Ukraine war: The front line where Russian eyes are always watching - BBC News

In Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, the Ukrainian army continues to lose ground to Russian forces, in and around Bakhmut.
But in the south of Donetsk province, Ukrainian tanks and infantrymen are standing firm after months of fighting.
Russia’s forces have suffered heavy losses with almost nothing to show for it.
BBC correspondent Quentin Sommerville and camera journalist Darren Conway reported from the frontline as daily bombardments continue.
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#Ukraine #Russia #BBCNews

[Triistone]

Insane footage. huge props to the soldiers managing there everyday and to the journalists showing the world how it is.

[Da Gre]

Gullible you

[Geoff Lepper]

​@Da Grehow is the weather in Moscow today Russian troll?

[LuvBorderCollies]

01:17 Reporter needs to get in better shape AND learn that "quickly" does not mean jogging. Means sprinting to save your hide.

[Michael]

Huge props to the 6 million Ukrainian women who fled and left behind their sons and husbands

[Georgina Sey]

These reporters deserve medals for their bold efforts. In my part of the world, reporting on even riots and protests...is a big deal

[Eugene Sarunde]

Yeap Reporters like this, gives first Hand information..thankyou! Brave '!!

[TheGreenReaper]

Quentin is already an OBE - but it's been almost a decade since then, so perhaps he could move up to CBE for services to reporting... or CMG - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George - since this can be seen as "serving the UK abroad" (like David Attenborough, who is GCMG).

[GodofBrains]

@Bella stop sharing misleading links

[DRICK G G]

Just gays!😂

[Vincent Barrios]

I’m 23 and the guy who’s 22 jeez man I give him respect…I could only imagine how it is to be out in that field hearing loud rounds/mortars near you and a whole bunch more with a possibility of dying or getting injured. Wish the best for these guys.

[Vlady]

He died 😔

[Skaruna Rona]

he actually died not too recently

[Cerera69]

R.I.P Dima. You are true hero.

[TermlessGHM]

Yeah, this is real. Life or death. No restart from last checkpoint. Makes me laugh kids saying they can imagine how it is out there. Trust me, you cannot.

[Vincent Barrios]

@Vlady Wow prayers out to his family 🙏🏻😔

[Friend of Tellus]

I do not think any documentary from the front lines of the Ukraine war have shown so well exactly what it is like to be there; and how brave the men are who fight there for the freedom of their country !!!! Super strong respect to them; and to the journalists who risked their lives to make this documentary !!!! Slava Ukraini !!!!

[The Myth]

It's insane how calm the dude is having artillery strikes 30 meters from him The other dude stood up, got a tank shot right above him and laughed

[Снежный Джони]

you get really used to it after some time

[kabzaify]

Actors

[Jonathan Livingston Seagull]

Believe me, It's just a coping mechanism, they are actually shitting themselves.

[Karen Thompson]

That is nervous laughing. 😮

[Kathleen Mann]

My hopes and prayers are for your safety and success. Thank you for fighting the good fight for freedom. SLAVA UKRAINE 🇺🇦✌️

[Muhammad Tayyab]

Kudos to BBC for showing up the real time footage and horrors of war.

[Gaming Screen]

Isn't it exciting?

[Martin Pedersen]

@Gaming Screen you propberly still think its like in video games

[Gaming Screen]

@Martin Pedersen no, I think it's exactly like as shown in the video above

[Manse Duzak]

We must resist at all costs being desensitized to the horror and awful tragedy of war - exceptional reporting like this definitively helps with that aim.

[Anh Conroy]

The importance of these reports is that they also record all the war crimes of the Russians

[J N]

The problem is europeans have long been desensitised because they are used to waging wars in other parts of the world

[jeffsiegwart]

Those are very brave soldiers and one very brave reporter and camera person.

[j]

Hollywood show

[Private Piles]

@j the hollywood director was so keen on making it realistic they actually filmed it on location in Donbass.

[Frost king]

@j you are slow if you think this isn't Ukraine 🤣

[MN BRITTLE]

Much respect for the Ukrainian soldiers, defending their country so heroically, and for all BBC journalists and cameramen who bring us reports from the front lines

[Mnbvcxzlk Jhgfd Sapoiuytrewq]

Слава Русской армии 🇷🇺 Z 🇲🇪

[ASILBEK PUBGM]

​@Mnbvcxzlk Jhgfd Sapoiuytrewq Слава Украине. Позор тик ток армия рашку😂😂😂

[Mnbvcxzlk Jhgfd Sapoiuytrewq]

@ASILBEK PUBGM Слава нацистам 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Atticus Fredericks]

Courageous reporting and camera work. Thank you Quentin Sommerville & Darren Conway.

[Daniel Whyatt]

What they are doing here in Ukraine is in my opinion, without a doubt some of the bravest reporting ever attempted.

[stranger]

Yes

[elif yildirim]

This young brave soldier Dima looks so despondent. I hope things get better for all of Ukraine and her people. Stay strong Ukraine.

[Mark Aurelius]

​@Helena Jaksic it is not obvious yet how it will end. The sides involve too many now, the outcome is unclear

[Mark Aurelius]

​@Vlady how do you know?

[fgx]

Only in your dreams

[chris j]

​@Mark Aurelius the outcome is obvious if you got any sense and ignore the propaganda, Russian army is a superior force and have more than twice as many troops then when the war started while Ukraine has many dead and severely injured so its from unclear it's obvious

[Laurence Hastings]

Great and very courageous front line reporting

[Stansfield McElroy]

dude doesnt know how to run

[Paola Celletti]

I've the goosebump. Thanks to the brave soldier and to the outstanding reportage by Quentin Sommerville and Darren Conway.

[Chris]

Wow what an incredible report. Thank you BBC. The BBC and DW have really really come out ahead of any other news outlet in terms of contextualised and factual reporting that speaks truth to power during this conflict.

[MiG Productions]

Don't forget Ukrainian Hromadske! Nastia Stanko and crew have been in deep since day 1..and Polish TVP world show Rock Rachon..they are the real deal!

[Nemo]

While the young soldier says he is brave and can handle it his eyes are so incredibly sad - a valuable young life with a real possibility of being snuffed out in this brutal conflict

[Adaji Alex]

Exactly , l pity poor him At least he has far better judgement than Zelensky

[AmericanTough🇺🇸]

First documentary where I said “Holy sh1t” out loud like 4 different times. What amazing footage. The whole crew put their lives on the line.. and I really hope young Dima makes it through this. He’s one tough kid that’s for sure.

[Poseidon]

Same, those rounds were close

[AmericanTough🇺🇸]

@Poseidon too close!

[Micheal Ansah]

The bravery of these war reporters cannot be overstated, they put themselves in harm's way to bring the us firsthand account of what is happening, its just amazing

[KillBoyPowerHead]

Respect for the reporting crew … Long live Ukraine!

[zoom]

Till the last Ukrainian 🤣

[Gavin Miller]

@zoom More likely Russia pulls out due to their terrible loses.

[Daniel Dach]

Accomplishing this can only be done through Ukraine's complete triumph and a return to the 1991 borders. By supplying more military aid, we can minimize the need for aid to Ukrainian civilians in the future. We must come together and do whatever it takes to resist the invaders.

[Umar Ganai]

Insane journalism, balls of steel. I had my head phones on loud for this video and when that first shell came in it was terrifying, imagine actually being there

[Cooltownmedia]

The sound was terrifying, i literally ducked at my desk

[Barbara OHara]

Words seem so insignificant against the backdrop of this video. My comments are probably to help process. Actually seeing the intense shelling brought new understanding of the bravery of the Ukraine soldiers. The reporter and crew deserve medala for their bravery. The trauma of that experience will be etched on their memory forever. Thank you for the bravery of the soldiers and the BBC.

[Frank Manuel]

Hello Barbara

[David Reed]

Outstanding and amazing courage by all. Thank you Conway & Somerville and please remain safe as possible while you threaten your lives showing and telling the world what is happening. God bless you and all the other innocent ones caught up in the war.

[D25 Reg]

Power to Ukraine soldiers..prayers to the brave soldiers of Ukraine…👍👍🇵🇭🇵🇭🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[VICTORY UKRAINE]

FRIENDS, BROTHERS FROM EUROPE, ASIA AND AMERICA🇺🇦🇵🇱🇺🇸🇬🇧🇩🇪🇦🇺🇯🇵🇫🇷🇨🇦🇮🇹🇪🇸🇨🇿🇧🇷🇮🇱🇵🇰🇹🇷❗ UKRAINE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT IN BAKHMUT, THE AGGRESSOR DESTROYS CITIES OF UKRAINE, WE FIGHT FOR WHOLE DEMOCRATIC WORLD❗ THANK YOU 🙏

[Joaquin]

Another amazing and great report. Thank you BBC for letting world to know

[Snooper]

Incredible footages and hats off to the 22 years old ukranian solder who stands right in the frontline and keeps on going. Cant believe it, only 22 years old. At this age here in the west ( i used to have my lasagna ready for dinner, my washed clothes and i was popping around my town driving my car with my little girlfriend and feel like a boss).

[Mnbvcxzlk Jhgfd Sapoiuytrewq]

Я патриот и я поддерживаю Россию в русско-украинской войне. Слава России , и с нами Бог!!!!!! 🇷🇺 Z 🇲🇪

[Tarott Man]

Respect to that report and cameramen

[Phillip Hall]

I agree it’s guts period

[pomonabill220]

Great reporting! Please stay safe! Glory to Dima and his troops! These BRAVE and COURAGEOUS soldiers have done, and are doing, a FANTASTIC JOB! I wish them SAFE survival, and God Bless them! Glory to Ukraine! Slava Ukraine!

[Igor lyka]

Героям Слава!!! Glory to Heroes!

[Doug]

This is almost insanely out of control - I watched this video twice now and I almost feel a little bit of shell shock. I can't imagine the stress and anxiety that this puts on any person's system that's out on those battlefields.

[A20 20]

God bless that 22 year old.i hope he stays safe and has success

[mean he]

Wow wow wow 😱 Great report, I felt that you really brought us into their world. I hope young Dima and everyone are doing well. 🥺

[Matt]

This is heart breaking. War is a burden on mankind.

[Gerry Leonard]

Yes ...a waste of men and materials said Abdul Baha

[Iggy]

Is only 1 year imagie with iraqi 20 years of wars

[YAM]

Nobody want to go to negotiation table, US says they will fight until the last ukranians.

[Gundar Varr]

yet its part of mankind. since the beginning until the end.

[Pedro Matos]

Stay strong Ukraine in your fight for your freedom 🇺🇦🇵🇹💪🏼🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺

[VICTORY UKRAINE]

FRIENDS, BROTHERS FROM EUROPE, ASIA AND AMERICA🇺🇦🇵🇱🇺🇸🇬🇧🇩🇪🇦🇺🇯🇵🇫🇷🇨🇦🇮🇹🇪🇸🇨🇿🇧🇷🇮🇱🇵🇰🇹🇷❗ UKRAINE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT IN BAKHMUT, THE AGGRESSOR DESTROYS CITIES OF UKRAINE, WE FIGHT FOR WHOLE DEMOCRATIC WORLD❗ THANK YOU 🙏

[playfast321]

I'm about as old as Dima. And while I am at home, sitting in a warm home, well fed, nothing to really worry about, Dima is defending his country, shelled in the cold by countless RuZZian shells and living in a trench. I'm very proud of the offer Dima is willing to make and simultaneously I worry for him. He might even be dead already. And the only reason our situations differ so much is because I was born on the other side of Europe. It could have been me. I hope Dima will see the end of the war, will get to experience peace, rather than worrying about when another shell will fall and if it will hit him or not. But Bakhmut is a dangerous place. Dima, we won't let your work be in vain. If you perish, you will be avenged! Ukraine will be free. Putler and RuZZia will lose. Slava Ukraini!

[Daniel Whyatt]

I couldn’t agree more. I wish Dima and all of his comrades along all of the front lines the very best and hope that our military aid makes it there very soon. Challenger and Leopard 2s tanks should be there by the end of March.

[Da Gre]

Grow up

[bobcell22]

No one stopping you from coming to Ukraine and helping Dima. Instead of writing hollow, whine, empty post!

[jclim001]

Thank you for this awsome report and definitely not easy to be a war zone journalists. I'll pray for everyone safety and pray that this war will end soon. Slava Ukraini!!!

[james clayton]

God bless the heroes!

[eggycarrot]

Darren Conway is the camera man. He has worked on various recent conflicts such as Afghanistan, Syria, Kosovo and the Arab Spring and now Ukraine. He was given the OBE award by Prince Charles in 2014 for his works.

[Ruonerful]

My heart goes out to Dima and all the brave Ukranians fighting in this unfair war, slava Ukrayini!

[Donald J]

What a brave journalist. Salute to all Ukrainian soldier giving there life to defend there homeland against Russian Invasion.

[Shado8]

glory for ukraine!!!

[Al S]

Good report, excellent camera work , thanks for taking a huge risk to get this story out.

[Choi Angus]

Stay strong Ukraine

[Gestra94]

Insane footage! the close high speed shells landing scared the shit out of me. Dima's so young man defending their homeland and relatives, just facing the enemy. Big ukrainian Counter-offensive is coming and I hope Víctory comes soon for this people. Slava ukraini 🇺🇦🇨🇱

[Jarvis]

Great reporting guy's, massive respect to you all, stay safe guy's 👍🇺🇦🌍👊

[Building a company]

Hats of to the reporter and the camera man risking their lives in the trenches to get the stories out.

[Luksi]

To me it is crazy to see how warfare is held still today. Fundamentally nothing changed since WW1... Hope these soldiers are still well

[Cooper-Luna Yen]

I am praying for you guys every night, May our Lady, Christ and Joseph keep you guys safe and sound. Deeply admire your bravely and your resolve. God bless you all and Ukraine. We are with you.

[🌚U.H]

💙🙏🏻💛

[J]

Poor Dima. The fear and doubt in his eyes is uncomfortable to see. Insane footage and really brings home what these guys are facing!

[Jefferson Lankford]

Outstanding front line report.

[Daniel Kai Yarjah]

I'm a Sierra leonean but my heart is heavy for my Ukrainian people how I pray to God Almighty to give justice to my brothers

[Type RyRy]

I've watched a lot of combat footage from Iraq and Afghanistan. Mostly amateur GoPro stuff, and usually small arms fire or IEDs. But this - this footage is the closest I've seen and heard artillery rounds fall near the camera. Crazy stuff...

[Adam Stanley]

Thank you to the brave news correspondents and Ukranian soldiers, to ensure everyone knows of the brutal attacks by Russia.

[@Mantonkonyak]

Thes journalists deserve all appreciation🙏

[The government media lie..]

👏👏👏👏👏 Great reporting from both the Ukraine and Russian sides of the war fantastic unbiased reporting

[Ale]

Those reporters are true heroes!

[Karen Thompson]

You are all so brave 😢❤

[Smith Steve]

Oh yeah Karen

[Smith Steve]

❤❤

[maya ginete]

God Bless you Dima.and the reporters for the priviledge of viewing the cruelties of war and the bullying of someone who has nothing else to do..invading a sovereign nation..go go..Uk

[Frank Manuel]

Hello Maya

[Steven Ly]

The journalists are risking their lives everyday to capture rare footage to share it with the rest of the world. Salute to you! 🇺🇲🇺🇦

[John Smith]

It is mostly filmed in a studio.

[MrTreacletime]

Quentin Somerville is an incredible journalist, I remember his reports from Iraq with ISIS shooting at him as well. Quality BBC report like Chester Willmott, or Dimbleby in WW2

[Антон знает цены]

I live in Kyiv, Ukraine. Thanks to our military. I believe in the victory of Ukraine!

[Melida Reichert]

We all know that Ukrainian victory is so close. But we have to increase our help to do it more effectively

[Robin John]

Ukraine 🇺🇦 Great people with the unbelievable commitment 👏 God bless you 🙏

[Paul McDermott]

😂😂

[请绿蛤蟆别来恶心我]

上帝救不了乌克兰人，只有乌克兰人救乌克兰人。几千年来上帝救过一个人吗😂真逗

[VICTORY UKRAINE]

FRIENDS, BROTHERS FROM EUROPE, ASIA AND AMERICA🇺🇦🇵🇱🇺🇸🇬🇧🇩🇪🇦🇺🇯🇵🇫🇷🇨🇦🇮🇹🇪🇸🇨🇿🇧🇷🇮🇱🇵🇰🇹🇷❗ UKRAINE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT IN BAKHMUT, THE AGGRESSOR DESTROYS CITIES OF UKRAINE, WE FIGHT FOR WHOLE DEMOCRATIC WORLD❗ THANK YOU 🙏

[Justin Elvis JR]

Salute to the BBC reporters and cameraman. Great work and sacrifice.

[Anirban Dey]

I respect and appreciate your BBC's bravery and journalism. 💚

[An Irishman ☘️]

I wish all the soldiers on both sides realise each other are not their enemies it's the men in suits that pull the strings. All these so-called leaders and politicians are all of our enemies, not each other ❤

[Judith Liberty Matias]

May God always protect all our heroes ,all people of Ukraine and the journalist as well ❤

[Frank Manuel]

Hello Judith

[Tim Keenan]

I My heart goes out to those brave boys. They are fighting for their country and their lives everyday. I get it, but this is a business for men. There aren't any men on the battlefield, just babies. Kids, how do we send kids to fight? It makes me a bit emotional when I hear, see, or read about these poor kids. Especially knowing if this war spills over and becomes WW3 my kids are going to have to go fight.

[Neville Abbott]

Buddy, your not going run out shells, the world stands with you mate, stay strong

[Fantasy]

The world is running out of Soviet calibers, although some production is being restarted.

[solomon ike]

Yeah empty promises

[Daniel Whyatt]

Such absolutely bloody brave chaps, every single one of them. I do not imagine going through that day after day. It really goes to show the resilience of the human spirit and mind, and its ability to be desensitised after enough time. Wish it wasn’t so though, and they could be home. But of course, all of Ukraine is their home, and they have to do everything they can, along with the rest of us outside of Ukraine to help defend it. I wish Dima and all of his comrades, the very best of luck and hope they make it through it. 🫡 Here’s hoping the Leopard 2s and Challenger 2s tanks make it in time. Only another week or two now and they should be there on the front lines. 🇬🇧❤️🇺🇦

[Samuel Pope]

This is very sad, but thank you for showing us the truth.

[Olamide Ogundipe]

May help never cease for Ukraine. Amen 🙏

[Olamide Ogundipe]

😊🙏

[Sam G]

@Olamide Ogundipe smile and pray while the world blows up with your weapons. You have to be American

[Travellingisagift]

Thank you very much for this video. It is a reminder for us to continue to support Ukraine. I pray for Dima to survive this war. I pray for the reporters and camera man who are brave enough to accept this assignment

[Alex sub]

I'm 33 and I look at Dima with inspiration, so calm in such treacherous times. Bless him.

[Donald Dragomatz]

Victory for Ukraine 🇺🇦 Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦 ♥️ Heroyam Slava 🇺🇦 ♥️

[John Smith]

They have already been defeated.

[Martin Pedersen]

@John Smith really, so who is russia fighting? the Poles? the Finns?

[based zeus]

@John Smith Lmao cope harder Vatnik tankie

[David le franc]

Mad respect for those journalist and Ukrainian soldiers too slava Ukrayini

[Justin Chin]

These journalist are far braver that I would ever be. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

[Gaming Screen]

Thanks for letting us experience the war behind the screen. It's amazing

[Tay ler]

We didn't experience anything.

[Mark Stanley]

Dima, a Ukrainian legend, bless you and the rest of Ukraine, god speed, you will win. Glory to Ukraine and stay safe 🇺🇦

[Melida Reichert]

I wish that every Ukrainian soldier will come back home in the safety

[Ley Kone]

What a bold effort from the reporter!

[Stigstigster]

Exceptional reporting on some very strong people.

[Mr India]

Hats off to the journalist reporting from the war front

[marlen fras]

Good reporting. Go Ukraine

[Asiimwe Simon]

Hehe, this report deserves a medal 🏅

[Simon]

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!

[Roman Ivanovich]

it is sad that the world does not realize and underestimate the scale of this war and the scale of the catastrophe in general.

[Bohdan Harasymiw]

Incredible courage. The real thing

[ridnovir]

Stay strong Ukraine.. Stay strong young Dima

[mohamed slimani]

Very concerned wish peace for Ukraine

[Luke H]

Now this is proper journalism!! Respect to the team, also SLAVA UKRAINI 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[Kenyatta Anderson]

I would like to see Ukraine win soon, but for the liberation of all the territories captured by the Russians more weapons are needed, and the suffering will stop.

[Jakub Čerňava]

The soldiers and reporters in the video have balls of steel.

[Colin o brien]

first ukrainian in 13 months that ive heard say he was unsure they would win .thats pretty goood moral considering the amount of soldiers ive seen interviewed and in my heart of hearts looking at how isolated their position is and always under constant fire its very understandable , reality is guys in warfare in positions like that dont last long , and its the same for the russians and artillery and mortars are brutal , toss of a coin if it catches you with schrapnel , its hell on earth i hope those guys keep heir heads down and that armour and counteroffensive starts working soon now the ground is drying up a bit, i hate seen guys that did nothing lose their lives over that scum it makes me numb inside a 22 year old has to go through that instead of college

[Timothy Katende]

You have nailed it. The response of the soldier told a different story from what we have been subjected to by mainstream media. Bravo to BBC they would have edited this video to suit the narrative ..am sure they are going to get a call from Ben Wallace as yo how this video could have been allowed to go on air. CNN would rather close down than play this video

[Tay ler]

@Timothy Katende What "narrative" are you going on about?

[MadBrit26]

Respect to Ukrainian soldiers trying to defend there homeland! Stay strong 🇬🇧 🇺🇦

[Paintball Mayn]

More of this footage please. Thank you.

[Sophoan Krouch]

Always my heart is with Ukraine militaries.. thank Us , EU , Uk 🙏🙏

[Viktoriia Kotsiuba]

❤😢 Kozaki stay strong 💪🏻 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[dejuren]

"But russia could just give up and leave" yea and the tooth fairy could give us all an ice cream. Let's be adult and start negotiations without maximalist demands. Blood is on the hands of those who refuse negotiations too.

[jheem bhoi]

Slava Russia💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

[informedtraveler]

@dejuren The 1991 border is not a "maximalist demand"

[belleshell]

Love and respect to Dima and all Ukraines defenders 💙💛

[Alhassan Alando]

So sad, seeing a 22year old subjected to this situation.

[SupportItServices]

yea my friend . the ukranians should put older men there like me . the poor guy must not have political power to be there

[john smith]

He has no choice, he was snatched from the streets of Kyiv and thrown into the army.

[TheOneLichemperor]

​@john smith What an original name. Was John Doe unavailable?

[Alf]

@john smith that's Russians do son

[Oksana B]

@john smith no one is snatching anyone from the streets. Except in the places where Russians occupied Ukraine - by Russians. You are confusing Ukraine with Russia.

[SuperFly]

I have watched probably over a hundred reports about this war, and this one is perhaps the most impressive reporting I have seen so far

[Tay ler]

And the scariest battlefield footage I've seen.

[Bikechain]

Very Brave , Very Professional, proud to be supporting you guys Slava Ukraine

[Roblox Thanos]

Stay strong.

[Len Walker]

Great reporting. Thank you. 🇨🇦

[Finbar Ryan]

Great reporting, stay safe.