Leaving their civilian lives behind, two young Ukrainian women enrol in the army as military paramedics. There they find violence, pain and sadness, but also friendship, love and dreams of a life without war.
Both Alaska and Cuba volunteered for military service and work as partners in the same unit, serving in the middle of the war-torn, desolate East Ukraine. Despite being very different, they became close friends. Director Yegor Troyanovsky filmed their lives since the summer of 2022, capturing both moments of respite and joy during rotations and the stark horrors of war, where battles against death and the loss of comrades cast long shadows.
Cuba and Alaska have faced challenging tests of fate. Alaska was injured in 2023 after an attack by Russian drones. She had to undergo more than six months of rehabilitation. Step by step, she learned to walk again and is now back on the frontlines.
For Cuba, her promise to avoid romantic entanglements with her male colleagues was both a personal rule and a shield against the fear of losing loved ones in the war. However, love knows no boundaries or timing. In the spring of 2023, she fell in love with Shepa, a fellow soldier. They planned to marry in August, but in July of the same year Shepa was killed in battle.
Amidst this grim reality, dreams of a peaceful future become more and more elusive. Yet, Cuba and Alaska demonstrate remarkable resilience despite the scars they carry. More than a war film, ‘Cuba & Alaska’ is a documentary about the longing for a life without war.
"Cuba & Alaska brings a whole new perspective to war documentaries, managing to create an entirely new balance between light and dark."
- Rebecca Cherry, Cuba & Alaska Review, Film Carnage
"I won't be the first to call "Cuba & Alaska" the "Thelma & Louise" of war films - but it's a fitting comparison."
- Mark Perkins, DocFest Review 2025, Exposed Magazine
"This documentary [...] manages to capture both the tension of combat and the camaraderie among soldiers, while offering a perspective that focuses on the psychological scars and resilience of those who have had to give up a normal life."
- Miguel Reinas, En Primera Fila Review
"Amid the bombs: two friends' laughter, like a call to life."
- Sylvestre Sbille, Critique de "Cuba & Alaska", L'Echo
"You'll learn more [about Ukraine] from this film than from a thousand newscasts. (Because) Spending time with Cuba & Alaska means entering a reality."
- Sylvestre Sbille, Critique de "Cuba & Alaska", L'Echo
"One quickly becomes attached to these two idiosyncratic women, [who navigate the ultra-masculine environment of the army, blending effortlessly with their bravadofilled camaraderie]."
- Adrien Corbeel, Documentaire : "Cuba & Alaska", les joyeuses amies du front ukrainien, RTBF Actus
"An oasis of humanity."
- Didier Stiers, La guerre en Ukraine avec "Cuba & Alaska", Le Soir