11-year-old Roman Oleksiv, who survived a rocket attack on Vinnytsia, was awarded the Cinema for Peace prize

Key points

• Eleven-year-old Roman Oleksiv received the international Cinema for Peace Honorary Dove 2026 award at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival.
• Roman sustained severe injuries following a missile strike on Vinnytsia in 2022 and underwent a lengthy rehabilitation.
• The award was presented for his participation in the documentary “Children in the Fire” directed by Evgeny Afineevsky.
• During the ceremony, the boy appeared at the Cinema for Peace charity event dedicated to global humanitarian crises.

Eleven-year-old Ukrainian Roman Oleksiv, who survived a Russian missile strike on Vinnytsia in 2022 and sustained severe injuries, has received the international Cinema for Peace Honorary Dove 2026 award at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. The news was shared by his father, Yaroslav Oleksiv, on his Facebook page.

Roman was honoured for his participation in the documentary by Evgeny Afineevsky, “Children in the Fire”, which tells his story following the missile attack.

The boy suffered severe burns and injuries, underwent more than 36 operations and completed a lengthy course of rehabilitation. As a result of the missile strike on Vinnytsia, Roman also lost his mother.

Despite what he endured, he returned to school, dance and music, and was also awarded the “Future of Ukraine” distinction by the President of Ukraine.

During the ceremony in Berlin, Roman appeared at the Cinema for Peace charity event, where films and individuals drawing attention to war, human rights and social issues are recognised. The initiative was founded in 2002.

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