May 10, 2025, 9:22 p.m.
Ukraine has presented the first teaser for the horror movie Kakhovka Object, a zombie action film directed by Oleksiy Taranenko, which will be released on October 1.
The premiere is timed to coincide with the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, FILM.UA reports.
The film develops the mythological universe started in The Witch of Konotop and is part of the Cinematic Heroines of Dark Times series, which celebrates the power of Ukrainian women and destroys Soviet stereotypes.
The film takes place after the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. A detachment of Ukrainian soldiers led by a commander with the call sign Mara finds themselves in a secret Soviet bunker that has opened at the bottom of the reservoir. This dungeon was once used to conduct experiments on humans, and the remnants of these experiments - the living dead of the Soviet army - are still waiting in the dark. To survive and stop the new threat, the Ukrainian heroes will have to face an army of zombies born of the Soviet past.
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The film is in the style of anti-Soviet horror and demonstrates a break with colonial narratives. The shooting lasted for a month and a half in Kyiv, taking place in six locations, including an abandoned Soviet dairy kitchen and a bomb shelter at the Research Institute. The story is centered on a combat team portrayed by actors inspired by real military men. The main role was played by Maryna Koshkina, and the military man and actor Volodymyr Rashchuk played himself.
To create an ominous atmosphere, the film team worked with unique Soviet-era props and created over a hundred zombie images. Special attention was paid to makeup, prosthetics and masks. The filming started in March with a symbolic act - smashing a bust of Lenin.
On the night of June 6, Russians blew up the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. At least 34 people were killed and 28 others were injured. Almost 40 people are missing. People and pets have been evacuated from 3 flooded areas.
Int'l correspondent Albina Karman reported on the evacuation of people from the flooded areas.
Ірина Глухова