1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:05,240 This programme contains scenes which some viewers may find upsetting 2 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:06,760 and very strong language 3 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,520 Six miles from the front line in southern Ukraine, 4 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,160 I've been invited to watch this artillery unit 5 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:25,320 as they try and destroy a Russian tank. 6 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:36,680 Even closer to the front line, 7 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,440 this drone operator's watching from the air, 8 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:41,840 helping the gunners hit their target. 9 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:51,880 ARTILLERY FIRE 10 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,280 When Russia first invaded Ukraine, many - including the Russians - 11 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,840 thought that this war would be over in days. 12 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,000 But we're now five months in, 13 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,880 and the Ukrainians are still fighting back. 14 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,040 Some say they're actually winning. 15 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,400 There's no doubt that foreign weapons, 16 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,240 like these American howitzers, 17 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:22,880 are making a big difference... 18 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:30,840 ..but they alone don't explain how this young country is holding off 19 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,320 one of the biggest armies in the world. 20 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,120 Some bastards are dead today. 21 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,560 ENGINE REVS 22 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,240 AIR RAID SIREN BLARES 23 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,400 SIREN CONTINUES 24 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,720 SIREN ECHOES 25 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,120 EXPLOSION 26 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:55,480 Mykolaiv sits right on the edge of Ukraine's southern front. 27 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,800 A few miles down this road is the front line 28 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,880 and a battle that could decide the fate of the war. 29 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,760 Russia's invasion reached as far as Mykolaiv's 30 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,240 neighbouring city, Kherson, 31 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:18,720 but Mykolaiv stopped the advance. 32 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,360 Now, every day, Russian forces pound Mykolaiv 33 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,400 with artillery and rocket fire... 34 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,840 ..hitting both military and civilian targets... 35 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:33,880 EXPLOSIONS 36 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,400 ..and sowing fear in the residents that remain. 37 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,240 WEEPING 38 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,080 If Russian forces succeed in capturing Mykolaiv, 39 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,120 the fear is they could then sweep west, 40 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,320 cut Ukraine off from the sea 41 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,240 and take control of the ports that support the national economy. 42 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,000 It'd be the beginning of the end for Ukraine. 43 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,320 EXPLOSION 44 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,080 But despite months of this punishment, 45 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,960 Mykolaiv - like the country - is still fighting back. 46 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:22,160 And the question remains, how is this possible? 47 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,160 I've been offered a trip to the front line, to see for myself 48 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,640 how the Ukrainians are holding off this Russian advance. 49 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,280 But before I leave, I meet Mykolaiv's regional governor, 50 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:39,200 Vitaliy Kim. 51 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,960 He says there's something I should see before I go. 52 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,280 He told me to turn my phone off so it couldn't be tracked 53 00:04:46,280 --> 00:04:49,680 and invited me to join him on a trip across town. 54 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,280 You can stop filming. 55 00:04:59,280 --> 00:05:01,800 Down an anonymous, unmarked street, 56 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,920 Kim leads me into an old derelict factory. 57 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,480 Inside is an improvised war room, 58 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:17,160 with about a dozen intelligence officers watching the war play out 59 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,760 on their screens in real time. 60 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:26,680 Kim introduced me to the centre's manager, Yaroslav. 61 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,920 And there's more going on here than just intelligence work. 62 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:32,200 So, what is this thing? 63 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:33,960 It's a strike drone... 64 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:39,040 ..which can... which can burn things, 65 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:40,400 which can kill things. 66 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,600 We have three bombs. 67 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,320 This drone is really loud and really big, 68 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,280 so we can work only in night. 69 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:54,960 We are trying to use it three or four times per week. 70 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:56,920 Really? Yeah. 71 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,200 But you need to sleep, 72 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,360 so it's comparison - 73 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,560 to kill somebody or to sleep a little. 74 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,960 As well as working in intelligence, 75 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,720 the people here are using 3D printers 76 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,400 to make plastic noses and fins 77 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,680 and fitting them to old Soviet grenades and mortars. 78 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:23,320 Then they adapt drones and use them to drop these improvised bombs 79 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,480 on Russian tanks and soldiers. 80 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,520 But the most striking thing about this place 81 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,440 is not what these people are doing. 82 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:36,760 It's who they are. 83 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:40,160 Olexiy isn't a soldier. 84 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,720 He's actually an architect with his own business in Kyiv. 85 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:50,440 And this whole centre is staffed and run entirely by people like him - 86 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:54,160 non-military volunteers with little or no training. 87 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,840 Russians started to kill my nation. 88 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:04,720 I have a possibility to protect them, 89 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:09,560 and the only way to protect them is to kill an enemy, 90 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:11,200 is to kill Russian. 91 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,200 That's why I'm doing this. 92 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:24,960 I have good education, some mechanics, cartography, 93 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:29,080 computer technology, and I'm a patriot. 94 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:36,520 The interests of my country and of my nation 95 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:41,240 are higher than my personal interests. 96 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,200 That's why I'm not an architect now. 97 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,000 I'm a soldier now. 98 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,360 In conflicts I've covered in the past, 99 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,760 there's normally a clear distinction between the civilian population 100 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:00,200 and the armed forces. 101 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,480 But here, the lines are being blurred... 102 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:08,200 ..and not just in this intelligence centre. 103 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,560 Roman Kostenko used to be a commander 104 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:22,640 in Ukraine's special forces. 105 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:29,800 But in 2019, he was elected as an MP in the Ukrainian parliament. 106 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:35,000 HE SPEAKS UKRAINIAN 107 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:38,600 When Russia invaded his home city of Kherson, 108 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,720 he immediately hung up his suit in Kyiv and set up this base 109 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,480 to recruit volunteers to go to the front line and fight. 110 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:52,040 Russian soldiers are right now occupying his family home, 111 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:53,440 just 50 miles away. 112 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:02,720 Is it where you keep cold drinks? 113 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:03,760 Yes. 114 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:14,520 Javelin? Javelin. 115 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,120 Roman's a bit of a celebrity in Ukraine. 116 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,560 He's won medals for bravery and is often on TV speaking on behalf 117 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:27,480 of the Ukrainian military. 118 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:35,200 But in this war, his relationship with the army is more complicated. 119 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,560 He may be back working with Ukraine's special forces, 120 00:10:38,560 --> 00:10:42,000 but he runs his own missions with his own units... 121 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,240 ..and he's offered to sneak me past the checkpoints 122 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,720 to meet one of these groups on the front line. 123 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:48,880 Approaching the front line, 124 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,640 the biggest threat now is being spotted by Russian drones. 125 00:11:56,560 --> 00:12:02,000 Their Orlan drone is noisy, but it can spend up to 16 hours in the air 126 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,960 hunting for enemy targets. 127 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,640 The drone pilot can then communicate the target's location 128 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:13,680 to nearby Russian artillery, who are standing by to fire. 129 00:12:13,680 --> 00:12:16,320 ARTILLERY FIRE 130 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:27,760 We're now the only car on this road and close to the front. 131 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:29,640 We make an obvious target. 132 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,600 Then we get a radio call from up ahead, 133 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,600 from the commander we're going to meet. 134 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,280 This drone, Orlan, it was in the air. 135 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:20,800 You can hear it immediately. 136 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,640 We were moving and the shelling was chasing us. 137 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,560 Therefore, we decided to come here, to meet you, 138 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:29,120 to not endanger you from the first minute. 139 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,920 We will have 24 hours for that, so you will get your portion. 140 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:34,400 Don't worry. 141 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:34,400 HE CHUCKLES 142 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:38,960 We spend about 20 minutes in the village. 143 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:45,200 The drone that was chasing Hummer is almost certainly still in the air, 144 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,040 but Roman decides to make a run for the base. 145 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:22,800 CLATTERING 146 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:30,480 DOOR CREAKS 147 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,080 BIRDSONG 148 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:01,840 CAT MEOWS 149 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:06,000 This group of seven men has been living in this abandoned village 150 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:07,360 for six weeks... 151 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:11,600 ..and Hummer is responsible for their safety. 152 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:17,680 He grew up in an army camp and has 15 years' military experience. 153 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:20,880 But most of the others are rookies 154 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,240 who've never served in the army before. 155 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:27,240 One just quit his job in advertising. 156 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:30,840 Another sold rugs for luxury cars. 157 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:32,280 Until a few months ago, 158 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,440 Lys was working as a sailor on container ships 159 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,040 before he fled his home city of Kherson. 160 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:44,360 HE LAUGHS 161 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:48,040 I don't like all what's happened, 162 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:53,360 and that is why I tell you I hope we will finish this war soon 163 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:58,360 and the whole world will know what is the real Russian... 164 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:02,200 ..what is the Russian Federation. This is killers... 165 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:06,840 ..and...motherfuckers. 166 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,640 LAUGHS: Excuse me. 167 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:17,920 This unit has been attacking Russian soldiers using small mortars, 168 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:22,800 but they've never had the firepower to destroy their heavy weapons. 169 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:25,360 Today's delivery could change that. 170 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,760 These heavy shells from the Czech Republic 171 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,240 are three times more powerful, enough to destroy a tank. 172 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,920 The hunt is now on for new, bigger targets. 173 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:10,360 The next morning, two mortar teams and Lys - the drone pilot - 174 00:17:10,360 --> 00:17:14,120 are heading to different locations to launch a large joint attack 175 00:17:14,120 --> 00:17:16,800 on a nearby Russian position. 176 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,680 THEY SPEAK IN UKRAINIAN 177 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:29,880 Let's go. 178 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,600 HE PANTS 179 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:48,920 OK, guys, jump in. 180 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:51,760 INDISTINCT CONVERSATION 181 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:52,800 Huh? 182 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:00,360 Now we are going to... 183 00:18:00,360 --> 00:18:05,600 ..use our firing forces, all our firing means, 184 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:10,360 against the enemy's position - to push them back as much as we can. 185 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:45,040 The enemy has unlimited amount of the ammunition, 186 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:49,320 so they can afford to shoot just randomly, everywhere, 187 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:50,960 once in several minutes. 188 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:52,880 We cannot do that. We... 189 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,480 Every round, every mortar should go to the target. 190 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:59,400 And in order to do that, we need to have presence in the sky. 191 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,640 This is a present for our friends from England. 192 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:12,160 We show them how we work and how we protect our home. 193 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,800 For the last few weeks, Hummer's group has been attacking 194 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,160 this position just across the fields. 195 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,080 It's manned by about 60 Russian paratroopers 196 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:27,160 who've dug themselves into a network of trenches and foxholes. 197 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:31,680 It's one of hundreds of outposts that stretch for miles, 198 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,400 forming Russia's first line of defence. 199 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,720 Before today, the group could only target the soldiers. 200 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,440 But now, armed with heavy mortars, they're aiming to destroy 201 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:49,640 the Russian weapon that Hummer and the group fear most - 202 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,080 the tank that's hidden in these trees. 203 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:57,600 INDISTINCT CONVERSATION 204 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,040 From the moment the first shell is fired, Hummer's got six minutes 205 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,120 before the Russians can start locating this position 206 00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:08,600 and fire back. 207 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,600 ARTILLERY FIRE 208 00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:25,160 The first shell lands 300 metres long, 209 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,160 and Lys radios in the coordinates 210 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,000 to try and get the next one on target. 211 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,320 ARTILLERY FIRE 212 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:55,200 The second shell lands closer, just 30 metres from the tank. 213 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:12,160 They've now used up more than half their time. 214 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:16,680 ARTILLERY FIRE 215 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:24,080 The third shell lands further away and in the other direction. 216 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,640 ARTILLERY FIRE 217 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,080 It looks like something's wrong with the mortar tube itself... 218 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:57,280 Let's go. 219 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:00,480 ..but six minutes is up and Hummer's out of time. 220 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,160 Now, we're the target. 221 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:14,400 The fear is that the Russians can now pinpoint this position. 222 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,760 ARTILLERY FIRE IN DISTANCE 223 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:18,880 EXPLOSION IN DISTANCE 224 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,200 I don't like movement during this time. 225 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,080 PROJECTILE WHISTLES PAST 226 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:41,840 EXPLOSION IN DISTANCE 227 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,760 PROJECTILE WHIZZES PAST 228 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:57,000 EXPLOSION NEARBY 229 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:03,280 For Hummer, this return fire from a tank is getting too close. 230 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:08,600 He decides we have to break cover 231 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,240 and get across the road to a deeper ditch. 232 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:25,840 Guys, have a seat here. 233 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,480 As deep as poss-... 234 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,480 HE GROANS 235 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:36,560 LAUGHTER 236 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,840 This is the most dangerous thing in this war... 237 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:42,760 HE LAUGHS 238 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:46,000 ..to cut your ass with the bushes! 239 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:52,320 Hummer's been fighting for five months. 240 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:53,840 The day the war started, 241 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:57,760 he sent his wife and three young children abroad for safety. 242 00:23:57,760 --> 00:23:59,760 He hasn't seen them since. 243 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:05,200 I'm fighting for my country, for my family, for my identity. 244 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:11,360 I grew up in Soviet Union, and it was like, kind of a shame in Ukraine 245 00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:13,640 to be Ukrainian. 246 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:17,000 Ukrainian language, it wasn't forbidden, you could speak, 247 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:20,680 but people will treat you not equal person to the Russian 248 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:23,000 if you speak Ukrainian. 249 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:27,360 They were trying to convince us that it was not such a nation, Ukraine, 250 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:31,880 it was invented by the West against Russia, blah, blah, blah. 251 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:33,560 It was all bullshit, 252 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:39,200 that only Russia is the real...kind of historical nation in this region, 253 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,960 blah, blah, blah. You know, we are fake, all this bullshit. 254 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:46,120 And they are still trying to do it, to continue. 255 00:24:46,120 --> 00:24:48,680 Nevertheless, we have like, 30 years of independence, 256 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:53,240 we have still a lot of Russian influence in Ukraine, you know? 257 00:24:56,360 --> 00:24:58,320 We will win this war, definitely, 258 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:02,160 but the problem is, how many lives will it take more, this war, 259 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,040 to get, to reach our goal? 260 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:09,200 And everybody understands that we will win, but nobody wants to be 261 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,800 this person who will not see the victory, you know? 262 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:15,000 Even me. 263 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:26,320 Hummer's got enough shells for one more attempt to destroy the tank. 264 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:28,680 ARTILLERY FIRE 265 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:33,880 ARTILLERY FIRE 266 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:45,680 ARTILLERY FIRE 267 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,040 ARTILLERY FIRE 268 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,000 EXPLOSION 269 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:44,440 The heavy mortar may have missed the tank, 270 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:48,160 but the other unit - using smaller shells - got a lot closer. 271 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:35,040 These smaller mortars could only have disabled the tank. 272 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:37,640 If they want to destroy these kind of big weapons, 273 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:39,760 they'll need the larger mortar. 274 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,920 And that's now broken. 275 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:46,840 As this is a volunteer unit, no-one here knows how to fix it. 276 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:03,320 LAUGHTER 277 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:28,480 I could feel Hummer's frustration. 278 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,640 In the regular army, he could have just given this to engineers 279 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:33,760 and told them to fix it. 280 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,720 His new group of volunteers might be committed, 281 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:38,840 but they're not used to obeying orders. 282 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:54,880 The broken mortar may be holding Hummer's team back, 283 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:58,800 but in Mykolaiv, the war is tilting in a new direction. 284 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,160 For the first time since the invasion, 285 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:08,040 Ukraine is going on the offensive, launching a counterattack 286 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,640 to retake Mykolaiv's neighbouring city, Kherson. 287 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:21,200 Kherson is the only regional capital to be captured and held by Russia, 288 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,320 and retaking it could change the course of the war. 289 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:53,720 This offensive is being made possible by the arrival 290 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:58,040 of powerful new missiles from America known as HIMARS. 291 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:04,520 These weapons are so accurate, they can fire 200 pounds of explosives 292 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:06,560 through a window 50 miles away... 293 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,960 ..and Russia has nothing to match it. 294 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:18,080 And they've already begun destroying key bridges, supply routes 295 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,840 and ammunition stores far behind Russian lines 296 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:25,880 to prepare the ground for the Ukrainian attack on Kherson. 297 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:41,000 At Mykolaiv's intelligence HQ, 298 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,200 the hunt is now on for fresh Russian targets. 299 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:02,800 In the hunt for HIMARS targets, some of the most valuable intelligence 300 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:05,720 doesn't come from drones but from spies - 301 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:08,840 civilian informants behind Russian lines 302 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:12,080 who secretly communicate with people like Daryna. 303 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:18,760 Until a few months ago, she was a secondary school teacher in Kherson. 304 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:57,560 PHONE PINGS 305 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:18,960 News of the counteroffensive has reached Hummer and his men. 306 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:22,960 Their morale is high, but the routine's the same. 307 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,360 Every day, they're out in the fields, 308 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,400 attacking the Russian paratroopers. 309 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,560 But they're tired. And it's starting to show. 310 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,360 DEVICE BEEPS 311 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:51,960 ARTILLERY FIRE 312 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:22,720 EXPLOSION 313 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:37,840 ARTILLERY FIRE 314 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:41,000 ARTILLERY FIRE 315 00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:58,360 Lys's adjustments aren't helping. 316 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:01,120 Every round is landing further from the target. 317 00:36:11,240 --> 00:36:13,160 ARTILLERY FIRE 318 00:36:36,560 --> 00:36:38,520 ARTILLERY FIRE 319 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:05,640 Every shell was off target and no-one seems to know why. 320 00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:58,320 IN ENGLISH: 321 00:40:06,720 --> 00:40:10,760 By the next morning, no-one's thinking about the argument. 322 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:13,160 The unit has received new orders. 323 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:43,320 The whole group is being redeployed to one of the main launching points 324 00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:45,920 for the Ukrainian attack on Kherson. 325 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:55,640 It's like, no, we cannot imagine south of Ukraine without Kherson. 326 00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:59,040 Kherson, for us, it's primary goal. 327 00:40:59,040 --> 00:41:00,840 Strategically, it's very important. 328 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:03,320 And as soon as we get Kherson, 329 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:07,320 we understand that all south of Ukraine is liberated. 330 00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:18,240 We're going to the place where another team is operating. 331 00:41:18,240 --> 00:41:21,920 And guys are hearing that there is some kind of advances ongoing there. 332 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:25,160 Maybe we will be more useful there. 333 00:41:25,160 --> 00:41:28,360 This is a kind of first step to see the new area of operation, 334 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:32,240 and maybe we will get more results there and we will be more useful. 335 00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:37,800 Do you feel you're in the right place, doing the right thing? 336 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:40,520 I believe so, yes. I really believe so. 337 00:41:40,520 --> 00:41:43,600 I was 11 years, like, civilian. It's still in my blood. 338 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:45,680 It's still in my mind. 339 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:49,440 I was quite good at it back in the time, 340 00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:50,840 and I know that... 341 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:57,560 ..I can do it better than others. And... 342 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:02,200 ..me being here gives a chance to the guy who doesn't know 343 00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:03,480 what he is doing. 344 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:08,440 Hummer's unit has been tasked with supporting another group 345 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:10,200 of inexperienced soldiers, 346 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:14,320 one made up of volunteers from the police force. 347 00:42:14,320 --> 00:42:18,960 Just weeks ago, they were giving out speeding fines and parking tickets. 348 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:22,560 Now, they're heading to the front line. 349 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:25,960 The police chief decided to create among the police 350 00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:27,880 some kind of battle unit, you know, 351 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:32,400 who will take part in the advanced and offensive operations. 352 00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:38,160 Few of these police volunteers have served in the army before, 353 00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:42,080 and one of them is Hummer's younger brother. 354 00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:43,760 My brother is part of this unit. 355 00:42:43,760 --> 00:42:48,440 And yesterday, they started to move from Odesa to this place. 356 00:42:48,440 --> 00:42:52,440 All of them police officers, they are volunteers. 357 00:42:52,440 --> 00:42:53,480 So... 358 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:56,560 ..one of the purposes is to check... 359 00:42:58,000 --> 00:42:59,560 ..that they will be used... 360 00:43:01,120 --> 00:43:02,280 ..in proper way. 361 00:43:10,800 --> 00:43:14,160 The small town of Bereznehuvate 362 00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:18,080 sits on the edge of Mykolaiv's border with Kherson Region. 363 00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:20,720 It's from here that much of the counter-offensive 364 00:43:20,720 --> 00:43:22,040 is being launched. 365 00:43:35,480 --> 00:43:39,400 Roman's in town to help co-ordinate the operation. 366 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:43,600 His units will all be supporting the police volunteers as they mount 367 00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:47,320 one of the first ground offensives in the battle for Kherson. 368 00:44:12,080 --> 00:44:15,000 Some of the police units have already begun an assault 369 00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:17,080 on the Russian front line. 370 00:44:17,080 --> 00:44:21,080 Their first objective is to retake the heavily defended village 371 00:44:21,080 --> 00:44:22,400 of Andriivka. 372 00:44:50,640 --> 00:44:53,200 This assault on Andriivka has already left 373 00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:56,840 one police volunteer dead and four others injured. 374 00:44:59,720 --> 00:45:05,720 They expect to start...offensive operation in two days again... 375 00:45:05,720 --> 00:45:06,760 Da. 376 00:45:08,200 --> 00:45:11,200 ..with my brother, to send my brother... 377 00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:16,040 ..to storm this fort and take over these villages, 378 00:45:16,040 --> 00:45:17,840 which is covered with, like... 379 00:45:19,240 --> 00:45:22,760 ..I don't know, hundreds of enemy troops. 380 00:45:25,360 --> 00:45:27,880 Is your brother experienced? No. 381 00:45:35,960 --> 00:45:38,000 They all not experienced. 382 00:45:39,200 --> 00:45:41,320 They haven't been in combat yet. 383 00:45:41,320 --> 00:45:46,120 They've been trained in some range back in Odesa, 384 00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:48,600 and now they're sent here to assault. 385 00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:05,080 This unit's lack of basic weaponry and training 386 00:47:05,080 --> 00:47:08,040 is exactly what Hummer didn't want to hear. 387 00:47:24,360 --> 00:47:28,040 We're going to the position of a mortar, of patrol police. 388 00:47:30,800 --> 00:47:32,600 Hummer says he wants to show me 389 00:47:32,600 --> 00:47:36,360 one of the police's front line positions, but I'm pretty sure 390 00:47:36,360 --> 00:47:38,280 he just wants to see for himself 391 00:47:38,280 --> 00:47:41,080 what his brother was letting himself in for. 392 00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:50,040 We drive way out of town, and so we reach what I later realised 393 00:47:50,040 --> 00:47:54,880 was the zero line - the furthest point of any Ukrainian soldiers. 394 00:47:57,320 --> 00:48:00,000 This is the battle for Andriivka, 395 00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:03,440 part of the first ground offensive to retake Kherson. 396 00:48:09,120 --> 00:48:10,680 RADIO CHATTER 397 00:48:10,680 --> 00:48:12,040 DISTANT EXPLOSIONS 398 00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:34,280 PROJECTILE LAUNCHES, EXPLOSION 399 00:48:38,080 --> 00:48:40,840 That was a tank firing on this position. 400 00:48:43,320 --> 00:48:45,720 As usual, they take two shots. 401 00:48:45,720 --> 00:48:48,960 We're waiting for a second shot. 402 00:48:51,280 --> 00:48:53,320 ARTILLERY FIRE 403 00:48:56,360 --> 00:48:58,400 RAPID ARTILLERY FIRE IN DISTANCE 404 00:49:15,680 --> 00:49:18,840 How many days have you been here? 405 00:49:18,840 --> 00:49:20,640 In this place? Mm-hm. 406 00:49:24,440 --> 00:49:25,840 About three weeks. 407 00:49:27,280 --> 00:49:28,680 Three weeks? Yeah. 408 00:49:28,680 --> 00:49:29,960 Sleeping here? 409 00:49:29,960 --> 00:49:31,960 Sleeping here, living here... 410 00:49:33,320 --> 00:49:34,520 ..fighting here. 411 00:49:42,280 --> 00:49:44,440 ARTILLERY FIRE 412 00:49:46,280 --> 00:49:49,120 And all these guys are police, patrol police? 413 00:49:49,120 --> 00:49:51,480 Yeah. Have they been trained? 414 00:49:51,480 --> 00:49:52,960 Er... 415 00:49:55,800 --> 00:49:57,240 Seven days. 416 00:49:57,240 --> 00:49:59,520 Seven days' training? Seven days' training, 417 00:49:59,520 --> 00:50:04,720 and now we use mortar... Mortar. 418 00:50:05,960 --> 00:50:07,120 ARTILLERY FIRE 419 00:50:22,120 --> 00:50:24,040 ARTILLERY FIRE 420 00:51:13,600 --> 00:51:15,640 Is that you? 421 00:51:13,600 --> 00:51:15,640 HE LAUGHS 422 00:51:17,840 --> 00:51:20,080 It was pretty stunning to see - 423 00:51:20,080 --> 00:51:23,640 inexperienced soldiers, fresh from civilian life, 424 00:51:23,640 --> 00:51:27,480 living for weeks in ditches on the front line 425 00:51:27,480 --> 00:51:29,400 and clearly being highly effective. 426 00:51:40,880 --> 00:51:42,640 Only three seconds. 427 00:51:45,360 --> 00:51:47,280 It was a Russian tank. 428 00:51:47,280 --> 00:51:50,080 When? Five minutes ago. 429 00:51:51,480 --> 00:51:53,000 You were here. 430 00:51:55,560 --> 00:51:59,760 The tank tried to attack us when we hided. 431 00:51:59,760 --> 00:52:01,920 It was this tank. 432 00:52:01,920 --> 00:52:03,480 And you just got it? 433 00:52:07,160 --> 00:52:09,480 So you're lucky guys. Stay with us! 434 00:52:09,480 --> 00:52:11,080 HE LAUGHS 435 00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:16,760 I'd come to Ukraine with a question - 436 00:52:16,760 --> 00:52:18,760 how was this nation standing firm 437 00:52:18,760 --> 00:52:21,560 against the might of the Russian army? 438 00:52:21,560 --> 00:52:23,720 And perhaps one of the most surprising answers 439 00:52:23,720 --> 00:52:26,600 had been right in front of me from the start. 440 00:52:28,040 --> 00:52:30,800 As well as Ukraine's powerful foreign weapons 441 00:52:30,800 --> 00:52:33,640 and a regular army with smart tacticians, 442 00:52:33,640 --> 00:52:37,720 there was also this vast shadow army of volunteers. 443 00:52:37,720 --> 00:52:42,000 They were drawn from all walks of life but had one thing in common - 444 00:52:42,000 --> 00:52:47,160 they simply were not going to give up until they could say they'd won. 445 00:52:47,160 --> 00:52:50,240 And I think Hummer was realising that, too. 446 00:52:57,960 --> 00:52:59,560 ARTILLERY FIRE 447 00:53:03,440 --> 00:53:04,880 CAR SPEEDS UP 448 00:53:29,560 --> 00:53:33,760 Two days later, Hummer learns that his brother has returned safely 449 00:53:33,760 --> 00:53:35,920 from his first combat mission. 450 00:53:37,440 --> 00:53:38,680 I'm proud of him. 451 00:53:40,200 --> 00:53:41,520 I'm really upset. 452 00:53:43,680 --> 00:53:46,560 I was, "What are you thinking? Blah, blah, blah," 453 00:53:46,560 --> 00:53:48,720 and I was thinking, "OK, go there one time. 454 00:53:48,720 --> 00:53:51,520 "You will, you will... You will have enough, 455 00:53:51,520 --> 00:53:57,720 "and then you understand and go back to sign the tickets...from parking." 456 00:53:57,720 --> 00:54:00,480 After the first time, he said, "Yes, yes, it's all good. 457 00:54:00,480 --> 00:54:02,920 "I'm going a second time." I said... HE SCOFFS 458 00:54:02,920 --> 00:54:05,240 .."I cannot stop him." 459 00:54:05,240 --> 00:54:06,800 Cannot stop him. 460 00:54:06,800 --> 00:54:09,840 And really proud of him. Angry, but proud of him. 461 00:54:14,720 --> 00:54:17,720 How many experienced people who served in the army who were trained, 462 00:54:17,720 --> 00:54:19,480 how many we have? I don't know. 463 00:54:22,560 --> 00:54:24,280 Most of them are gone. 464 00:54:25,480 --> 00:54:28,800 Five months of war, and we need more and more and more. 465 00:54:28,800 --> 00:54:31,840 And they are fresh and unexperienced, untrained. 466 00:54:31,840 --> 00:54:36,840 What we can do? We just do whatever we can do to support them, 467 00:54:36,840 --> 00:54:39,880 to use our, I don't know, skills. 468 00:54:39,880 --> 00:54:42,640 That's what I said. I understand that my place is here. 469 00:54:42,640 --> 00:54:45,160 I can help those people who doesn't have experience. 470 00:54:45,160 --> 00:54:49,720 But we need to do the job as professional as other people 471 00:54:49,720 --> 00:54:52,880 who served years in such units. 472 00:54:56,120 --> 00:55:00,040 Hummer has decided to allow three of the most inexperienced members 473 00:55:00,040 --> 00:55:03,160 of his group to conduct a mortar mission on their own. 474 00:55:04,840 --> 00:55:08,000 They are fighting for their land, for their independence, 475 00:55:08,000 --> 00:55:10,200 for their freedom. 476 00:55:10,200 --> 00:55:13,480 People are not thinking and counting on our president. 477 00:55:13,480 --> 00:55:17,000 People are thinking and counting on each other, on the nation. 478 00:55:17,000 --> 00:55:19,680 And they know the purpose, they know the main goal, 479 00:55:19,680 --> 00:55:20,920 why they're here. 480 00:55:29,800 --> 00:55:32,160 I'll be back. 481 00:55:29,800 --> 00:55:32,160 HE LAUGHS 482 00:55:34,880 --> 00:55:37,760 If the president signed, for example, peaceful agreement 483 00:55:37,760 --> 00:55:40,680 with the Russians, it will never stop. We will fight. 484 00:55:43,280 --> 00:55:45,680 It's not about Zelensky and Putin, 485 00:55:45,680 --> 00:55:48,360 it's about our nation and our future. 486 00:55:50,560 --> 00:55:54,160 And if our troops will get to Kherson, 487 00:55:54,160 --> 00:55:57,880 I can say it's like Russians are done here. 488 00:55:57,880 --> 00:55:59,600 Really? Yeah. 489 00:56:01,920 --> 00:56:03,280 Are you worried about them? 490 00:56:05,160 --> 00:56:09,560 Yes, because it's the first time they are going to shoot without me 491 00:56:09,560 --> 00:56:13,920 and attack Russians there. Yeah, because we trained them, 492 00:56:13,920 --> 00:56:16,720 I believe we trained them very well. But... 493 00:56:24,960 --> 00:56:26,000 Let's go. 494 00:56:38,240 --> 00:56:40,720 HORNS HONK, CHEERING 495 00:56:48,880 --> 00:56:51,040 CHEERING 496 00:56:52,120 --> 00:56:54,360 EXCITED CHATTER