Precis
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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, 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 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: |
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: 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: |
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: |
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: 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: 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: |
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, 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, 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: |
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:
|
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: |
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: |
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 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 : 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 :
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 |