A new documentary coming to BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in March will tell the story of frontline Ukrainian fighters as they battle to push back a Russian advance on Ukraine’s intensely bombarded Eastern Front. The character led documentary is a ground level view of the war through the eyes of the soldiers fighting it.

Commissioned by BBC Current Affairs, Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods (W/T) is directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Jamie Roberts (Escape from Kabul, Four hours at the Capitol, the Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty) and Exec Produced by BAFTA-award-winning Jonathan Smith.

With extraordinary access to the tightly controlled frontlines Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods (W/T) follows the mission of a Ukrainian assault company as they undertake a single deployment on one of Ukraine’s most violent battlefronts; a snow-covered forest near Kupyansk. Their mission is to defend a railway line, a key strategic asset that, if captured, will enable Russia to mount a direct attack on Ukraine's second largest city; Kharkiv.

Filmed over 9 weeks, the documentary examines the lives of the 99 strong military company as they face sustained Russian assaults. Their stories are told through immersive footage filmed by the troops themselves, combined with observational filming and intimate interviews to present an unflinching human portrait of Europe's bloodiest war in living memory.

This deep focus on the daily life of frontline fighters’ lays bare the motivations and profound impact of this brutal conflict on the people still fighting, and poses the question: for the people involved, what does victory even look like? As the story unfolds viewers will see the fighters operate from hand-dug bunkers and engage in fierce gun battles.

Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods (W/T) is a debut documentary from HOYO Films and is commissioned by BBC Current Affairs. It will be distributed globally by All3Media International.

Founded by Jamie Roberts, HOYO Films is a London based independent production company that makes agenda setting films that focus on people at the centre of international stories.