Ukrainian Ballerinas Swap Pointe Shoes for Firearms to Defend Their Nation

In November 2025, a new documentary is shedding light on the ongoing war in Ukraine from a unique perspective. "The Sky was on Fire," produced by Bucks County businessman Alfred Hagen, follows the stories of Ukrainian ballet dancers who have taken up arms to defend their country against Russia's invasion.

The film exposes Russia's attempts to eradicate Ukrainian culture, with Hagen noting that "part of the Russian strategy was to eradicate Ukrainian culture." This cultural genocide has driven artists like Oleh Tokar to trade their pointe shoes for firearms, as he explains, "Ballet is my inner armor against the destruction of our country."

Tokar, a stage director by day and a defense forces unit commander by night, represents the resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of overwhelming odds. As he states, "The war in Ukraine isn't just a war over land, it's a war for our right to exist."

The documentary's producers hope to make the film available on streaming platforms in the near future, allowing audiences around the world to witness the extraordinary courage and determination of these Ukrainian ballerinas-turned-soldiers as they fight to preserve their nation's identity and freedom.