---
title: "\"Ash and Pencils\": Trailer Released for Documentary About Eight Ukrainian Children Who Survived the War"
description: "The trailer for Evgeny Afineevsky's documentary \"Ash and Pencils\" about eight Ukrainian children who survived attacks, injuries, and deportation has been released. The Ukrainian premiere is set for December 3, 2026; the film has already received awards in London, Monte-Carlo, and from Cinema for Peace."
date: 2026-10-28T22:29:53.358Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ash-and-pencils-documentary-trailer-children
tags: [ukraine, documentary-film, war-children, cinema, culture, eugen-atheneevsky]
author: "Darya Fomina"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Ash and Pencils": Trailer Released for Documentary About Eight Ukrainian Children Who Survived the War

![Children and people with Ukrainian flags hugging on the street as a sign of support and solidarity with Ukraine](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/28/popil-i-olivtsi-treyler-dokumentalnoho-filma-o-detiyah/popil-i-olivtsi-treyler-dokumentalnoho-filma-o-detiyah-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The documentary "Ash and Pencils" tells the stories of eight Ukrainian children who survived attacks, injuries, and forced deportation
- Director Evgeny Afineevsky combined documentary footage with animation by Ukrainian artists
- The film received awards at the Raindance Film Festival, the 64th Monte-Carlo Festival, and the Cinema for Peace Awards
- The Ukrainian premiere is scheduled for December 3, 2026

The Ukrainian media space has seen the release of the trailer for the documentary "Ash and Pencils" ("Попіл і олівці") directed by Evgeny Afineevsky, known for his film "Winter on Fire". The film is dedicated to eight Ukrainian children whose lives were fundamentally altered by Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. The Ukrainian premiere of the film is scheduled for December 3, 2026, and until then, viewers can watch the trailer released on the Wave RBC.UA platform.

### Stories That Change Everything

At the center of the documentary are the personal stories of children who survived Russian attacks, severe injuries, and forced deportation from their native country. Despite their traumatic experiences, each of the eight protagonists continues to dream, set goals, and envision a future where they can live without fear. The director emphasizes that the war robs children of a sense of security, forces them to experience loss, and irrevocably changes their lives, yet it does not cancel their right to their own dreams, development, and a peaceful future.

### Documentary Footage and Animation as a Single Voice

Formally, the film combines documentary footage with animation created by Ukrainian artists. This technique allows the director to give a voice to children whose stories bear witness to the consequences of Russian aggression for the youngest Ukrainians. The animation component becomes a tool through which children can express what is difficult to put into words—fear, loss, but also resilience.

### The Fates of Forcibly Removed Children

Special attention in "Ash and Pencils" is paid to the fates of Ukrainian children whom Russia forcibly removes from their homes. According to data presented in the film, some of them are placed in Russian foster families or kept in captivity, where attempts are made to alter their identity. This section of the film captures one of the most severe aspects of the war—the systematic violation of children's rights to a family, language, and cultural identity.

### International Recognition: Three Prestigious Awards

The documentary has already gained recognition at several international film events. At the Raindance Film Festival in London, "Ash and Pencils" won the award for Best Documentary Feature. At the 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival, the film received a Special Jury Prize in the News & Documentaries category, as well as the AMADE Award. Additionally, the film won the Most Valuable Documentary of the Year award from the Cinema for Peace Awards, an organization dedicated to human rights protection through cinema.

### Distribution and Release Context

The Ukrainian theatrical release of the documentary starts on December 3, 2026. The release of the film takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing war and growing international interest in the protection of children in armed conflicts. The trailer, published on the Wave RBC.UA platform (a lifestyle project of RBC-Ukraine), is available for viewing ahead of the premiere and gives viewers their first glimpse into the visual and emotional language of the picture.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Попіл і олівці": вышел украинский трейлер фильма о детях, переживших российскую агрессию](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/culture/popil-i-olivtsi-viyshov-ukrayinskiy-treyler-1793215908.html) - The primary source contains all key facts: film title, director, number of child protagonists, content description, list of awards, date of Ukrainian premiere (December 3, 2026). No discrepancies with other sources were found, as no alternative data was provided.

## FAQ

### When will the Ukrainian premiere of "Ash and Pencils" take place?

The Ukrainian premiere of the documentary is scheduled for December 3, 2026. Until then, viewers can watch the trailer published on the Wave RBC.UA platform.

### Who is the director of the film and what did he direct previously?

The director of the film is Evgeny Afineevsky, known for the documentary "Winter on Fire".

### What awards has the film received?

"Ash and Pencils" won Best Documentary at the Raindance Film Festival in London, a Special Jury Prize in News & Documentaries and the AMADE Award at the 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival, and the Most Valuable Documentary of the Year award from the Cinema for Peace Awards.

### How many children are featured in the film and what are their stories about?

At the center of the film are the stories of eight Ukrainian children who survived Russian attacks, severe injuries, and forced deportation. A separate section is dedicated to children whom Russia forcibly removes from their homes.