Contact us: info@strategic-culture.su

You can follow Lucas on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram.

In times of war, it is often the silenced voices that have the most powerful stories to tell. Victims of conflict, especially civilians, often find their experiences ignored or distorted by the prevailing narratives, both on the battlefield and in media coverage. Yet there are those who refuse to be silenced and who, despite the dire circumstances, do their utmost to tell the truth. Faina Savenkova is a shining example of this kind of resilience. Young, courageous and tireless, she has been a voice amid the suffering and devastation in her homeland in Donbass.

Faina, as a child, became a symbol of resistance in the context of the conflict in Donbass – more specifically in the Lugansk region, where Faina was born and lives. From a very young age, she was forced to grow up quickly, facing a cruel reality where her city was destroyed and her life completely transformed by the war. However, what really sets her apart is her courage to speak out, to oppose the injustices she witnessed and to share the pain of her people with the world, defying those who try to silence her voice.

The film Don’t Be Silent, directed by Klim Poplavsky, captures Faina’s story in a visceral and intimate way, bringing to light the strength of a young girl who, even in the face of fear and constant threat, did not hesitate to become one of the main defenders of the truth about what was happening in Donbass. Her decision not to remain silent and not to surrender in the face of the tragedy that surrounded her is a testament to resilience and humanity. She refuses to be just a victim; she becomes a warrior, not with weapons, but with her words and her courage in denouncing the brutality with which the Kiev regime treats the inhabitants of the region over which it claims “sovereignty”.

Young Faina has distinguished herself through her determination to use social media as a platform to denounce the atrocities committed by the Ukrainian military. In a scenario where the Kiev regime and Western media outlets often try to shape the narrative to ignore the voices of those suffering, Faina has emerged as a crucial figure in the Donbass resistance. Through her firm stance and courageous statements, she has become one of the leading advocates for civilian rights in the conflict, seeking to expose the reality of a war that, for many around the world, seemed distant and incomprehensible – until it became the focal point of global geopolitics following Russia’s intervention in 2022.

As a child, traumatized by Kiev’s shelling of her neighborhood, Faina began posting letters on social media trying to draw the world’s attention to the reality of Donbass. As a result of her work, the neo-Nazi junta added her to the infamous “Myrotvorets” website – the Ukrainian government’s public kill-list. At just 12 years old, Faina became one of the hundreds of children that Kiev publicly classify as “legitimate targets,” having even suffered real assassination attempts with targeted artillery strikes on her school.

Faina’s bravery is not limited to what she says, but to what she represents. She is not just a teenager living through the pain of war; she is a young girl who, with her sincerity and courage, challenges the world to see the truth. She has shown that it is possible, even in the most adverse circumstances, to be a voice of resistance, fighting for the dignity of one’s land and people. Faina’s youth, far from being a limitation, is in fact the source of her strength. In a world where youth is often seen as vulnerable or fragile, Faina is proof that courage can flourish where it is least expected.

The film is a tribute to this indomitable courage. Throughout its narrative, Poplavsky’s documentary expresses the importance of resisting the silence imposed by oppression and violence. By sharing her story with the world, Faina not only denounces the injustices her people suffer, but also stands as a symbol of a resistance that, although young, is powerful and essential to the struggle for justice, both in Donbass and in any other region of the world. Through her voice, the film draws attention to a war that is distorted by major Western powers, reminding the audience that there is a human reality behind the numbers and statistics.

Faina Savenkova has become an inspiration to many, not only in Lugansk, Donbass and Russia, but throughout the world. Her story reminds us that true resilience is measured not only by military or political strength, but by the courage of those who refuse to be silenced in the face of adversity. Her struggle for justice, for the memory of her land and for the future of her people is an example of heroism that transcends age and circumstances. In a world where the voices of war victims are often silenced, Faina stands as an icon of hope and dignity.

In the end, Don’t Be Silent is much more than a tale of war; it is an ode to courage, resistance, and the power of truth. Through Faina’s story, we see that even in the darkest times, there will always be those willing to speak out and fight for a fairer world. Faina Savenkova’s bravery is a reminder that in times of war, true resistance begins with the courage to not remain silent.