{
  "id": 6124422,
  "title": "Russian journalists fled their country after the invasion of Ukraine. My Undesirable Friends: Part II follows their lives in exile.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/russian-journalists-fled-their-country-after-the-invasion-of-ukraine",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T10:16:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/09/07/russian-journalists-fled-their-country-after-the-invasion-of-ukraine-my-undesirable-friends-part-ii-follows-their-lives-in-exile"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Russian journalists have fled their homeland after the invasion of Ukraine, as depicted in the documentary My Undesirable Friends: Part II. This film, directed by Russian-born American filmmaker Julia Loktev, follows the lives of journalists from TV Rain, iStories, and Novaya Gazeta as they navigate exile following the full-scale invasion in 2022. Loktev captures the struggles these individuals face in their new countries, from finding their footing to continuing their work despite the challenges. The film spans over a dozen locations and is divided into 10 chapters, totaling around 12 hours of runtime. It has gained international recognition, winning several awards and being nominated for an Oscar. The documentary's intimate portrayal of the journalists' experiences, shot primarily on iPhone, creates a powerful contrast between the personal and the historical, inviting empathy and a deeper understanding of the journalists' plight.",
  "summary": "The Venice Film Festival hosted the world premiere of My Undesirable Friends: Part II — Exile, a documentary by Russian-born American filmmaker Julia Loktev. The film follows journalists from TV Rain, iStories, and Novaya Gazeta as they find themselves in exile after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In this latest chapter of her documentary epic about Russian journalists, Loktev…",
  "key_points": [
    "Russian journalists fled to exile post-Ukraine invasion",
    "Documentary \"My Undesirable Friends: Part II\" follows their lives",
    "Julia Loktev captures struggles across 12 locations"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The documentary humanizes the plight of Russian journalists in exile, capturing their struggles to rebuild and continue their work, and inviting empathy for their personal and professional displacement.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Legalise porn, fund 30,000 drones: Inside Ukraine’s unusual war plan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/legalise-porn-fund-30-000-drones-inside-ukraines-unusual-war-plan",
        "published": "2026-09-07T06:37:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Russian assault with 92 drones and Banderol munitions hits 12 sites in Ukraine - Air Force",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/russian-assault-with-92-drones-and-banderol-munitions-hits-12-sites",
        "published": "2026-09-07T08:33:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Russian missile brigade equipped with Oreshniks deployed in Belarus, Ukraine's military intelligence says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/russian-missile-brigade-equipped-with-oreshniks-deployed-in-belarus",
        "published": "2026-09-07T12:32:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}