Are You suprised ?

 

Precis

With Donald Trump vowing to end the brutal war in Ukraine, Four Corners travels to the front line to investigate: Is peace even possible?

With extraordinary access just a kilometre from Russian positions, reporter Mark Willacy watches from an underground bunker as an elite Ukrainian drone unit hunts and kills enemy soldiers in real-time.

He also speaks with Ukraine's political leaders about whether Trump can broker a "just peace" with the man who started it all — Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As the war's third anniversary looms, Four Corners takes viewers to the battlefield, where Russia is throwing everything it has at Ukraine in relentless, suicidal waves — what Ukrainian soldiers grimly call "meatwaves".

 

4 Corners GFX logo

Music

00:00

Episode teaser:

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: We have come to Ukraine as this savage war is about to enter its fourth year. And as pressure ramps up to end the conflict.

00:12

 

DONALD TRUMP: That is an absolute killing field. It's time to end it.

00:25

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: It's a conflict that is threatening the global order...seen barbaric war crimes ...left hundreds of thousands dead.

00:35

 

ANDRIY ZAGORODNYUK, FORMER UKRAINIAN DEFENCE MINSTER: Putin is dreaming about destroying Ukraine.

00:47

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: The return of the America First president will reshape this conflict.

00:49

 

FRED FLEITZ, AMERICAN FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE:  The prospects of American military at this level continuing to Ukraine are not good. Which I think is another reason why Ukraine has to find a way to end the war.

00:55

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: But how do you end an intractable war? Kyiv is demanding security guarantees in any peace settlement. Vladimir Putin will never accept Ukraine having the protection of NATO. For now, Ukraine is holding on, taking the fight to the invaders any way it can, in a war that blends sci-fi with horror.

01:05

 

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER:  I'm not hunting Russian soldiers. I just kill them.

01:37

 

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: It's pure terror, deliberately carried out by Russia. Our defence is entirely just. Glory to Ukraine!

01:42

Super:
MARK WILLACY

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER:  Four Corners is in Ukraine on the frontlines of this brutal war. Just a kilometre away, Russian forces hoping to drive deeper into this country. It comes at a turning point in this three year conflict.

01:52

 

FRED FLEITZ, AMERICAN FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE: This has become a long-term war of attrition that Ukraine is likely to lose.

02:06

 

TAIRA, FRONTLINE MEDIC : We don't have enough weapons, but we have enough courage. And power. Spiritual power.

02:12

TITLE CARD: ENDURANCE

 

02:24

Night. Willacy with Ukrainian troops

Music

02:33

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Right, we've got water.

02:41

 

SOLDIER: Everybody ready?

02:46

Williacy and soldiers into vehicle

 

02:49

Willacy to camera in vehicle

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Well, it's just gone 3.30 in the morning. We're in far eastern Ukraine. We've just met up with two soldiers from the Ukrainian army who are our escorts. They're taking us to the frontlines, within one kilometre of the frontline with the Russian army. There, we're going to meet up with an elite Ukrainian drone unit that's taking the fight right up to the Russian armour, and its soldiers.

03:05

Willacy and soldiers in vehicle

Here, so close to the front line, we are well within range of Russian artillery and rocket fire, and we are particularly vulnerable to their drones, which means we have to move fast. But after 40 minutes' driving, as we approach our rendezvous point, there's a problem.

03:30

Willacy to camera in vehicle

Well, we could be a little lost here. Or, we certainly haven't been able to establish communications with the bunker where the drone unit is, so we're out in the middle of a field waiting, hopefully, to hear from them.

03:55

Willacy and soldiers arrive at destination at join drone squad

Moments later, a light emerges from the gloom. It is a soldier from the Achilles Battalion, one of Ukraine's killer drone units, who we have come to spend time with.

SOLDIER: You need to be here one hour later!

04:14

Battalion in bunker preparing for action

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: This Achilles squad is well dug in. From this underground bunker they wage a war seemingly from science fiction. Here they hunt Russians raining death from the sky. We have arrived as the four-man team is getting out of their bunks and preparing for another day of drone warfare. We can only identify these soldiers by their call signs. Within minutes they are in position, and preparing to fly.

04:45

Solider at computer. Interview with Drone squad commander

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: What do you target? Who do you target?

05:24

Super:
'EAST'
Achilles squad commander

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER: Our target? Our target mostly is personnel. I mean, infantry is some shelters for last maybe two weeks. But, on the other hand, our target is Russian armour.

05:26

 

MARK WILLACY REPORTER: So you're hunting Russian soldiers, basically?

05:44

 

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER: I'm not hunting Russian soldiers. I just kill them.

05:47

Military video. Drone hitting bunker. Super:
RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE VIDEO

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: But as this Russian military video shows, Moscow's drones are also doing a lot of killing, pulverising Ukrainian bunkers just like the one we are in.

05:51

 

Music

06:04

Skuba in bunker on drone computer

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER:  Before the war, Skuba was a software engineer; he's now this unit's chief pilot, tasked with guiding kamikaze drones into Russian armour and soldiers.

06:13

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: How many drones do you normally go through every day?

06:34

Skuba interview. Super:
'SKUBA'
Achilles drone pilot

'SKUBA,' ACHILLES DRONE PILOT: We can get from like minimal 15 up to 30, 40 flights per day.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: So up to 40 drones per day?

'SKUBA,' ACHILLES DRONE PILOT: Yeah, yeah.

06:39

Strelok fitting bomb to drone in bunker

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: As 'East' and 'Skuba' prepare to hunt Russians, another member of the squad - 'Strelok' - is arming and strapping a bomb to the drone they're sending up.

06:51

 

Music

07:01

Strelok releases drone

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: He works quickly and efficiently with powerful munitions. As dawn breaks, the first kamikaze drones are in the sky.

07:18

East monitoring drones

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER: Right now our FVP drone flying direct to Russians. As soon as we cross the river, we are on the Russian territory – 'liberated' Russian territory.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: It's Ukrainian territory.

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER: Yes. That's all Ukrainian territory.

07:36

Surveillance drone footage of Russian soldiers

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: A group of Russians is spotted by a surveillance drone, almost instantly the Ukrainians strike. They've been in the air for just a matter of minutes, and Achilles has its first kill of the day.

07:53

East piloting drone

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER: Move it a little bit to the left. Stop!

08:19

Skuba in bunker looking at social media

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: In between kills, as another drone is being prepared, Skuba relaxes by scrolling through social media.

08:28

Soldiers watch surveillance drone footage. Russian soldier shoots himself

But very soon it's back to work. Another Russian soldier has been detected. He knows the drone is above him, and he knows his desperate efforts to hide from this aerial assassin are futile.

VOICE ON RADIO : Did you see that? He's shooting himself.

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER : Did he miss or what?

08:37

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: He shoots himself, but not fatally.

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER: He tried to shoot himself but...

09:00

East at computer

Shit. He'll be taken away now. He's still alive... Oh no, he's dead.

09:11

Willacy to camera in bunker

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: What we've just seen is the reality of modern drone warfare. That Russian knew there was no escape from that drone. So he chose to try to go out on his own terms and that didn't quite go to plan. So, the Ukrainian drone did, or finished off, what he couldn't.

09:24

East interview. Super:
'EAST'
Achilles squad commander

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: What's it like to kill Russians?

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER: I feel nothing. Maybe other guys feel something. I just kill enemy who came to my land and tried to kill me, my friends, my family.

09:43

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: So kill them or they kill you?

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER  Yeah. Definitely.

09:56

Drone surveillance footage

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: This is war in the 21st century;  as brutal as ever, but now waged with joysticks and headsets and from behind screens. The weapons they control very rarely overshoot the mark or miss the target. They hunt, they hover, and they strike. And they don't just kill, they also record the last moments of their victims, and the terror etched on these soldiers' faces.

10:00

Willacy into secret HQ with soldier

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: "So this is your secret headquarters?"… To understand why Ukraine's killer drone units are so effective, Four Corners is being taken to another secret bunker where the Achilles Battalion co-ordinates its frontline strike teams, including the one commanded by East.

10:40

Willacy and Fedorenko into bunker

SOLDIER: Attention!

YURII FEDORENKO, ACHILLES BATTALION COMMANDER: Glory to Ukraine!

SOLDIERS: Glory to heroes!

YURII FEDORENKO, ACHILLES BATTALION COMMANDER: At ease. Continue working.

 

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Yurii Fedorenko is the creator and commander of the Achilles Battalion, and this is where his campaign to kill Russians is co-ordinated. Four Corners is the first foreign media to ever be allowed in here.

11:10

 

YURII FEDORENKO, ACHILLES BATTALION COMMANDER: I can give you the statistics for 2023-2024. We managed to eliminate approximately 2500 Russian soldiers. There are exact numbers,

11:26

Fedorenko interview. Super:
YURII FEDORENKO
Achilles battalion commander

I don't remember exactly, but there are more than 3000 wounded who will never return to the ranks.

11:39

Driving to factory

Music

11:46

Insider factory

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: We're heading to a clandestine factory, where Ukraine's drone warfare begins. This one alone makes 12,000 drones a month. These machines cost just USD300 each to produce, one-tenth the price of an artillery shell.

11:55

Testing drones

Each drone is tested before being shipped to the front. From having virtually no drone capability before the war, Ukraine is now able to produce four million a year. These 900-gram assassins can destroy a three-million-dollar tank.

12:21

Mykola interview. Super:
MYKOLA
Drone factory CEO

MYKOLA, DRONE FACTORY CEO: It could carry like one, one and a half, and even two and a half kilograms of explosives, so you can calculate by yourself, it could destroy almost everything.

12:49

Driving across bridge and into destroyed town

Music

13:01

Map Ukraine showing towns on frontline

 

13:24

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: There's a lot of Russian armour to destroy along the thousand-kilometre-long frontline and inside the one-fifth of Ukrainian territory  Moscow currently controls. Russia's invasion of eastern Ukraine has provided Putin with a land-bridge to Crimea, which he seized in 2014. The frontlines are volatile and fluid. For security reasons, we cannot be precise about the locations of the Ukrainian forward positions we visited.

 

Photos. Bombs hitting buildings.

Music

14:01

Photos. Active frontline, various

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER:  Right now, this three-year war is in one of its most dramatic and deadly phases, with the Ukrainians struggling to hold back the Russian tide.

14:12

 

Music

14:24

Podolyak interview. Super:
MYKHAILO PODOLYAK
Advisor to President Zelenskyy

MYKHAILO PODOLYAK, ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: The war is now at its most difficult stage. Let me explain. The war in Ukraine shows that international rules no longer exist. This is a conflict about dominance, about who will exist, and within what limits they will exist. It is a conflict about the future. Therefore, this is a difficult moment. Not everyone is ready for this.

14:36

Archival. Super: 2023

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: After months of stalemate, the Russians are desperately trying to gain as much ground as they can. The Ukrainians are furiously trying to repel them while clinging to a sliver of Russian territory.

15:02

Willacy watching Trump inauguration on laptop in bunker

TELEVISION ACTUALITY: The President-Elect of the United States. The Honourable Donald John Trump.

15:43

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: This escalation in the conflict is being driven by one thing--  the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

15:55

 

TELEVISION ACTUALITY: Please raise your right hand and repeat after me...

16:03

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Here in Kharkiv, not far from the frontline, people doubt that Trump can end the war quickly, despite his repeated pledge to do just that.

16:07

Archival. Trump campaign rally footage. Super: 18 JUNE 2024

DONALD TRUMP: After we win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russian and Ukraine settled. I get along with both of them very well, should have never happened.

16:18

Willacy watching Trump inauguration on laptop in bunker

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: To no surprise to the Ukrainians, Trump quickly abandoned his pledge to end the war in 24 hours,

16:27

Trump signing executive orders. Super:  20 JANUARY 2025

but he is pushing both sides to the negotiating table, intensifying pressure on Vladimir Putin in remarks immediately after his inauguration.

DONALD TRUMP: I think he's destroying Russia by not making a deal. I think Russia is going to be in big trouble.

16:37

 

 

 

Russian military convoy. Super: MAY 2024

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: With the Russians slowly but steadily taking more territory, Vladimir Putin might be in no rush to negotiate.

16:56

Ukrainian soldiers. Super: FEBRUARY 2024

In Ukraine, with their soldiers gradually losing ground, there is growing support for an end to the war.

17:09

 

Music

17:20

Willacy in car, on video meeting with Fleitz

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER:  While travelling through eastern Ukraine, I speak with Fred Fleitz, who was the chief of staff at the National Security Council during the first Trump presidency. He's one of the architects of Trump's strategy for ending the war.

19:29

 

FRED FLEITZ, AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE:  Well, it's going to be hard because there will be compromises needed on both sides. My guess it will be something like freezing the conflict where it is right now and beginning negotiations.

17:49

Fleitz. Super:
FRED FLEITZ
America First Policy Institute

Don't concede territory in any way and begin negotiations with the understanding that a solution that Ukraine can accept probably won't be possible until Putin leaves the political scene. But in the meantime, Ukrainians will stop dying. Ukraine can be defended, its economy can be developed, and perhaps we can promote stability in Europe.

18:02

Podolyak interview

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: The Vice President JD Vance has said, or suggested, we freeze the frontlines where they are, and we make that the new demarcation line between Ukraine and Russia. Is that acceptable to Ukraine?

18:23

Super:
MYKHAILO PODOLYAK
Advisor to President Zelenskyy

MYKHAILO PODOLYAK, ADVISER TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: It's a little strange when there's a conversation about demarcation lines. Who said that Russia will stick to the demarcation lines? Russia wants to gain total control over all of Ukraine. Russia believes that if it gets this control, no one will judge it. It won't pay the price of war.

18:40

Aerial. Bombed city

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: The return of Donald Trump and his pledge to bring the warring sides to the table, has sparked a massive Russian push.

18:57

Soldiers waving Russian flag. Super: January 2025

Last year, Putin's troops gained another 4,000 square kilometres; they now control about a fifth of Ukraine, and in recent weeks they've seized more territory.

19:10

Driving to artillery position near frontline

 

19:25

 

We are travelling to an artillery position where the Russians have been throwing troops at the frontline in a bid to grab more ground - and bargaining chips - before any talks begin.

19:28

Willacy to bunker [blurred pictures]

With the Russians shelling this position regularly, we are taken into an old farmhouse-turned-bunker to meet the artillery unit commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Vitaly and his men. The Ukrainian military has requested we blur any features that may help the Russians identify their positions.

19:40

Inside bunker

Inside, Vitaly tells us how the Russians throw their soldiers at the line in suicidal attacks -- what the Ukrainians call 'meatwaves.'

20:06

Vitaly interview. Super:
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL VITALY
Khartia Battalion unit commander

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL VITALY, ARTILLERY UNIT COMMANDER: The Russians are trying to seize as much territory as possible, as we've seen over the past few months -- not sparing their people, equipment or ammunition – anything – to look stronger at the negotiating table. But everyone knows that the Russians... who they really are. Well, they are, to put it mildly, real fuckers.

20:19

Ukrainian soldier load and fire Howitzer

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: A Ukrainian drone has found a Russian position, and the artillery crew has been given the co-ordinates. They only have a few moments to hit it, otherwise they will become targets of return fire.  Both this Howitzer and the shells it fires have been supplied by the United States. Without aid like this the Ukrainians would be overrun. That shell is hurtling towards a Russian position about seven kilometres away.

20:43

Willacy to camera

So they've just fired off a few rounds towards the Russian lines but we now need to move apparently, there are Russian drones in the air, so we've got to get to a more safe position.

SOLDIER: Move, move.

21:53

Willlacy leaves in vehicle

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: While we speed away from the danger zone, Lieutenant-Colonel Vitaly and his artillery team huddle in their bunker.

22:19

Vitaly in bunker

The 30-year-old commander has a message for President Trump.

22:29

 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL VITALY, ARTILLERY UNIT COMMANDER I want to invite him to Ukraine; we can shoot Russians together. Never mind the politics, we need practical help.

22:34

Willacy visits artillery unit and into Howitzer

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Nearby, we visit another Ukrainian artillery unit. They've wheeled out an even bigger American gun: a Howitzer M-109. We are allowed inside this beast as it pummels the Russian lines. Their target is a Russian infantry bunker 11 kilometres away.

22:54

 

These guns are devastatingly accurate and the Ukrainians have had success taking out Russian positions.

23:21

Shells hitting buildings

Music

23:29

Soldiers load and fire Howitzer

 

23:50

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: But the Ukrainians say they need more of these weapons if they're to hold the Russians at bay.

24:00

 

SERGEANT VITALY, SQUAD COMMANDER: Of course, we would like more shells because we don't have enough, and machines go out of service too. They get damaged, some of them can't be repaired and need to be replaced. We need more.

24:10

Vitaly interview. Super:
SERGEANT VITALY
92nd Assault Brigade squad commander

We'll fight with what we have. We simply don't have another choice. Losing this war is not an option for us.

24:25

Howitzer fires

 

24:34

Willacy in car to Kyiv

Music

24:41

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: To understand if, and how, this war might end, we travelled to Ukraine's centre of political power, the capital Kyiv.

24:54

Willacy in car to camera

It's hard to believe the Russians thought they could take this city in just a matter of days. Of course, they were repelled. But in a sign that they can still strike at will, it's just near here where a Russian ballistic missile struck. So, three years on, the war's still being brought to the heart of Kyiv, even though this city is still under the control of the Ukrainians.

25:11

Kyiv GVs

Music

25:32

Memorial to soldiers killed in conflict

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Here the horrific scale of this war is hard to miss. Each one of these flags represents a Ukrainian soldier who has lost their life in this conflict. Ukraine has been tight-lipped about how many of its soldiers have died, but Western intelligence estimates put the death toll at around 100,000, while the number of Russians killed is believed to be much higher — almost double.

25:43

Willacy meets with Yermak

We've come to Kyiv to meet with the most powerful person in the country after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

26:33

Yermak interview

"Thank you for speaking with us. "

26:42

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Andriy Yermak is the president's chief of staff and a member of Ukraine's National Security Council…. You visited Washington to make contact with the Trump administration. Do you think Donald Trump can negotiate an end to this war?

26:44

 

ANDRIY YERMAK, CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: He has this opportunity and he's strong leader.

27:00

Super:
ANDRIY YERMAK
Chief of Staff to President Zelenskyy

I'm the partners of President Trump, for the ending this war by just peace. He really, the person who, if he decided, he go for it.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: He can end the war?

ANDRIY YERMAK, CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY Yes, yes. And absolutely, and for him, it's important to be a winner.

27:07

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Can you have a just peace with someone like Vladimir Putin?

27:28

 

ANDRIY YERMAK, CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: If the person respect international law and really want just peace, he never started so brutal aggression against independent country. But we demonstrated that this monster it's not so strong.

27:33

Phone footage. Russian soldiers execute Ukrainian prisoners

RUSSIAN SOLDIER: Give me the machine guns. Give me two machine guns.

RUSSIAN SOLDIER: Faster!

RUSSIAN SOLDIER: Lie there and keep your fucking mouth shut.

27:51

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Vladimir Putin has already been the target of an International Criminal Court warrant for war crimes allegedly committed in this conflict. And a warning, what you're about to see is confronting.

28:05

 

RUSSIAN SOLDIER: Over there, one at a time. Over there! Faster!

Russian SOLDIER 2: Stay the fuck down, stay down – one at a time! Fucking one at a time. The other one lie down!

28:17

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: While we are in Kyiv a gruesome video emerges online. It drives home how barbaric this war has become.

RUSSIAN SOLDIER: Everyone over here!

28:28

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: According to Ukrainian officials it shows unarmed Ukrainian prisoners being shot in the back one-by-one by Russian soldiers.

RUSSIAN SOLDIER: Get up! Get up! Go! Get up and go!

RUSSIAN SOLDIER 2: This one is mine.

RUSSIAN SOLDIER 1: Go, go, get up and go, bitch. Get up and go. Run, run, run.

28:44

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Ukraine has filed a war crimes claim over these killings with the United Nations.

29:15

Destroyed buildings

Music

29:28

Willacy walks with 'Taira'

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER:  One Ukrainian who has experienced the full horror of Putin's war is medic Julia Paevska, who's known around this country as Taira.

29:45

 

MARK WILLACY: You hope one day to get back to Mariupol?

'TAIRA,' FRONTLINE MEDIC Of course, it's my dream. But unfortunately, Mariupol, destroyed.

29:57

Shelling of Mariupol. Super: MARCH 2022

 

30:08

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Taira lived through one of the most brutal episodes of this war: the Russian siege of Mariupol.

30:19

 

'TAIRA,' FRONTLINE MEDIC: This is a city of half a million people, which was destroyed by shelling from the ground, artillery, air strikes.

30:36

Paevska interview. Super:
'TAIRA'
Frontline medic

There were civilians dying every minute, children who were dying right in the streets. Pregnant women who could not be helped.

30:50

Injured civilians at Siege of Mariupol

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: For months, Taira tended to the wounded and dying, but one little boy haunts her:

31:05

Body-cam footage. Medics tend to Nikita

Nikita, who was caught with his sister and parents in the crossfire of a battle. Her body-worn camera captured the profound heartbreak of war and its indiscriminate impact on civilians. And it is distressing.

31:21

 

'TAIRA,' FRONTLINE MEDIC: Hey little guy, stay with me. Fuck, I hate Russians.

31:38

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Nikita's wounds are catastrophic. Taira's colleague reports there is no heartbeat.  Taira moves round to administer CPR.

31:44

 

MALE NURSE: Come on, Nikita.

'TAIRA,' FRONTLINE MEDIC Come on, sweetheart. Come back! Come back to me!

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: There is nothing they can do; Nikita succumbs to his wounds.

32:00

'Taira' interview

'TAIRA,' FRONTLINE MEDIC It was probably the hardest day in Mariupol for me. Although in reality many children died in my arms, for some reason this boy was the most sensitive for me. His sister survived, despite the fact that she had terrible injuries, these were bullet wounds. She survived and for me it's a symbol that Ukraine continues to live and fight.

32:18

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: For Taira, the days would become even harder when she was captured by the Russians while trying to escape the siege.

32:53

 

'TAIRA,' FRONTLINE MEDIC: The Russians don't understand what a 'prisoner of war' is. They think we're criminals. They call us Nazis and they torture us. I was tortured in Russian captivity, and it was not just a beating, it was special torture chambers.

33:02

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: How would you describe what they did to you?

33:28

 

'TAIRA,' FRONTLINE MEDIC: These are intimate things. They used electric shocks in a specific way.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Taira was released in a prisoner exchange after three months.

33:32

Zelenskyy. Super: 18 JUNE 2022

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Today I can announce we managed to liberate Taira. I'm grateful for everyone who worked for this result.

33:47

Willacy walks with Taira

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: She has now returned to the military to help with the war effort.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Can Ukraine win this war?

'TAIRA,' FRONTLINE MEDIC: I'm sure we can.

33:57

Taira interview. Super:
'TAIRA'
Frontline medic

I'm absolutely sure if Western world will keep supporting us. You know the situation, we have not enough weapons for this, but we have enough courage, and power, spiritual power.

34:08

Willacy in car to visit Third Assault Brigade

Music

34:27

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Ukraine isn't just desperately short of weapons, it is now struggling to refill its dwindling frontline ranks.

34:38

Willacy to camera at brigade base recruiting centre

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: I'm at the base of Ukraine's Third Assault Brigade, one of their most prestigious military units. And the scene behind me sums up the big problem Ukraine has in this war. This is their recruiting centre, and while I've been here, I've only found one recruit that's come in.

34:47

Recruit at desk

The only recruit we see come in today is 20-year old Danylo...whose hometown was under occupation early in the war. He says he understands what he's signing up for.

35:05

Danylo interview/. Super:
DANYLO
New army recruit

DANYLO, NEW RECRUIT: This is war, of course there are fears – everybody has fears. I wouldn't say I'm not afraid. Everybody is afraid to die.

35:19

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Even Ukraine's military recruiters admit the situation is dire.

35:31

Recruitment officer interview. Super:
SERGEANT VOLODYMYR
Recruitment officer

SERGEANT VOLODYMYR : I'm worried because there is a lack of people everywhere, not even just combat positions, but drivers, mechanics, engineers and so on.  The Russian population is 140 million. We have maybe 30 million at best if we take people who are left in the country.

35:38

 

We can't afford these 'meatwaves,' the way the Russians do. We cannot reduce our battalions and brigades to zero. We just can't afford it.

36:03

Kyiv, night GVs

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: There's likely another blow coming for Ukraine, with Donald Trump signalling that he'll give the Russians one giant concession in any peace deal, and that's blocking any move to grant Ukraine membership – and the protection – of NATO.

36:11

Memorial to fallen soldiers

FRED FLEITZ, AMERICAN FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE: In my opinion, we cannot stop the war right now unless we put NATO membership for Ukraine on hold for maybe 10 to 25 years. And that's not something Ukraine's going want to hear.

36:35

Fleitz interview

But the reality is Putin has an obsession with Ukraine joining NATO, and another way has to be found to defend Ukraine. So that has to be put off, and I think that the Trump administration needs to be clear with Zelenskyy about that.

36:45

Yermak interview. Super:
ANDRIY YERMAK
Chief of Staff to President Zelenskyy

ANDRIY YERMAK, CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY : Ukraine needs the security guarantees; it's necessary to talk. We don't know more serious and more effective security guarantee than the article five of NATO.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: So you still want to join NATO?

ANDRIY YERMAK, CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY : Of course.

37:00

Graves of killed Ukrainians, Willacy at cemetery

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: With Moscow intensifying its push for more ground, the body count is rising again. In recent months, Ukraine says its Russian kill count peaked at two-thousand soldiers a day. But Ukraine too is suffering terrible losses. Every day, the bodies of its soldiers come back from the front, flag-draped graves of war dead stretch on forever in this vast cemetery in Kharkiv. It also is full of freshly dug graves, testament to the ferocity of the fighting in recent months.

37:22

Willacy to camera in cemetery

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: I've been at this section of the graveyard for just 10 minutes and there's already been four funerals. Speaking to the gravedigger here, he says that's it for today – four. There were six yesterday. There's already freshly dug graves ready for tomorrow.

38:25

Funeral for Ukrainian soldier

This funeral is for Vyacheslav Korotkyi , killed fighting the Russians on the frontline at Sumy. Farewelling him, his mother and his siblings. They are finding it hard to let him go. His mother gently stroking his face. His brother a final kiss. His sister, inconsolable. Eventually his coffin is covered, and Vyacheslav is lowered into the earth.

38:43

 

To help comprehend the scale of killing in this war, this is just one of six cemeteries in Kharkiv, all filling with war's bitter harvest and the grief it brings. Here, the gravediggers can't work fast enough.

39:42

 

Music

40:05

Soldiers in bunker operating drone, pursuing Russian

 

40:11

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER:  In the Achilles drone bunker just a kilometre from the Russian front, 'East' and his team are as relentless as they are ruthless. They've been striking targets for hours. Still the Russians come.

40:17

 

VOICE ON RADIO : They're scattering.

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER: Fuck. They're somewhere here. I'm going back.

40:35

 

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: One Russian soldier tries to hide from the Achilles drone behind a tree.

40:45

 

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER : To the left. More to the left.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER:  Then, as the drone moves in to strike, he tries in vain to crawl away.

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER : Come on, come on! Yes!

40:53

Drone footage

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Others don't even see or hear the drone coming.

41:23

Willacy exits bunker and into vehicle

After watching the Achilles team kill Russians for hours, it's time for us to leave. Our military escort emerges from the darkness as we leave the underground bunker.

41:38

 

UKRAINIAN SOLDIER: Go, go, go!

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Within seconds we are off, our escort hurtling us down icy mud tracks.

41:54

Willacy to camera in vehicle

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Now we're having to go like hell for leather to get out of here to get back away from the frontline, because ironically after having watched them inflict nine casualties with drones, we are now at risk of Russian drones on this road.

42:08

'East' walks with Maria in park

We make it out, and a couple of days later so too does Achilles squad leader 'East'. He has a day to see his wife Maria before it's back to the bunker at the front. Maria is proud that her husband volunteered to fight.

42:33

Super: MARIA

MARIA: I will not live with the man who can't stand for his family. And the one really effective way to stand for a family in Ukraine is to fight for it. Like, literally fight, because you can't help your family staying at home. So because of this, I'm just like, okay, this is the way I live. So I don't, I'm trying to distance from this emotions and, I think about this just like about job here, here, like my husband and his job to kill Russians.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: His job is to kill Russians.

MARIA, : Yeah.

42:51

 

EAST, : I would say my job is fighting for my country. And killing its enemies.

43:28

Buildings on fire

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: After three years of bitter fighting,

43:35

Program participants look into camera

there is an understandable weariness in Ukraine,  but there's also a steely determination to fight on against the Russian invaders. From drone factories, to units on the frontline, to the corridors of power in Kyiv, to the ever-expanding cemeteries with their freshly filled graves, this is a nation that has no other choice than to resist.

43:44

Photos. Putin

Here, the enemy is embodied in one man --  the person who started this brutal war: Vladimir Putin.

44:15

Yermak interview

ANDRIY YERMAK, CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY : And this war must end by the victory of Ukraine, of United States, of President Trump, of democracy. It's important not just for us. It's important for the next generations to people to believe that international law, it's not just the phrase, it's something which really work.

44:25

Trump inauguration

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: With Donald Trump back in the White House, anything can happen.

44:49

Fleitz interview

FRED FLEITZ, AMERICAN FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE: We know it's intractable and a difficult conflict. I think what we should take from Trump is saying is that he's determined to win this conflict.

44:58

Drone bunker

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: He says he'll fix the war. Do you think he'll fix the war?

45:06

'East' interview

'EAST,' ACHILLES DRONE SQUAD COMMANDER: He didn't fix the war when he was president, because we have war from 2014. And I don't think that he will fix the war now, because I don't believe that man.

45:10

Taira interview

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: Do you worry. That the West will allow Putin to keep what he has taken?

45:27

 

 'TAIRA,' FRONTLINE MEDIC, : If that happens, it would mean that the international laws of the modern world are broken. It turns out that the one with brute strength wins, and not the one who obeys the laws. As for me, what distinguishes us from savages is precisely the laws of the modern world.

45:34

Flag flying over Kyiv

 

46:01

Credits [see below]

 

46:13

Out point

 

46:35

 

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