Zarina Zabrisky
Directing
Biography
Zarina Zabrisky is an award-winning author, journalist, and war correspondent based in Odesa, Ukraine. She has written five books and is known for her frontline reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine for Byline Times (UK) and Euromaidan Press (UA). Her work has appeared in BBC News, Voice of America, TVP World, The Sunday Post, The Paris Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, and Longreads. Zabrisky co-produced and starred in the documentary "Under the Deadly Skies," which exposed Russian war crimes. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, she holds a degree in English Language and Literature and is recognized for her contributions to literature, journalism, and documentary film.
Known For
Kherson, Ukraine's embattled city, has endured invasion, occupation, and liberation. On February 24, 2022, Russian tanks entered Kherson, leading to brutal occupation marked by violence. Despite being outnumbered, local defense forces resisted, and citizens protested under the slogan "Kherson is Ukraine!" An underground resistance formed, led by brave individuals like journalist Valentyna and others who risked arrest and torture to support the cause. After nine months, Ukrainian forces liberated Kherson, but Russian destruction left the city in chaos. Shelling and drone attacks became relentless, and in June 2023, a dam explosion flooded the city, causing further devastation. Despite these challenges, Kherson's spirit remained unbroken, with citizens embracing arts and resilience. By August 2024, drone attacks specifically targeted civilians, yet the city resisted, determined to rebuild and reclaim its identity, refusing to succumb to ruin.
Kherson: Human Safari
Veteran war reporter John Sweeney and Byline TV filmmaker Caolan Robertson hit the road with war photographer Paul Conroy and journalist Zarina Zabrisky to gather compelling evidence for the use of illegal weapons and the torture of civilians in Ukraine, as well as examining the reality of life and conditions faced by ordinary people on Ukraine's eastern front.