Just a few months ago actress Evanna Sakhno had every reason to celebrate when it was announced that “Pacific Rim: Uprising” actor would be joining the much-anticipated Star Wars limited series “Ehsoka” alongside Rosario Dawson.
But last week, Sakhno’s world fell apart when, during an evening with friends in New York’s East Village, he learned that Russia had invaded his native Ukraine. Sakhno immediately called his mother, Ukrainian director Galina Kuvivchak-Sakhno, and his father, Anatoly Sakhno, a cinematographer who lives in Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv.
Sakhno spoke to Variety about the disastrous situation in his homeland.
When asked how his family is and where they are in Ukraine, he replied: “My father is relocating the children and their mothers from Kyiv to safer parts of Ukraine where he has established a base for the families of orphans and soldiers. Her mother is in Crimea, a part of Ukraine occupied since March 2014 – I haven’t seen her since. My other grandmother is hiding in a bunker that was used in World War II and now Till then worked as the city gym. The rest of my extended family is in Kyiv.”
How often have you been in contact with them?
“I try to get in touch with them as much as I can, however at times it has been difficult due to lack of service. I am mostly able to check through the 24-hour news channel in Ukraine to see how they are doing. They’re updating where the hottest conflicts are happening, which at least gives me a sense of how safe they are even when we can’t keep in touch.”
Talking about how you first found out that Russia invaded Ukraine last Thursday, she said: “I was in New York’s East Village at a movie night with my closest friends. My best friends , Giulian had just read the news and quietly advised that I should call my family. I really don’t remember much about what happened afterwards, I remember opening the map of Ukraine and seeing this That’s where the attacks started.”
“I remember my world going silent like a distant echo. I couldn’t contact my father or my grandmother, only my mother (who is in the US), who just reminded me that it’s time to cry. Not the time, but the time to have a clear head and take action.”
how are you feeling?
“To be honest, I can’t answer this question right now. My head is in Ukraine and my body is in protest (against Russia happening in New York). In the bunkers at the moment to worry about my feelings There are so many Ukrainian children. But looking into the eyes of those thousands on the streets, Ukrainians and otherwise, coming together in solidarity; Seeing the bravery of those in Ukraine at all times, I have a deep pride in my people is born. In the face of such unnecessary hatred and destruction, they are a beacon of unshakable Ukrainian courage.”
Asked if he thinks the US and the rest of Europe are doing enough to help Ukraine, he said, “The crowds on the streets and the response from citizens around the world has been the kind of response that has been expected for an independent country.” For the individual, the nation attacks.
“The important thing right now is the response of world leaders: to send more military aid, not to establish a fly zone in part or the whole of Ukraine, to isolate the Kremlin oligarchs and their families (to cancel their visas, to freeze their accounts). keep), boycott. Russian business in the US/Europe (see Governor Abbott’s action in Texas), ask US companies with significant activity in Russia to take back their workers and provide humanitarian aid. We need it because we defend our country night and day, because if [Russian president Vladimir] Putin hasn’t stopped, ours may not be the last ground he’ll set foot on.”
Have you ever met Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine? What do you think about his leadership and the resistance against Russia? “I met President Zelensky for the first time when I was 8 years old on his comedy show”??????? 95.” I was just a little kid who loved watching him because he is one of the best comedians in Ukraine and came to him to take a picture after the show. 16 years later, just before the current situation, We were planning to meet to speak on the future development of our country’s film industry,” she said.
I am extremely proud of how he is leading us through the most difficult of times. He is doing everything within his power and showing unparalleled courage, from his speech at the Munich conference to choosing to stay with the people in Kyiv despite being the No. 1 target.
Of course, this isn’t the most pressing concern at the moment – but in terms of looking to the future, how do you think this war will affect Ukraine’s film and television industry? “War has been an obvious theme in Ukrainian cinema in recent years, due to the Russian Federation’s desperate attempts to tear down and reshape Ukrainian history – and I think at this global juncture, Ukraine’s cinema is both for Eastern Of great educational importance will be Europe and the rest of the world.”
(with IANS inputs)
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