invasion since 2014 and lives in exile in France, but his remarks also drew Kremlin scorn: Dmitry Peskov said he had “no right to speak,” while state media largely omitted his anti-war comments.
Why did a Russian director's anti-war plea at Cannes enrage the very victims he claimed to support?
When a Russian artist condemns the war but not the aggressor, is it brave dissent or a cynical performance?
Kyiv Under Fire: The May 24, 2026 Missile Barrage, Oreshnik Deployment, and the Global Response
Overview
On May 24, 2026, Kyiv was hit by a major missile barrage, with Russia confirming the use of advanced weapons like the Oreshnik missile alongside others. Russia claimed the strikes targeted Ukrainian military sites as retaliation for alleged attacks on Russian civilians, though Ukraine denied targeting civilians. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy reported that water-supply facilities were also hit, suggesting Moscow aimed to damage critical infrastructure before summer. The attack highlighted Ukraine’s vulnerability to sophisticated missiles and underscored the urgent need for stronger air defenses and continued international support.