September 18, 2026 7:36 pm • 2 min readPreferon Googleby Kate Tsurkan
Russia's Justice Ministry added director Andrey Zvyagintsev to the country's list of "foreign agents" on Sept. 18, claiming that he "disseminated inaccurate information about decisions made by Russian public authorities."
Zvyagintsev is one of Russia's most famous contemporary film directors. As of publication, he hasn't commented publicly on the news.
Being labeled a "foreign agent" by the Kremlin carries heavy social stigma, legal and financial restrictions, and a ban on holding public office in Russia. However, Zvyagintsev has lived in exile in France since 2022.
Zvyagintsev's latest film "Minotaur" has been praised by critics as an anti-war film. It won the Grand Prix at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, the festival's prestigious runner-up prize.
The French-produced film was also chosen as France's submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Academy Awards.
Zvyagintsev's films typically explore the dark side of Russian society. His 2014 film "Leviathan" follows a man's struggle in a remote Russian coastal town against corrupt local authorities.
During his acceptance speech at the Cannes 2026 Film Festival, Zvyagintsev made a direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war against Ukraine, saying that "millions of people on both sides of the front line have only one dream — that the countless killings will finally stop."
Many Ukrainians voiced their anger and disappointment with him online following his speech for not acknowledging the disproportionate suffering of Ukrainians compared to Russians.
RussiaForeign Agents LawKate Tsurkan
Culture Reporter
Kate Tsurkan is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent who writes mostly about culture-related topics. Her newsletter Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan, which focuses specifically on Ukrainian culture, is published weekly by the Kyiv Independent and is partially supported by a generous grant from the Nadia Sophie Seiler Fund. Kate co-translated Oleh Sentsov’s “Diary of a Hunger Striker,” Myroslav Laiuk’s “Bakhmut,” Andriy Lyubka’s “War from the Rear,” and Khrystia Vengryniuk’s “Long Eyes,” among other books. Some of her previous writing and translations have appeared in the New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Harpers, the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and elsewhere. She is the co-founder of Apofenie Magazine and, in addition to Ukrainian and Russian, also knows French.
Most Popular
Zelensky breaches confidentiality agreement by disclosing transfer of North Korean POWs, South Korea says
Ex-defense minister Fedorov announces new 'Army of Robots' initiative in latest move since leaving office
Taiwan company plans to buy Ukraine’s second-largest cement business for 750 million euros
Ukraine strikes Russian oil refineries, missile production facilities, General Staff confirms
Ukraine strikes 'very important' deal on new batch of Patriot missiles, Zelensky says
News FeedSunday, September 2711:49 pmWarUkraine war latest: Russian attacks kill 14, injure 57 across Ukraine in 'mass strike' 11:16 pmSerbia's Russian-friendly President Vucic announces resignation, plans to run for PM.
Resigning early, Vucic can now run as the Serbian Progressive Party's right-wing populist candidate for prime minister in the Oct. 25 elections.
9:58 pmUnder FPVs and glide bombs, life clings on in Zaporizhzhia 9:32 pm2 killed, 4 injured by Russian strikes on market as drones, missiles continue to batter Kyiv.
Over central Kyiv, air defense systems were reported to be active, filling the city with sounds of blasts and explosions. Multiple attacks across the capital injured nine, said Klitschko. Six of the injured were hospitalized, including one child.
1:29 am (Updated: September 27, 2026 8:43 pm)Russia launches third consecutive attack on Kyiv, killing 1, injuring at least 4, setting off fires.
Air defenses were engaged as Russian drones damaged residential buildings and a warehouse, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
11:22 am (Updated: September 27, 2026 7:31 pm)Update: Watchdog raises questions about new chief prosecutor's asset declarations.
Media reports suggest Kovalsky could ultimately be appointed prosecutor general, rather than merely serving in an acting capacity.
7:23 pmPoland offers to host Patriot system production site for Ukraine after Kyiv secures license from US.
The offer follows President Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement on Sept. 25 that U.S. President Donald Trump granted Kyiv permission to produce its own Patriot air defense missiles.
4:35 pmZelensky says over 10,000 Russian troops killed or wounded this week as Ukrainian military advances in Lyman sector.
"The occupiers continue to be eliminated, and the designated objectives are being achieved," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
4:08 pmUkrainian military delivers 4 tons of food to occupied Oleshky by drones, according to regional authorities.
Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said Russian forces have attempted to disrupt the deliveries.
2:06 pmUkraine sanctions 44 people involved in Russia's sham parliamentary elections in occupied territories.
The elections were accompanied by "mass falsifications, forced voting, and predetermined turnout figures," Ukraine's presidential office said.
11:39 amRussian attacks kill 14, injure 57 across Ukraine, with Odesa Oblast targeted in 'mass strike'.
Overnight on Sept. 27, Russian forces launched 170 Shahed-type attack drones, Ukraine's Air Force said.
9:36 amRussia's strike near Poland put Ukraine's railway lifeline in focus. But the bigger threat lies elsewhere 9:35 amGeneral Staff: Russia has lost 1,528,970 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.
The number includes 1,690 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
4:44 amGerman, Russian foreign ministers meet for 1st time since full-scale war against Ukraine.
"Russia must end its war of aggression against Ukraine and cease its hostile actions against Germany and its allies," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said.
Saturday, September 2610:24 pmRussia plans to spend $12 billion on jet-powered drones, loitering munitions next year, Zelensky says.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had obtained Russian internal documents showing the volumes of weapons Russia is preparing to produce next year and the funding allocated for them.
Show More
Editors' Picks
As Russia adapts to Ukraine's middle strikes, elite drone units stay ahead of the curve
Russia's rigged election gives Putin a mandate for all-out war
As Putin edges towards mobilization, Russian reservists are already panicking
Investigation: Western machinery at the heart of Russian arms producers like Kalashnikov
Support us on Gofund.meSupport us on PatreonBuy Our Merch
We are a member center ofSections
- News Feed
- Newsletters
- War
- Politics
- Business
- Russia
- Europe
- Opinion
- Video
- Culture
- Investigations
- War Crimes
- Explaining Ukraine
Featured
- War Analysis
- Photos
- Field Report
- Interview
- Human Story
- Company News
More
- About
- Contacts
- Team
- Jobs
- Join the team
- Submit an Opinion
- Content Licensing
- J-School
- Store
Copyright © 2026 The Kyiv Independent
- Help Center
- Cookie Policy
- Privacy Policy
- Comments policy
- Community Policy