Pre-Premiere Screening Sparks Controversy
An advance screening of the Ukrainian action-adventure film 'On the Drive' took place at the Palace Ukraine on April 2, 2026. During the event, host Viktor Diachenko of Ukraine's Public Broadcasting service publicly condemned the film's media partner, the Telegram channel Trukha. Diachenko accused the outlet of collaborating with the enemy, shouting from the audience,
Trukha is disgusting. Every conscious Ukrainian understands that this so-called media resource is actually 'trukha' (rubbish), just as its name suggests. Because in the first months of the full-scale invasion, this very Telegram channel helped direct missiles at the homes of Ukrainians. — Viktor Diachenko
The event's host, Yevhen Yanovych, invited Diachenko onto the stage to elaborate on his statement. The film's official premiere is scheduled for April 9, 2026. It was directed by Artem Lytvynenko and produced by Aliona Tymoshenko, the founder and director of the Ukrainian Film School, with the project's concept originating in 2023. This incident highlights the intense scrutiny Ukrainian media faces regarding its role and allegiances during the ongoing war.
Cast of the Film
The main roles in the film are played by the following actors:
- Ivan Dovzhenko as Den
- Eduard Poliakov as Arty
- Iolanta Bogdiun as Alisa
- Bohdan Moroshan as Rustem
- Mariia Saminina as Vika
- Sofiia Baiun as Mira
- Bohdan Chulovskyi as Lexus
- Tetiana Ostapenko as Polia
The confrontation at the 'On the Drive' screening reflects the highly charged atmosphere within Ukrainian society and its media landscape. Accusations against outlets like Trukha reveal deep divisions over national loyalty, which can significantly influence public perception of content and information sources. It remains to be seen how this controversy will affect the film's reception upon its April 9th release.