In Ukraine, Hardship and Hope – by Cathy Young
Slava Ukraini came out when Ukraine was about to surrender Bakhmut after a long and grueling battle but was also gearing up for a new counteroffensive on which both Ukrainians and their Western allies staked high hopes. That counteroffensive is the subject of Glory to the Heroes and, as the film acknowledges, it has not gone as well as planned. Glory to the Heroes tells a story of hardship, but it is also, unquestionably, a story of hope.
The Ukrainian soldiers we meet on Lévy s quest infantrymen, tank drivers, gunners, drone operators, medics are not starry-eyed; but, to a man and a woman, they are hopeful. They are weary but not exhausted, and certainly not demoralized; their confidence, camaraderie, and even humor shine through.