Based on real events, the "Knights of Ukraine" project is a story about people who not only care about these real events but also actively participate in them. With weapons, from scratch, those who jump into trenches to confront enemies and fight with entrenching tools, as well as those who control drones. And art. And special forces. And many others.
Unfortunately, the modern world of information and instant gratification is such that only what is happening right now and personally with you matters. What happens a kilometer away from you is already irrelevant. And if it's 10 kilometers, what about 100? Then that part of reality doesn't exist at all. It's a modern paradigm and culture of consumption, a reinterpretation of the old saying, "My home is my castle, and I don't care about anything else."
But we all know where such a path leads, and the end is sad. A good alternative to such a finale is to call things by their names.
Yes, we are at war. Yes, it's been a long time. Yes, our adversary is a mad beast, fierce and illogical. Yes, the confrontation is existential, and reconciliation is impossible. The logic of our adversary excludes normal reconciliation and coexistence (Russian-Ukrainian wars have seen 870 years of armed confrontation with short breaks in history, not 2, 10, or even 100 years), and they want to crush and devour us. Yes, we must stand and survive. And to stand and survive, we must win!
To win, it's important to realize first that people are fighting the enemy and people are winning. Weapons, even powerful and long-range, are just tools. To press the button, launching a missile, requires a lot of experience, readiness, coordination, awareness, and determination. And on the front lines, it requires even more – directly engaging and shooting at the enemy, sometimes looking them in the eyes, doing the necessary combat work, ultimately, psychologically enduring all this reality!
And when you fall asleep in the trench in the cold, heat, rain, and wind – you must always know clearly what exactly you fought for today and what you will fight for tomorrow. Whether everything will be fine with your loved ones in the rear, or whether everything will be fine with you if you survive. Whether you will be able to earn some money in a world after the war, where artificial intelligence is taking away bread from people of all professions in just the last year. And finding this answer becomes increasingly difficult.
Coming on a short leave to the capital, the eyes of a military person first become square, then fill with anger, and then fade, humbly and submissively. One has to explain, why? Simply because there is no war in Kyiv. There is only fatigue from the lack of pleasures of peacetime. And complete disdain for the military.
People are afraid of the military because they can be taken to war, and they are treated with contempt – like, what are you fighting for? Didn't dodge or escape? Well, you're stupid (or poor)! People in camouflage become a symbol of gloom and detachment, and many civilians even want to insult or beat them (which often happens). The list goes on. But. It should NOT be like this!
Because if every warrior cannot find a spark of respect, a bit of love, at least a crumb of interest in victory from civilians today, then tomorrow the hearth of resistance will be simply left unsupported. And darkness will come. Biblical, Tolkien-esque, George Martin-like – whatever, but exactly the kind of darkness that not every talented director in Hollywood can convincingly portray.
The mission of the "Knights of Ukraine" project is to support all those who stand on the brink of life and death, defending Ukraine from the predatory empire, and to convince those who live behind the Defenders to value the warriors and their Heroism.