The premiere of the documentary “Made of Steel”

The film was produced by First Studio of Starlight Production under the direction of Olena Antonova. At its core is the story of 30-year-old National Guard sergeant Dmytro Kolesnyk, who lost his lower limbs while carrying out a combat mission. The camera follows him from his first days in the hospital, through multiple surgeries and prosthetic rehabilitation, to his return to civilian life and profound inner transformation.

As Olena Antonova explains, work on the film lasted nearly a year:

“It was an extremely challenging project. We filmed for almost a year — we effectively started on the second day after his injury. It was difficult to witness a person going through this — surgeries (Dmytro underwent 69), pain, repeated amputations. But from the very beginning, we didn’t want to create just a drama. It was important for us to find a protagonist who could go through this journey and become an example. And with Dmytro, we made the right choice. For me, this is a story about emerging from darkness—into a new life and new possibilities.”

Dmytro Kolesnyk himself watched the film on the day of the premiere and admits the experience was not easy:

“I watched the premiere at nigh t— it was tough, at times to the point of tears. In the morning, I watched it again — this time differently, even laughed. While watching, memories of surgeries and recovery came flooding back — it’s not something you can easily relive. But the film crew was incredibly supportive — they helped me not to dwell on the hardest moments, we joked a lot, and I still keep in touch with some of them. I’m grateful for that. I agreed to take part just a few days after my injury. Back then, I didn’t fully understand what it would be — I thought it would just be an interview, but it turned into a full-length documentary. My life has changed completely since then. Now I’m focused on creativity, preparing my own song, and planning to launch merchandise. I’m active in sports, I’ve learned to swim without a vest, and I dream of skydiving. Of course, I wish this had never happened to me. But I’ve accepted things as they are. And it’s not a reason to stop — I want to keep living, trying new things, and dreaming.”

As the film’s chief editor Iryna Kuzmytska concludes:

“This is a film about accepting your new self, about realizing that you are far more than your body —more than your losses and pain. It’s about finding new foundations in life, first and foremost within yourself.”