Aamna Nawaz:
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is just a few months short of the four-year mark, four years of brutality and genocide fought almost inch by inch from the World War I-style trenches in the East.
Tonight, PBS’s “Frontline,” working with the Associated Press, will air “2000 Meters to Andreevka,” a relentless portrait of life and death on the front lines.
Nick Shiffrin spoke to its filmmaker.
Nick Shiffrin:
In the spring of 2023, with US support, Ukraine launched a much-anticipated counter-offensive. It was designed for Ukraine to break through massive Russian defensive lines in an attempt to recapture some of the 20 percent of the country that was occupied by Russia. The fighting was often brutal, and it largely failed to achieve its goals of Ukraine, as well as American hopes that Russia could be driven back.
One of the most intense fighting during that counter-offensive took place in the eastern province of Donetsk, including the village of Andreevka. That battle is the subject of a new film, “2000 Meters to Andreevka.”
The director is Mstislav Chernov, who won an Oscar and Pulitzer for his previous film “20 Days in Mariupol.”
Thank you very much. Welcome to “News Hour.”
The film is steadfast. It is almost all in a tree line or forest with two mine fields on either side. This is the only way to Andreevka. It’s a World War I-style hell scene, trees stripped bare, explosions everywhere, people dying, with only small trenches for safety.
How brutal was that fight?
Mstislav Chernov, director, “2000 Meters to Andreevka”: Oh, it was cruel, and not only to Andreevka.
I think Andreevka is an example of that fight. And you just mentioned that it was considered counter-offensive. It largely failed on that point. But this is not the right way to say about it. The right way to say about it is that, amazingly, the Ukrainians, with less strength, less military capacity, less support, still managed to fight back.
I think this film, for me, becomes more and more a film about fighting fear, about the real courage that is manifested in doing what is considered impossible by most countries and most people and still is.
Nick Shiffrin:
Why was Andreevka so important to fight for this small village?
Mstislav Chernov:
In Donbass there was the city of Bakhmut. And it was captured in the spring of 2023. Therefore, one of the objectives of the retaliatory action was to liberate that city.
And Andreevka is right on the outskirts of Bakhmut. Taking Andreevka would therefore allow cutting the supply chain, supplying weapons to captured Bakhmut and potentially liberating it. The counter-attack itself did not reach that goal, but Andreevka was liberated.
Nick Shiffrin:
Much of this film is told through the helmet camera. Why did you choose to do this? And what does it bring to the storytelling?
Mstislav Chernov:
For us, this was a medium that would help introduce the audience to the experience of these people, these civilians who became soldiers, who were forced to become soldiers because of the invasion.
And fundamentally this film is also a statement about how terrible war is and how horrible and disgusting and unacceptable it is. And through the camera, through the soldiers’ eyes, through a camera mounted on a soldier’s helmet is the best way to communicate that view.
Nick Shiffrin:
The most intimate moments of the film come in the middle of the battle, when you have a minute to talk to the soldiers. And one of them, Fedya (ph), the officer with whom you went to Andreevka, said he never wanted to be a soldier.
Fedya, Ukrainian soldier (through interpreter):
I never saw myself as a soldier and never wanted to be one. That’s why I have come to fight, not to serve. Those are two different things.
Nick Shiffrin:
“I have come to fight, not to serve.” Why is this so important to this film and to the larger point you’re making about everyone’s motivations?
Mstislav Chernov:
I mean, this entire movie is taking place in that little forest that’s only a mile long and as we see the battle go on for over three months.
And Fedya represents every soldier I meet. Every soldier I meet in that forest is a volunteer. Every soldier in that jungle has decided to go and defend their home because, to them, this is a home invasion. And he never saw himself as a soldier.
So this is not the story of soldiers. This is actually a story of citizens who are taking the responsibility of fighting for their home.
Nick Shiffrin:
Of course, the sacrifice was not just for the soldiers. This was also for the entire society of Ukraine, in their hometowns. And at one point, you leave the fight and go to the funeral of a soldier who died fighting at Andreevka.
And the soldier’s mother tells you, she said:
Woman (through interpreter):
that’s how it is. All our heroes have been killed. Brave do not die. Oh God, they will soon kill all our boys, and then who will be left?
Nick Shiffrin:
What has been the impact on the hometowns of these soldiers?
Mstislav Chernov:
That tragedy is clear and visible in those communities. This is devastating.
But, at the same time, I see how much determination and how much strength – that fight is giving communities, because, because of these people, because they decided to go and fight, well, these communities still exist.
Nick Shiffrin:
And, finally, in the time we have left, one of the key moments of this film seems to me to be this line: “These fields, these forests.”
Man (through interpreter):
These fields, these forests, everything will grow back. Everything blossoms again, grows, and it is the same with all these cities that we are fighting for. Over time, they will be rebuilt.
Nick Shiffrin:
“And we can start from scratch.”
How does this reflect what Ukraine is fighting for?
Mstislav Chernov:
This is the dream of every Ukrainian who wakes up every morning or indeed every night because of the bombing, and hopes that all friends, all family are alive. And, sometimes, that doesn’t happen.
But it is the war that also gave such strength to the Ukrainian nation and the Ukrainian national idea and national identity. And every forest grows back. Every village will be rebuilt. that’s for sure. But, that requires peace.
And I don’t know anyone in the world who wants peace more than every Ukrainian.
Aamna Nawaz:
And “Frontline’s” “2000 Meters to Andreevka” premieres tonight at 10:00/9:00 Central right here on PBS.
<a href=