Ukraine on Fire (2016) Plot Summary Explained

The film presents a central thesis arguing that the United States has long utilized Ukraine as a proxy to undermine Russia. It further claims that neo-Nazi elements played a significant and influential role among the protestors during the 2014 Revolution of Dignity.

The narrative begins with a deep dive into historical contexts, covering the Cossack Hetmanate, World War I, and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. It explores the USSR's annexation of Western Ukraine, the Great Patriotic War, and darker chapters such as the massacre of Jews at Babyn Yar, the Volyn massacre of Poles, and the guerilla warfare conducted by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army against Soviet forces until the mid-1950s. According to the film, the CIA maintained ties with Ukrainian nationalist leaders during the Cold War to establish counterintelligence channels against the USSR.

Moving into the "crazy 1990s," the film asserts that the introduction of a free-market economy following the Soviet collapse created a small, wealthy class of oligarchs while the general population remained in poverty. Significant attention is given to far-right political organizations, specifically Svoboda, Tryzub, and Right Sector.

The documentary examines the Orange Revolution and the Maidan protests, detailing negotiations over a trade agreement with the European Union and the influence of NGOs and US politicians. It suggests that while the Maidan protests began peacefully, they escalated when radical elements from the Right Sector were introduced to provide "muscle" for the demonstrations.

A primary focus of the movie is the series of interviews conducted by Oliver Stone with Vladimir Putin and Victor Yanukovich. In these discussions, they explain their perspectives on the 2013 trade agreement and the subsequent pausing of negotiations. The film argues that the eventual removal of Victor Yanukovich by the Verkhovna Rada was an unconstitutional impeachment.

The final segments cover the Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea, the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and the downing of flight MH17. The film concludes by criticizing the eastward expansion of NATO and the use of sanctions against Russia, while questioning the legitimacy of the government in Kyiv. The story ends with a warning via the Doomsday Clock, highlighting the extreme global risks in 2015 due to the modernization of nuclear weaponry.