TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said “hundreds” of threats against staff led to the festival's unprecedented decision to pull Anastasia Trofimova’s controversial documentary.

The film Russians at War by Russian director Anastasia Trofimova, which caused widespread protests in Ukrainian society, is to be shown at the Zurich Film Festival. This decision was condemned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in its statement highlighted its firm stance against any efforts to legitimize Russia’s aggression through cultural mediums, especially while the war is ongoing. The ministry vowed to continue diplomatic efforts to ensure Russia remains isolated not only in cultural spheres but in all aspects of international relations.