Tatyana Khmelnitskaya: It is better to take money to the gym than to the pharmacy! 112 Ukraine is launching a new social talk show A topical issue for modern women: "How to do everything in time?". Share your secrets to successful time management

channel 112 press service

At one time, I defined 3 rules for myself that help me quickly get involved in the workflow. Television, and especially live broadcasts, do not allow the so-called buildup. It seems that you just came to the channel, but now you are already in the studio, and the whole country is watching you. Therefore, I share only working tips that I use in my practice.

1. So, start by promising your body a gift at the end of the week (massage, pool, favorite spa treatment). During the day, remember what a pleasure it is to relax after you have worked hard and have the opportunity to pay for your weaknesses.

2. Set a new goal in your work - this will add interest and desire to start the work process.

3. Go to bed early and read a book at night. I follow this rule every day. Depending on the book, it helps me either to tune in, or vice versa - to distract from work processes.

And do not be afraid to try to do something new, to look for and discover your talents, which may add interest and new incentives to work.


channel 112 press service


channel 112 press service

I really like to give gifts, so I almost always return from travels with a whole package of something tasty or beautiful, and with this “Santa Claus bag” I go to work. Sometimes these are some abstract souvenirs, and sometimes they are something completely targeted to remind specific person about his trip to Berlin, or about our common memories in Venice, or just to continue our many years of absurd ritual of exchanging magnets. In a word, I do not leave my travel impressions at home for evening memories, but I take them with me. The joy shared with someone is double, and I enjoy it to the fullest!

So, my therapy for travel “decompression” and a method of pleasant inclusion in work is to get colleagues to also have a little pleasure from my trip. And if this trick turns out to be successful, who knows, perhaps the return and the first working day will become happier and brighter than leaving on an adventure.


channel 112 press service

How to feel healthy and cheerful? Look "a million" not only in the frame, but also in Everyday life? – the presenters of the 112 Ukraine TV channel shared.

press service 112 Ukraine

1 rule - healthy eating. Every day I start with oatmeal on the water and a couple of spoons of natural honey, plus herbal tea with mint and lemon. During the day I drink a lot of water without gas. Of the dishes, I prefer what I cook myself, but I can also drink a glass of white wine or eat a delicious dessert. I try not to eat fried and fatty foods. If meat, then poultry or veal, baked or grilled with vegetables. I love seafood and almost never eat flour. Fruits and vegetables are a must in my diet. In general, the main thing in nutrition for me is balance.

2 - training. Since I live outside the city, my workouts are primarily outdoor running and cycling. Being saturated with the energy of nature, after such activities I feel special. At home, I can do kailates or yoga.

3 - cleansing - this is my most important rule in facial care. I start my daily cleansing (make-up remover) with the eyes, then I wipe my face with micellar water, after that I apply a foam with herbs, and remove it with massage movements using a special brush. Then I wash my face and once again wipe the skin with micellar, then thermal water. At the end of the procedure I apply a cream, in winter it is nourishing, in summer it is moisturizing. I visit my beautician once a week. She is my magician, the result, as they say, on the face.

4 - healthy sleep - a universal rule of beauty and health. I try to sleep well, but not to be zealous. Everything is good in moderation.

5 - positive thoughts. What we think about and how we feel is directly reflected in our appearance. We are always attractive when we have good mood.

6 - style. A mandatory attribute of the basic wardrobe of every girl is a trouser suit in black, blue, gray or brown. It can be worn alone: ​​with shirts, blouses and various accessories, and the jacket can be combined with jeans. And, of course, the little black dress. A women's wardrobe would not be complete without such a universal component. Depending on the accessories, I wear it both for work and for a solemn event.


press service 112 Ukraine

I consider those who smile to be unusually beautiful and happy people. I'll start, probably, with the simplest and most accessible. The first thing that makes our appearance attractive is sleep. Strong, eight-hour, on a comfortable mattress, with a comfortable pillow, and better - in an embrace with a loved one.

Second - proper nutrition as a guarantee of good mood, appearance and well-being. In order to get something, you need to sacrifice something. For example, an airy eclair in favor of carrots. In other words: either tasty, carbohydrate and fatty food, or beautiful skin and figure. What will you choose? And it is important not how much, but how often. At the same time, it is better to forget about alcohol or minimize its amount as much as possible: it destroys your body, and in the morning the result of its use becomes too obvious.

In sports, it is better to choose what is closer to you, what will bring pleasure and fill you with strength and energy. Find a time and place. Train yourself. Set a goal for yourself and you will succeed. Reprogramming yourself is a difficult but possible task. A good idea- get a dog, you are guaranteed to be outdoors more often :).

And, of course, a visit to the beautician. Facial massage is a magical procedure, relaxation with a 100% result.

It's easy to be beautiful! My formula: decision, discipline and only then the result.


press service 112 Ukraine

Most main secret beauty is a dream. I try to add it to all recipes. But it doesn't always work out. Eight or more hours of rest is a good mood, cheerfulness, no bruising under the eyes and excellent health.

The second secret is water. I drink two glasses in the morning before meals. Not excitedly, of course, but within a few minutes, and then throughout the day - at least 2 liters in total. I admit it was not easy at first. But she got hooked very quickly. Less coffee and more tea. For example, with mint from the dacha (and this is especially motivating) and honey - very tasty and healthy! Also, breakfast is a must! I can skip lunch at work, not have time to have dinner, but never refuse a morning meal. You can cook anything: from sandwiches to porridge, the main thing is to have fun. I don't have any special restrictions or diets. From what I observe: a minimum of fried and sweets, more vegetables and fruits, and no “dry food”.

And finally: the face is “our everything”. Especially in this profession. I admit, I can’t stand makeup: after it, my eyes water, and the skin reacts, so I apply a moisturizer in the morning and in the evening. And once a week, a facial steam bath is an easy way to cleanse your skin at home. After this procedure, I wash my face with a scrub or foam, and freeze the broth itself with cubes, with which I wipe my face in the morning.


press service 112 Ukraine

For me, beauty starts with training and running outdoors. There is no place for laziness in this matter, but the systematic and internal attitude towards the result will certainly bring you closer to the perfect appearance.

Fruits instead of cakes, natural juices instead of soda, rabbit or chicken instead of pork are traditional recommendations that I follow in my diet.

Wardrobe. Here you can talk for a long time)) But the main thing is that he should surprise not with quantity, but with a good tone: minimalism in everyday looks and elegance in those outfits that are intended for important events and bright events. Every girl should have a set of classic bows, this includes shoes, boots and bags. For example, I prefer black, brown and gray things. They do not distract from the person himself, but only emphasize his sense of style. But as for sportswear, here I am guided by the principle “the brighter, the more spectacular”: I love catchy leggings, T-shirts and sneakers. When buying sports equipment, I allow myself a variety of options.

An equally important point is skin, hair and nail care. It is not always possible to allocate time to create masks from natural ingredients at home. Therefore, you should at least not forget to be interested in how to nourish the skin, select cosmetics not by brand status, but by composition, having previously figured out which components should be mandatory and which are absolutely not.

I always insist on relaxing outside the city, yoga and massages - this is a great way to get rid of the negativity that accumulates inside us and is reflected in our appearance.

Beauty and health are an essential component of success and personal happiness. Isn't that what we need?


press service 112 Ukraine

“We are what we eat” - each of us has heard this phrase thousands of times and said it to others about the same number of times. Whatever they say, it's true. And let it be so often when choosing between: “Chocolate or broccoli?” - you are about to say: “Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...” No! If you want to be beautiful in every sense: figure, skin, hair, psychological state - you must abandon the "garbage". I myself came to this regimen not so long ago. The hardest thing, of course, is to give up sweets. But there is a way out - marshmallows from an eco-product store. All cosmetologists, trichologists and other experts say that external beauty depends on what we eat.

Next is the skin. Mine, for example, suffers a lot from daily make-up. Therefore, in addition to cosmetologist procedures, I also take care of my face at home. I prefer white clay masks, coffee scrub, and in order for the skin to wake up, I rub it with ice cubes from chamomile decoction.

Hair. My curly hair is like pasta, which is why I often straighten it. At work, permanent styling, hair dryers, irons, curling irons. Therefore, on weekends I try to nourish my hair as much as possible and let it dry naturally. But with masks it is important not to overdo it - once or twice a week is enough.

Tatyana Khmelnitskaya is a successful Ukrainian TV presenter who is the face of the 112 Ukraine channel and leads the LIVE studio. She works in live, daily for 3 hours communicates with guests on topical, and sometimes quite acute topics from the life of the country.

Beautiful, hardworking, purposeful, she knows exactly how to achieve professional heights and personal happiness, how to comprehend inner harmony and direct thoughts in the right direction.

IN exclusive interview For Clutch, Tatyana Khmelnitskaya spoke frankly about what she had to go through to become who she is now. The presenter shared her personal beauty secrets and talked about how she overcomes competition with male TV presenters.

Your first experience in journalism. How was it and what do you remember the most?

To begin with, I thought about journalism and working on television when I gave my first interview in my life. The journalist with whom my classmates and I talked suggested that we think about the possibility of joining the team of a regional broadcaster after graduation.

We were given a task: to shoot a report for the news. We were just graduating from the Pedagogical University and, accordingly, did not know how to present this story. For some reason, they decided that the advantages of differential equations are exactly the topic that the viewer will definitely like. Funny, is not it? But at the time, we didn't think so.

It was later that I found out that the news is told in 1-1.5 minutes, and then it seemed to me that even 15 minutes was not enough for a report. Of course, the work was rejected and criticized, but I still keep this “work of art”. They took a job with a trial period on television, and then hard working days went on.

Is there an episode in your career that you remember the most?

Every live broadcast is special. Interesting experts, politicians, public figures come to us. We communicate on a variety of topics that concern each of us and are fundamental to the life of the country. We give the opportunity to follow live where our state is heading.

The most memorable moment in the career of a television man for me personally was a ten-hour live broadcast during the Revolution of Dignity. Anxiety, the unpredictability of the situation, the danger that hung in the air, the inability of politicians to agree, public unrest, the confusion of political scientists - all this was transmitted to us.

We sincerely worried and worked continuously 24 hours a day so that viewers in all corners of our large country could see and know what was happening in the capital and regions, how the world community would react and what consequences could be expected. Almost four years have passed since then, but the memories are alive and my personal record of 10 hours of non-stop live broadcast still remains that way.

How do you overcome competition with male TV presenters?

The main thing is not to fight with men, but to cooperate (author's note - laughs). Let a man be a man and be a woman yourself. Hone your skills in the profession, read books, watch movies, listen to music.

Complain less about life, take an active part in informal communication, do not ignore corporate parties, be careful, punctual, and if you promise - keep it - this is reliability. Believe in yourself and in yourself - then you are not afraid of any competition.

How do you feel about sports? What types have already been mastered?

For me, sport is, first of all, health and good appearance, communication and just an integral part of life. But I will not say that it is tied to something specific in sports. On the contrary, I like to try new things. At one time she was very fond of running, dancing - salsa and bachata.

And now it’s an hour and a half workout in the gym 3 times a week. They occur in four stages: cardio, strength exercises, working out the press and straps. Strength training strengthens muscle potential, forms a beautiful and slim figure, cardio eliminates excess fat and trains the cardiovascular system.


But sport in my life is present in parallel with a specially designed diet. I eat 4-5 times a day in small portions. Mostly on the menu are vegetables and protein-rich meals, carbohydrates before lunch. I do not drink alcohol, carbonated drinks and foods containing a lot of sugar.

Well, advice ... .. remember that the heroine of "Gone with the Wind" Scarlett O'Hara often said: "I'll think about it tomorrow." I love this character and the movie. But it’s definitely not worth postponing sports for tomorrow. If every time you promise yourself to start on Monday, think at this moment that playing sports is a great investment in well-being and your future. And start today. Sport disciplines, makes you more resilient and builds character.

Love to read books? Do you manage to make time for this with such a busy work schedule?

Books are an opportunity to visit a different dimension every time. With a book, you can relax and unwind, books broaden our horizons, enrich inner world and make smarter.

Remember we were told in school that reading enriches vocabulary? Read and it will be easier for you to keep up the conversation. While reading, we develop memory and thinking, but we need to imagine characters, environments, clothes, and reading also has a positive effect on sleep and improves concentration.

I have a rule - not a day without reading. You may say: “How else? Your job is like this." But, besides news and analytical articles, I also read fiction.

At least 10 pages before going to bed - and the conscience is calm, and the dream is strong. Mostly now I read paper books, but I do not shun electronic ones, sometimes I listen to their audio versions with pleasure.


In order to break the stereotype that news channel hosts read only news feeds, I will offer a selection of romance novels for reading.

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813

This book came to me after reading "Jane Eyre" by S. Bronte. If you like witty dialogues, want to visit another era, find out what the morals and relationships in the family were like, how feelings were expressed, and how pride interfered - this book is for you.

Shall we back up our interest with a quote? “... well, then be sincere - did you admire me for my audacity? - For the liveliness of nature, ”- Jane Austen“ Pride and Prejudice.

Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo, 1844

One of my most favorite works. About strength of mind, love and invincibility. This is the case when you parse a book into quotes and rush home to find out what will happen next. “Happiness is like fairy palaces, the doors of which are guarded by dragons. We must fight to master them ... ".

Somerset Maugham "Theater", 1937

Maybe you've seen the movie but haven't read the book, then it's worth correcting that omission. A brilliant novel about a smart and beautiful actress, which celebrates "mid-life crisis" by having an affair with a young man.

Addictive love story and the dramatic ending: "If a man rejects advances a woman makes to him, she tends to come to one of two conclusions: either he's a homosexual or he's impotent."

John Fowles, French Lieutenant's Mistress, 1969

It seems that even the name itself is already enticing, and I want to read it. Who is she? Did she really have a lover? Why is the public condemning her? Who will come to the rescue? And how will it all end?

The book may seem boring at first, but be patient, it will leave a pleasant aftertaste in your life. My favorite quote: “I'm not afraid of you. Your love scares me. I know too well that there are no sacred borders."

Lauren Weisberger The Devil Wears Prada, 2003

A chick-lit novel, bright and dynamic. The film is slightly changed, and the book will excite your imagination, make you feel in a new way the life situations in which the main characters find themselves, empathize actors, and most importantly - without the help of cinematography, you can highlight things that are important to you.

“Well, what a bitch! The first time, she might have called me Emily by mistake, but the second time, of course, she did it on purpose. The best way to humiliate and depersonalize a person…” is one of any phrases in this book. Wanted to read?


How do you motivate yourself? After all, you don’t always want to get up at 5 in the morning and go to work, even your favorite one ...

Everything is simple! In achieving my goals, I make a deal with myself. It can be simple: “if I can cope with this task, then I will buy myself a new dress.”

I focus on my own results, analyze and do not compare myself with others. Comparison kills motivation, and eradicating mistakes helps you get better. This makes it possible to see how far I have progressed in achieving my goal.

I read books for self-development. For example, Brian Tracy's book "Achieving the Maximum" helps to prioritize. I watch inspirational films.

"Peaceful Warrior" directed by Victor Salva is based on real events, and makes it clear how strong the human potential is when you believe in yourself and set a goal.

You need to believe in yourself and have an active life position - and you will never have a lack of motivation.

The actual question for modern women: "How to do everything?". Share your secrets of successful time management.

I plan the day in the evening, double-check in the morning and think over the logistics. I do not advise you to set yourself many tasks and be very disappointed if you do not invest in 24 hours. This leads to discouragement and reduces performance. Smaller is better, but high quality, and most importantly - every day.


Your perfect evening dress. What is he?

I value comfort and always dress in such a way that the clothes do not destroy my peace of mind. I find a basic option that fits me perfectly, it can be a little black dress.

To emphasize individuality, I will put on massive earrings and high-heeled shoes. And, of course, a clutch to help. I listen to the advice of stylists, and when I leave the house I forget about my own appearance otherwise it will interfere with enjoying the evening.

The material was prepared by Olesya Bobrik

Increasingly, modern fragile girls surprise others with their hobbies. So, for example, the host of the 112 Ukraine channel, Tatyana Khmelnitskaya, not only runs to always be in great shape, but also participates in charity marathons, the distances of which not every man can master. After all, this is how you can help those who need help and support so much.

Why running?

Unconsciously since childhood. She began to crawl, then to walk, and then she ran. And this is a pleasant first feeling of victory when you realize that you can, as an adult, run, jump, catch up. Through running, a competitive spirit was born. At school, it was a race against the clock and an assessment, then you not only achieved results, but also compared yourself with others, but so far, however, you didn’t understand why you needed all this. Then jogging became an element of keeping fit: for weight loss and well-being. But, if there is no consistency and constancy, there are no results. Therefore, we can say that I have come a long way until a real sense of expediency, necessity and understanding of the importance of running was formed, until the scattered and chaotic puzzle of Pilates, step aerobics, and fitness took shape. In what I really needed, what was truly a joy and what my body needed.

The impetus for structuring was my meeting with fellow athletes at 112 Ukraine. In October 2013, I was invited to the Third International Half Marathon in Kyiv as a fan. Then they convinced me that I could easily join, although I was eaten by doubts and self-doubt. It is necessary to strain, prepare, eat accordingly, have special clothes and sneakers, and, most importantly, want it. Finally, my colleagues took me to the show in June 2014, offering to run two 4 km laps at the Kievan Rus Night Half Marathon. Start at 24:00, four participants in the team, overcame their distance - passed it to another. It was the shortest night of the year summer solstice, the time of metamorphosis. It has become a rallying point for me. Then the decision was made to run, and the daily work on myself and on my “cockroaches” began.

Sprint or long distance running?

Sprint is a distance up to 400 meters inclusive. I am a stayer. We start with 5 km and move on.

About the hardest run...

It was the New Year's half marathon "Yule". Three days before the New Year, on December 28, it was planned to overcome 21,000 meters off the coast of the Kiev Sea. I had incredible support: with my colleague Vanya Kostroba, we agreed on synchronized running throughout the distance, two more of our colleagues (Dmitry Skidan and Sergey Titenko) also ran, plus friends who became fans supported me. Frost, wind, sun, "sea", winter and several hundred people who were ready to test their body and prove that a person can do anything. I was quite optimistic and confident. I understood that it would be difficult, but I was also sure that I would easily overcome all the obstacles. But by chance, I had to leave the race at 13 kilometers. Knee pain took me out of the game. It was a "brain explosion", a collapse of hopes, a very difficult decision and a feeling of incompleteness of the process. However, as the great Nietzsche said, "whatever does not kill us makes us stronger." And modern scientific research proves the German thinker right, demonstrating that negative experiences can strengthen, harden people and make them better able to overcome difficulties next time. Then I had to come to terms with the situation, but this does not mean that my plans have become less ambitious.

... and the funniest

The funniest one was on Independence Day last year. My colleagues and I took part in the “Vyshyvanka Run” at VDNH, it was planned in advance, and then it turned out that we were working that day, and I had to sit beautiful in the studio at 14:00. The race starts at 11:00, and work is at the other end of the city. The launch was delayed by 30 minutes. My task was simple: run 5 km, get to work, take a shower, put on makeup and catch the air. This became possible only with the support of the management of the 112 Ukraine channel and our team. Then, of course, everything seemed not so funny as it is now.

About personal rules of running

All great things are done at night, but the day begins in the morning. Therefore, no matter how difficult, unbearable and hard, I lift myself at 6:00 three times a week and overcome my 5 km. It takes 30-40 minutes, but then you feel like a winner - sweaty, out of breath, but happy. This is a very important element of discipline and self-organization. Do not give yourself concessions, do not regret, do not give up, because you want to sleep, but go and do it. The main thing is to start running, and then life will be filled with colors. From time to time, I would get myself out of bed just by thinking that in an hour I would feel fantastic. And it is true.

My rules:
1. Constancy. The main thing is not how much you run, but how often you do it.
2. Pleasure. Training should be fun.
3. Moderation. Listen to your body. Anything too much is not healthy.
4. Water. 1.5-2 liters per day.
5. Persistence.
6. Music. I like to run in headphones, and from time to time it gives a burst of energy and a magical mood.
7. Reward. For every victory over myself and my laziness, my body receives gifts.

About running bonuses

Running is fitness and beauty!
Running is health and wellness!
Running is always new acquaintances!
Running is motivation and meditation!

About jumping fences

If you are being eaten by fear, anxiety, insecurity, “cockroaches” have spread in all corners and you cannot put them on the shelves, it’s time to put on your sneakers and “pump” yourself in training.
Running disciplines, organizes, motivates, inspires, helps to transform negativity and cognize the world. If you analyze yourself before and after a run, you will understand that we are talking about two completely different people. But you don’t need to overly “force” yourself with training, you should enjoy the process. It is then that the “hormones of happiness” are released, such desirable endorphins.

And with today's instability, running can become your external and internal vector, you will understand where to move, what to do, how to behave in a given situation, what to throw away forever, and what to save for later. Participation in competitions is like consolidating the material covered, tens or even hundreds of kilometers covered. This is a test. If you pass it, then you are happy to move on and raise your bar. For me this year it will be a half marathon and a marathon at the end of the year. But I'm not going to set world records, for me it's more of a charity event (some short races, half marathons and marathons are charitable, the funds raised from them go to support people with various disabilities, or to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine), testing my strength and proving my physical suitability. Who doesn't want to jump fences at 80?

Down with excuses!

“I don’t have sneakers and clothes”- an excuse that is treated by the power of desire and motivation. The main thing is to start, and over time everything will appear. And beautiful sports sneakers, and comfortable bright clothes from leading brands. The question is not the availability of things, but the desire to have them and use them for their intended purpose. Sometimes, on morning runs, I meet young man, who overcomes the distance in jeans and a regular jacket. At first I thought that he was just in a hurry to work, and then I realized that this was his form. And he doesn’t care what others think about him, he enjoys the process.

"Running doesn't suit me". Perhaps this is true, or perhaps you approached the process itself incorrectly, trying to get all the laurels at once, overestimated your strengths and planned the loads obliquely. Do not rush, do not count on quick results, do everything gradually and carefully, and you will surprise yourself.

"Running is boring". I also encountered this. And you try to run the same way, but vice versa: not clockwise, but against it. All nausea disappears when you join the competition and get ahead of the experienced.

And you can also promote yourself with the films "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner", "Chariots of Fire", "Forrest Gump", "Peaceful Warrior" and others ...
It is better to try once than to regret all your life that you could, but did not.
My slogan is: "It's better to take money to the gym than to the pharmacy."

About plans for the near future

For myself, I will start the season on March 21 this year. Then the "Race of the World" starts. This is a very ambitious project, in which the team covers 18,000 km in 42 European countries. I will join them in Kyiv, the Czech Republic, and, finally, in the Vatican, where the doves of Peace will be launched to the sound of prayer. I will not miss the Kyiv International Half Marathon in April, in May we will gather the 112 team for the Chestnut Run, help children with a sick heart, then I will celebrate the anniversary of the races at the Kyiv Rus night half marathon. In October I plan to take part in the oldest marathon in Europe - Kosice Peace Marathon. We will not bypass the team race and the Kyiv International Marathon in September, and many other events. We will decide according to the situation. We have a great potential of amateur runners on our channel, both boys and girls. Somewhere we will run individually, and somewhere we will run as a team, in a relay race. It's only the beginning!

WHAT DOES THE MOTHERLAND BEGIN WITH?

Tetyana KHMELNYTSKA, host of the LIVE studio of the 112 Ukraine TV channel, author of the Hostages project, Tatiana Khmelnytskaya: “Our heroes said that with the words “Congratulations, you are in Novorossia!” they were kicked in the head"

What is the psychological state of the former hostages of the LDNR militants, can the materials from documentary film The “hostages” of the 112 Ukraine TV channel will become evidence in court whether the Ukrainians, released from the captivity of terrorists, want revenge. Tatyana Khmelnitskaya told about this in an interview with the online publication GORDON.

“The Liberated Themselves Cannot Understand Why They Need Psychological Rehabilitation”

- We, TV presenters, experience a lot of events live. Even behind the camera lens and the studio light you can't hide from reality. Together with the participants and organizers of the hostage release, we were worried whether the separatists would deceive us with the exchange, whether the Ukrainians would be able to see their loved ones.

It was then, remembering the experience of previous civilian and military liberations, rare in the years of the ATO, that I wanted to somehow help the society understand that the conflict in the east of Ukraine continues and tears of relatives who are worried about the captives are shed in peaceful territory.

The purpose of our project is to tell the stories of Ukrainian hostages to the whole world, to remind that there is a war going on in the east of Ukraine that human lives even outside of active hostilities, to help former hostages accept the situation and learn to live in new conditions. And I would like them not to be forgotten ... After all, this tragic fates people who became hostages of the war.

When filming began, we released a series of interviews with the characters for several weeks in a row - it was a kind of announcement. We wanted to interest the audience, to show that the fates of the heroes are similar, but at the same time unique, to tell the truth about what happened in captivity, how the relatives of the hostages experienced what was happening here, on peaceful territory.

- How did you determine that it was these hostages who would become participants, because there are much more former prisoners?

- We invited some heroes to live and immediately agreed on further interviews, some were searched for by our guest editors. We also received contacts through acquaintances. In general, we used all the possibilities.

It was decided that the film would include military and civilian stories. For example, the military Alexander Morozov and Alexander Kalin were taken hostage in February and September 2015, contract soldier Valentin Bogdan - in December 2016. Ultras Vlad Ovcharenko fell into the hands of the separatists in October 2016, civilian Igor Yakovenko - in August 2015. Heroes were hard to find. Many of them were undergoing treatment and rehabilitation or went to their relatives and asked not to be disturbed for the time being.

- Did someone suddenly refuse to take part in the filming, talk about their experiences?

- Some first promised to take part in the film, and then did not get in touch. Sometimes the interviews were on the brink of collapse. In order to get permission from Alexander Morozov to shoot in the Hostages project, we agreed to meet in an informal setting and discuss the nuances. And he put forward a condition: he would agree to act if he was not asked about torture. I couldn't promise it. He changed his face, got up and left. I was confused, but after a while Morozov returned and agreed to shoot. True, I did not leave the feeling that even during the recording of the interview, he can also get up and leave.

During the pre-shooting period, we had to talk on the phone for a long time both with the heroes themselves and with their relatives, and present arguments why they should agree, overcome their pain, make one more effort and tell about the events that took place in captivity. The former hostages refused to make some facts public so as not to interfere with the release of those who remained in the dungeons of Donbass. After all, we received really important and exclusive information. For example, we have learned that the separatists are more aggressive towards volunteer battalions than towards the fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“There is a problem – the discrepancy between the level of psychological assistance to the stress and trauma that the captives received”

- There is an opinion that, having been in a war or in captivity, a person can accumulate aggression in a peaceful environment, and then suddenly splash out. After the stress, what is the psychological state of the former hostages?

- The heroes did not show aggression towards our film crew, but I noticed that they are quick-tempered. Ukrainians themselves, in principle, do not really control their emotions. Specifically, these people do not quite understand why journalists are so interested in them. Perhaps they would like less attention...

- Does the state provide the necessary rehabilitation for people released from captivity?

- Officially, the state declares that it is doing everything necessary and fulfilling all the powers assigned to it to help former hostages cope with the consequences of being in captivity. This is treatment and psychological rehabilitation. Also, if the former hostages want to return to the army, they will be welcomed with open arms. This is what the state offers.

On the other hand, people released from captivity themselves cannot understand why they need psychological rehabilitation. For example, treatment of teeth, diseases of the stomach, elimination of injuries they accept. As for psychological support, they completely deny it. They need to be explained that working with a psychologist does not mean that someone thinks that they have problems with their heads, but that it is working through problems that are deep in the subconscious.

But there is a second problem - the discrepancy between the level of psychological assistance to the stress and trauma that the captives received. For example, a psychologist gives them advice: fully tighten the body, then abruptly relax. After the experience, former hostages no longer accept such methods. Our heroes believe that the result should be immediately, which does not happen in psychology. Guys don't want to wait. They try to rehabilitate themselves with the help of work, self-realization, family.

I believe that the state should open lessons with those released from captivity, to remind the society that the conflict is not over, and to correctly place the accents. This will be counter-propaganda during the hybrid war. On YouTube, for example, many people with pro-Russian views have watched my film. We must show how we see the situation from here, from Ukraine.

“Many would like to erase the experience from memory, but there is no escape from the war”

- Were all former hostages with whom you communicated tortured?

- Everyone was beaten. Our heroes said that they were shocked, with a boxing glove or with the words “Congratulations, you are in Novorossia!” kicked in the head. If a person had a title, the attitude towards him was more severe. The soldier could immediately be sent to a pre-trial detention center. One hero said that the separatists told him: “If you were volunteers, you would be killed right away, and since you are from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, go to prison.”

Of course, it is difficult for them to remember all the tortures. Memories turn on the imagination, and the characters do not want to see the picture of what they experienced again, to experience what they experienced during the torture. And they are closing... First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Irina Gerashchenko and ex-Ombudsman Valeria Lutkovskaya are right that they are waiting for the information wave to subside in order to record the testimonies of the hostages. Time needs to pass.

Are the former hostages themselves awaiting trial? Retribution?

“One hero said that he had been reading the Bible for a long time while in prison in the occupied territory, and he believed that he was not God and had no right to judge anyone.

- Perhaps he wants to quickly forget and let go of the experience ...

- That's absolutely right. He did not even want to agree to an interview. Many would like to erase the experience from memory. But there is no escape from the war. She's on every newscast. There are, of course, those former hostages who would like revenge, waiting for the coming trial.

- Can the materials of the film about the hostages be considered in court?

- Why not? For example, in the trial of Viktor Yanukovych, his press conference was broadcast. And in the film, the hostages just admit that they were tortured. Not all recordings of conversations with them were included in the film. But we also keep the source materials that we could provide to the court.

- Is there a continuation of the project?

- In September, we plan to find out how our heroes are living now: whether the business is going on, whether the house is being built, whether those who planned the wedding got married. By this time, the state will pay the promised 100,000 hryvnias to each hostage, and we will already be able to find out how the heroes spent this money. And in the near future I want to implement a project about our fellow citizens with special needs - about people with disabilities.

- Was it morally difficult for you personally to work on the film "Hostages"?

“After the Revolution of Dignity, I was mentally prepared. Working on the film was my way out of my comfort zone, out of the studio. It was a good experience.

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