The documentary film "Men of Steel", which was presented at the Council of Europe, tells about the situation at the front through the eyes of Ukrainian Heroes, as well as stories from their relatives.
"Thousands of Ukrainians remain in russian captivity. We need to watch films like this. It is important to hear from our military about the events. It is important to see their emotions. The world needs to know what has been happening for the last ten years. The last two years," said the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine during the presentation.
At the same time, he noted that the Council of Europe is one of Ukraine's main partners in restoring justice: "And when we talk about Mariupol and Azovstal, it is primarily about justice and the return of all our people."
During the presentation of the film, the First Vice-Speaker discussed with the President of PACE Theodoros Rousopoulos the issue of holding Ukrainian prisoners of war, as the russian aggressor violates human rights.
"The voice of our soldiers must be heard by everyone. By all those who, like Ukraine, strive for lasting and comprehensive peace, security stability and justice. This is what the Ukrainian people deserve – this is what the brave Heroes of Ukraine deserve," said the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The delegation also includes members of the Ukrainian Parliament: Roman Lozynskyi, the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning; Alina Zagoruiko, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning; Vitalii Bezhin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Administrative and Territorial Structure and Local Self-Government of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, Larysa Bilozir, the Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Administrative Services and Administrative Procedures of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning; Viacheslav Rubliov, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Regional Policy and Local Budgets of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning; Oleksii Kuznetsov, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Rights and Freedoms of Persons Violated as a Result of the Temporary Occupation, Internally Displaced Persons and Persons Missing in Special Circumstances of the Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations; Oleh Syniutka, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Supporting the Activities of People's Deputies of Ukraine of the Committee on Rules, Deputy Ethics and Organisation of Work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and Mykhailo Sokolov, the Member of the Committee on Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning.
For reference. The documentary film Men of Steel shows the frontline of the current war in Ukraine through the eyes of soldiers fighting for freedom, as well as the personal stories of their relatives who hope for the release of prisoners of war from russian captivity.
Approximately 2,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war remain in the custody of the terrorist russian federation and are subjected to psychological abuse, torture, rape and murder. In Mariupol, which has been surrounded by russian troops since 2 March 2022, women and young children have been hiding for months from bombardment, artillery shelling and banned phosphorus and chemical bombs.
The defenders of Mariupol shared their food, water and medical supplies with civilians until they were able to evacuate them.
The heroic Ukrainian soldiers of the Mariupol garrison remained and held their positions on the territory of Azovstal until the last shot was fired, without water, food or medicine. They became known as the "Men of Steel".