Obiimy (“embrace”) is a story about trauma, isolation, and the healing power of connection. Set on the morning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the film follows a young woman named Kateryna as she confronts the sudden rupture of ordinary life. Alone in her apartment, accompanied only by her cat Ponchyk, she moves through shock, fear, and uncertainty.
As Kateryna imagines her world falling apart and losing all that she loves, she encounters a quiet but profound choice: whether to remain isolated in her distress or reach out for help. Created to raise awareness of free crisis counseling available to Ukrainians, Obiimy is both a personal story and a gesture of care. It is an offering of presence, solidarity, and human connection.
A volunteer project, this CTA for the National Psychological Association brought together artists from around the world.
Director's Statement
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, my first thought was for a psychologist friend I had met online years earlier. As images of refugees fleeing with pets and belongings filled the news, I learned she had made the impossible decision to leave her home, boarding a train with her cat.
Wanting to help, I offered my skills as an animator. She connected me with her associates at Obiymy, a small nonprofit providing free crisis counseling, and within a week I began developing an animated film with members of the organization to promote the service.
What began as a simple contribution quickly grew into something more ambitious. Collaborating with a passionate team of young mental health advocates, we set out to create a hand-drawn film that captured an intimate, emotionally truthful experience of trauma with psychological authenticity.
Over the next four years, volunteer artists from around the world joined the project, helping it evolve beyond its original scope. The completed film was shared with the National Psychological Association of Ukraine to reach more refugees in need.
Psychological assistance for Ukrainians abroad is available at toll-free numbers in 21 countries.