DOCS Ivar Heinmaa

Frontline Cameraman

Ivar Heinmaa is an Estonian war correspondent and documentary filmmaker currently working in Ukraine. During his career, he has followed conflicts and wars in more than 50 countries, including Yugoslavia, Chechnya, etc.

By Filipp Kruusvall Photos by Ivar Heinmaa

Heinmaa’s latest film Women on the Frontline (2021) is a story about four women who, in spring 2014, after the attack of Russian proxies, decided to fight for their homeland Ukraine. The film depicts the war through the eyes of women. It’s not just a story about heroism, it is also about the consequences of violence on mental and physical health.

Ivar, are you shooting a sequel to your film Women on the Frontline? No, currently I’m shooting in Ukraine for Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. I would like to follow the fate of the characters of my documentary, but now I can’t go to the Eastern side of the country, where war is looming. The Ukrainian army is quite strict, and is not permitting free movement in the battle zones. That’s quite natural, because at the moment there are thousands of different journalists in Ukraine. They don’t want to take the risk and allow them to wander around freely, as some journalists and photographers near Kyiv got killed.

When we visited Butcha, there was around 150 journalists. We arrived there

Ivar Heinmaa’s photos from Butcha (from the right), Kharkiv and Irpin.

with ten buses, we were wearing helmets and bulletproof vests. It was odd to stand there and see locals around, children playing, etc. without such protection.

I have been here already one month. And I have had contact with the women from my film, especially with Xena. In the beginning, she said that her positions on the frontline were heavily attacked; later, it was a bit calmer. Generally, I can visit her, but she said she could receive a new order any minute and change her position. The only one I don’t know anything about is Aleksandra from my film. I can’t reach her phone, and no one knows what has happened to her. Probably her village is occupied by Russians, or the phone coverage is lost. Others are in a safe place and volunteering to help their country.

Where have you been, what places have you visited? We were in Kyiv and its suburbs, Irpen and Butcha. We have been to Chernigiv. We visited Jahidne village; there was a cellar where for 45 days, around 360 people were forced by the Russian army to stay in a 70 square metres basement. It was so crowded that some people tied themselves up so they could sleep while standing. We have also been to Harkiv, Mykolaiv, and Odesa. Now I’m back in Kyiv.

Actually, I found a fascinating character. One young man from Finland, a very talented cello player - Lukas Stasevskij. He has been in Ukraine since the war began. He studied film in Kyiv for about a year, and during this time, he has kept a video diary. But now, he goes to play his cello in places that have been totally demolished during the war. His father is Ukrainian, and his mother is from Lithuania, but he was born in Tallinn. Afterwards, he lived in Finland. He takes his cello and just plays in destroyed places. He was in Butcha, for example. He is a real patriot of Ukraine, and he also organizes humanitarian aid, etc.

Everything is destroyed, people who have been for weeks in a basement are very grateful for just food.

Have you tried to have an interview with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy? No, it’s hopeless. There’s no access to him. Maybe only the most prominent news channels in the world have some hope of interviewing him. He is really well secured and protected. The chance of meeting him is 0,1%. The whole area in Kyiv around the president’s palace is very strictly guarded, because it’s clear that the Russians are hunting him.

What do Ukrainians need the most at the moment? We just buy food for local people to share in every new place we go. Some basic products. Everything is destroyed, people who have been for weeks in a basement are very grateful for just food.

It’s tough for the locals to just manage everyday life. For example, yesterday we visited Irpin, and we met one man who had a lovely single-family house. It was damaged by shelling and halfburned, and he showed us the kitchen with all the devices like the washing machine, fridge, etc. And he said that he must pay a lease for two years for them. But everything is destroyed. Maybe there will be some funding for recovery in the future, but now...

For how long do you plan to stay? We are currently speaking in the middle of April. I think I will stay for at least a few more weeks. It is a hotspot of the world here, and it’s a very rattling feeling. You are like a part of the history here. If we consider Kyiv, it’s relatively peaceful, and life continues. Every day, some new dining places are open. Supermarkets are open, and you have everything you need. If you have the money, of course.

How is the morale among Ukrainians? The morale of Ukrainians is very high. It’s impressive and mighty. They don’t seem to be afraid of anything and are ready to go to the battle. They are really well equipped now. In 2014, the equipment was really poor, but now soldiers look really sharp and professional. They are strong and have excellent uniforms, bulletproof vests, etc.

Give the warmest greetings from Estonia to Ukrainians and tell them that the whole Estonian film industry is also working really hard to support Ukraine. Estonians are received exceptionally well here. You don’t have to explain how Estonia helps; everyone knows it. When someone asked who I was in the old days, I said I am from Finnish television. But now, the first thing I say is Estonia and it is immediately responded with, ‘oh, our brothers!’ EF