The Shot at Success

“This is a story about love,” ironizes the narrator, Vynnychenko.

In 1918, amid the collapse of empires and the chaos of war, Kyiv becomes the stage for a fragile new state. General Pavlo, a man driven by a deep need for recognition, finds himself pushed aside by history. When his former enemy – Kaiser’s Germany – offers him power in Ukraine, he seizes the opportunity. For Pavlo, this is not only about politics, but about finally being seen and applauded by the nation.

He begins to build the state from scratch, like a startup, one where the central figure is not the country itself, but its creator. As he chases public admiration, he gradually distances himself from the quiet, steadfast love of his family. Yet the recognition he craves remains just out of reach.

Meanwhile, his opponents, led by Vynnychenko, gain strength. As Germany collapses and the Bolsheviks advance from Russia, Pavlo’s fragile power begins to crumble. In the midst of this turmoil, his son dies – while Pavlo remains consumed by political crisis.

In a desperate attempt to secure support from Britain, Pavlo declares a federation with non-Bolshevik Russia. The decision ignites an uprising led by Vynnychenko and pushes the country to the brink of civil war.

Faced with inevitable collapse, Pavlo finally confronts the truth: the love he sought from the nation was never his to claim, while the love he ignored was always within reach. He relinquishes power to Vynnychenko – and chooses his family.