In the first months of the war, three professional theatre makers who had fled Ukraine found themselves at the Toneelmakerij in Amsterdam. There, the idea for Witnessing U was born.

Together with Dutch colleagues, deeply shaken by events in Ukraine, the theatre makers created a collage of real stories and specially written texts by Nina Zakhozenko. Five unique stories performed that evening marked the beginning of a long journey for this body of work.

The first story, 24 Hours, tells of a married couple facing the decision to remain in Ukraine despite danger. The second recounts two theatre makers of non-traditional sexual orientation who defend their homeland despite prevalent homophobia. Another story, I Am Normal, focuses on teenagers. The final two stories are based on documented accounts of crimes committed by Russian soldiers in Bucha.

From these short novellas, Nina Zakhozenko later developed three full-length plays, which continue to be staged worldwide. The project had a charitable mission: funds raised were directly donated to a Ukrainian theatre in Kyiv supporting actors on the front lines. This initiative sparked subsequent projects and strengthened ties between Ukrainian and Dutch theatre makers, particularly at Toneelmakerij.