Kyiv, 30 June 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine has presented Counterforts, a short documentary film capturing life in Kharkiv during the full-scale war, where danger, uncertainty, and ongoing destruction coexist with care, creativity, and determination to rebuild.

Filmed in Kharkiv in the spring and summer of 2026, the film follows the dismantling of a heavily damaged 16-storey residential building in Saltivka, one of the city’s hardest-hit districts. Through the stories of former residents, demolition workers, local artists, and architects, the documentary shows how communities confront destruction and find the strength to move forward.

The film was initiated by UNDP and supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the REVIVE global initiative. It was produced in cooperation with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Jeanne Dovhych, and produced by Associated Press Content Services and Waya Production.

Dovhych emphasized the importance of focusing on often unseen stories: “At a time when the world is saturated with news and images of war, it is essential to document the stories of people who make Kharkiv resilient – people we do not usually encounter in our daily lives,” she said. “This film is about those who quietly hold the city together and shape its future.”

Speaking at the opening of the screening, H.E. Park Kichang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine, commended the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

“Despite unimaginable pain, Ukrainians continue to stand firm, rebuild, support one another, and protect their communities,” Ambassador Park said. “There is a Ukrainian saying: ‘After a cloudy day, the sun will shine.’ In Korea, we have a similar proverb: ‘After rain, the ground becomes firmer.’ Together, they remind us that hardship can lead not only to brighter days, but also to a stronger foundation for the future. Korea will continue to work closely with Ukraine, UNDP, and the Ukrainian people to support a future that is not only brighter, but also stronger and more resilient.”

Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, said the film highlights the human dimension of debris management and recovery efforts.

“Together with partners, UNDP has supported the clearance and processing of more than one million tonnes of debris across over 1,600 locations in Ukraine,” Lootsma said.
“These are significant achievements, but Counterforts reminds us that recovery is ultimately about people: residents strengthening their communities, demolition workers and municipal teams enabling reconstruction, first responders arriving after attacks, and artists and architects preserving memory while imagining the future. They are the true counterforts of Ukraine’s recovery.”

Oleksii Topchii, Director of the Department of Housing and Communal Services of Kharkiv City Council, highlighted both the scale of destruction and the importance of international support.

“To fully understand this film, one must understand the reality Kharkiv lives every day,” Topchii said. “Since February 2022, more than 9,900 residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Each attack brings new destruction, yet Kharkiv continues to live, work, and recover. Our residents, municipal workers, and emergency services face these challenges daily with remarkable resilience.”

“We are deeply grateful to UNDP and the Government of the Republic of Korea for supporting the complex and dangerous work of dismantling heavily damaged buildings. This partnership enables us not only to respond more effectively to the consequences of attacks, but also to create conditions for safe recovery, reconstruction, and the city’s future development.”

Counterforts is planned for submission to Ukrainian and international film festivals. The film aims to draw global attention to the scale and impact of destruction caused by the war, while honouring the resilience of people who remain in their communities and help rebuild them.

At the screening, guests also experienced House 271, an art installation featuring personal belongings recovered from the building documented in the film. Salvaged during demolition, these objects stand as quiet witnesses to the human stories behind the statistics of war, preserving traces of the lives once lived in the now demolished building. The exhibition will be on display in the Zhovten cinema until 14 July 2026.

Media enquiries:

Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications and Advocacy, UNDP Ukraine; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org