Documentary Profiled Journalists Who Fled Russia
The 2026 film My Undesirable Friends Part II - Exile documents the lives of reporters in international exile.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Documentary
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Released in 2026, the documentary My Undesirable Friends Part II - Exile follows the experiences of journalists who fled Russia. They left their home country after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine led to a crackdown on independent media.
Why it matters
The film highlights the intense media censorship imposed by the Russian government, which shuttered news outlets and criminalized accurate reporting on the conflict in Ukraine.
The project includes the 2025 release of My Undesirable Friends and its 2026 follow-up, My Undesirable Friends Part II - Exile. These films chronicle the journeys of reporters who sought safety across Europe and the United States.
The players
Julia Loktev
She is the filmmaker responsible for directing the documentary project profiling exiled journalists.
Irina Dolinina
She is one of the journalists featured in the documentary who fled Russia after the crackdown on independent media.
Alesya Marokhovskaya
She is a journalist documented in the film who continued her work from abroad following threats in Russia.
The details
Journalists faced consistent threats, searches, and arrests for their reporting before ultimately moving abroad to continue their work. The film captures these experiences through interviews with filmmaker Julia Loktev and journalists Irina Dolinina and Alesya Marokhovskaya.
Timeline
2022: Russia invaded Ukraine and intensified media censorship.
2025: Release of the documentary My Undesirable Friends.
2026: Release of My Undesirable Friends Part II - Exile.
Industry Dynamics
This documentary series reflects a broader trend of independent filmmakers and journalists utilizing personal narratives to document the global displacement of the Russian press. It highlights the shift toward exile-based reporting as domestic news organizations continue to face severe state-imposed restrictions.
Viewers can explore these firsthand accounts of press freedom through the release of the two-part film series. The work offers the public insight into the logistical and personal challenges of maintaining independent news operations while in forced exile.
The takeaway
The documentary underscores the high personal cost paid by journalists who choose to continue reporting despite intense state persecution. Understanding these challenges provides context for how information survives in environments where independent media is criminalized.
Further reading
For more coverage of long-form journalistic storytelling, see the Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBUR 90.9 mHz.
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