Ukrainian Sheriffs (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Chopping Firewood

The documentary opens in the summer of 2013 with Rudkovsky chopping firewood by hand. He steadies each piece with one hand while swinging the axe, turning his face away to avoid the flying wood chips. Afterwards, the kindling is lit in a small stove to make coffee.

When

Summer 2013

An Alert Interrupts the Coffee

Kryvoborodko receives an alert and the two sheriffs abandon their coffee mid-brew. Rudkovsky starts up their decrepit 40-year-old Lada sedan and drives them down the dirt road. As Kryvoborodko finishes his cigarette out of the window, he accidentally dislodges the small Ukrainian flag that had distinguished the car as official.

When

Summer 2013

Where

The village

Dealing with Vagrants

The sheriffs settle a property dispute by hiring a handyman to make repairs, allowing a homeless man to leave the village. Other vagrants have decided to stay, and the sheriffs try to house them in abandoned, sometimes ramshackle buildings. They explain that while these people are not inherently bad, they drink and congregate in increasingly crowded and squalid conditions. An elderly resident accuses one such person of being perpetually drunk, running a tavern and brothel, and even putting a snake in her firewood shed.

Where

The village

Keeping Kolya and Vova on Track

The sheriffs check on Kolya and Vova, two petty criminals who are trying to turn their lives around. They make sure the pair stay out of trouble, that their phones stay charged, and they assist with their probation documents. After cleaning garbage in a park, Kolya and Vova carry a log to their home because they have no firewood.

Where

The village

Kolya's Ambitions

Mayor Marunyak meets with Kolya, who explains that he wants to be respected and accepted and to have his own home, garden and family. Kolya promises not to eat the neighbourhood dogs as he had in the past, believing it was a preventative for tuberculosis. The conversation reveals his hope for a fresh start and acceptance in the community.

A House of His Own

Marunyak decides to transfer Kolya's deceased brother's house to him. Following the official transfer, Kolya begins tidying the overgrown yard, clearing it of weeds and refuse. A neighbour loudly complains that an alcoholic wife-beating thief has moved in next door.

Where

Kolya's new house

Serhiy's Independence Movement

At a village council meeting during the winter, a young man named Serhiy unveils an organization that seeks to form an independent community, politically separated from Ukraine. The group intends to issue its own human passports and withhold taxes from the government. Serhiy openly espouses Russian World ideology and promotes revisionist history.

When

Winter

Where

The village council

Serhiy Shouted Down

Serhiy addresses a gathering at the village club, where the villagers shout him down and ridicule his ideas. Mayor Marunyak accuses him of trying to divide the villagers. He invites Serhiy to stand for election but grows tired of his antics and walks out of the meeting.

Where

The village club

War Clouds Gather

News reports announce the Russian annexation of Crimea, and a man perches in a precarious watchtower, listening to distant military transmissions on a small transistor radio. The War in Donbas begins soon after. Serhiy is shown flying a powered paraglider around the watchtower, his purpose left unstated.

When

2014

Where

The watchtower

The Draft Arrives

The mood in the village changes with the seriousness of the war as the sheriffs deliver registration notices for the military draft, which is met with some resistance. Rudkovsky worries that he might be on the draft list despite a shoulder injury. While many say they would fight if the enemy came from Crimea, most do not want to be sent to Donbas, and one man plans to emigrate to Germany.

When

2014

Where

The village

A Military Convoy Passes

Excitement sweeps the village when a military convoy passes through. Kryvoborodko has his young son Nikita pose for photographs in fatigues with an assault rifle. The moment shows how the war has begun to fascinate even the youngest villagers.

When

2014

Where

The village

A Draft Dodger and a Dead Man

When the sheriffs deliver a draft notice to Serhiy's home, they discover that he has fled the village to avoid service. They then find the recipient of another draft notice dead in his home. Suspecting foul play, they call the militsiya to begin a criminal investigation.

When

2014

Where

The village

Kolya's Sentence

The filmmakers return to the village one year later, in 2015, after Kryvoborodko had reported Kolya for stealing a bicycle, for which Kolya received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Both sheriffs harbour misgivings: Rudkovsky believes they could have handled the matter themselves, while Kryvoborodko feels that prison never made anyone a better person.

When

2015

Where

The village

Tanya Left Behind

The sheriffs are uncertain what should be done with Kolya's wife Tanya, who can only perform simple tasks and may not be able to support herself. She reads a letter from Kolya and speaks warmly of his better qualities. Her precarious situation shows the toll the sentence has taken on those left behind.

When

2015

Where

The village

Victory Day Celebrations

After much preparation, the village holds its 9 May victory celebrations. The mayor speaks of the new war with a new enemy and the need for those drafted to serve in the military, noting that half a dozen villagers have already done so. Vova is seen wearing fatigues, suggesting that he has achieved an official position in public service.

When

9 May 2015

Where

The village