In the 1920-1950s around 500 000 patriots fought for Ukraine's independence. After WWII Ukrainians kept fighting in the partisan war against the Soviet regime in the Western Ukraine in 1945-1954.
According to historians, Vasylyna's husband and partisan commander Kyrylo Krachuk, known as Zubr, was killed on 8 October 1952 by the Soviets.
The film's character has had several names over her lifespan: baptized as Vasylyna, she later was called Kalynka by co-partisans and had another name while in a hospital to give birth. She also changed her last name after remarrying.