Spetsialna Operatsiia

Oleksiy Radynski's documentary "Special Operation" offers viewers an unfiltered look at the Russian military occupation of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the early days of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Through chronologically arranged security camera footage, the film provides a sparse but unremarkable record of events.

The content is by necessity minimalist: tanks arriving, soldiers removing Ukrainian flags, security cameras being covered with paper, troops showering, bread being unloaded, propaganda teams visiting, and ultimately, departure. The documentary avoids faking sensationalism, presenting only what was captured by the impassive electronic eyes of the facility.

What makes the film both compelling and frustrating is what isn't shown. The only explicit violations we witness are the military presence itself at a nuclear facility (which could be framed as nuclear blackmail) and the detention of plant workers. Yet, as viewers, we're acutely aware that just 100 kilometers away, entire cities were captured and civilians subjected to documented atrocities that require no exaggeration to convey their horror.

Radynski works admirably with limited material, enhancing the visuals with carefully selected audio to create atmosphere where the footage alone might fall flat. However, the documentary ultimately feels like a partial glimpse of a much larger tragedy happening just beyond frame.

The film serves as an important historical document but leaves the viewer without any revelations.