Forged by War
Independence Avenue Media and 1+1 Production present Forged by War: Stories of Ukrainian Veterans — a documentary series about those who served on the battlefield and continue to serve long after the gunfire fades.
This is not a story about war. It is a story about the human spirit. About dignity. About resilience. About duty, sacrifice, and the quiet battles that follow. About men and women who were wounded in combat and who now fight for something different – for understanding, for meaning, for respect, for the rights of fellow veterans, and for the future of Ukraine.
Forged by War explores what it means to endure – physically, morally, and psychologically. It is about resilience forged under fire and the long, disciplined road from survival to renewed purpose.
SNIPER
The first episode of Forged by War follows Dmytro Finashyn, a Ukrainian sniper who joined the defense of Ukraine from the very first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Wounded near Soledar in May 2022, Dmytro lost his arm in a Russian attack. What followed was not retreat, but transformation. Through intimate first-person narration, Sniper traces his journey from frontline combat and catastrophic injury to rehabilitation, renewed strength, and continued service to others. Learning to shoot again. Learning to drive again. Leaning to live again with and without a prosthetic, not a symbol of loss, but as proof of endurance. This is a portrait of a soldier who refuses to be defined by what was taken from him. A man who confronts trauma without self-pity, who embodies discipline and responsibility, and chooses service – even after being wounded.
INSTRUCTOR
A Ukrainian veteran and former combat medic, Vladyslav Romanetskiy is learning to live with PTSD by stepping into a different kind of battlefield — buhurt, or medieval combat. After serving on the front lines and receiving a medical discharge caused by trauma and neurological damage, he struggled with sleep, sensory triggers, and the loss of a normal life. What began as part of rehabilitation became a way to channel adrenaline, regain control, and feel like himself again. Through the “Buhurt Sich” project, Vladyslav found not only a physical outlet, but also a community that understands what war leaves behind. Surrounded by others with similar experiences, he now trains, fights, and teaches, helping fellow veterans navigate their own recovery. Vladyslav says medieval combat has brought therapy, brotherhood, and a return to his identity.
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