What exactly is Ukraine fighting for? What does the Ukrainian front line look like?
If you are suffering from desensitizing, numbers-focused war coverage fatigue, Mstyslav Chernov’s new documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivka (2025) offers a rare perspective directly from Ukrainian soldiers holding the front lines in russia’s ongoing illegal occupation of the Donetsk region.
After his much acclaimed documentary 20 Days in Mariupol (2023), Chernov turns his camera lens to capture the personal experiences of Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines – their fears, numbness, dwindling wishful thinking, dark sense of humor and desire for vengeance.
Eerily resembling WWI trenches, a 2 km forest path separates the Ukrainian forces safe point and the occupied village of Andriivka. In peace time, the forest path can be walked in 30 minutes, and run in ten, but it has cost the Ukrainian defense forces three months of losses, being surrounded by mine fields from both sides, and attacked by russian aggressors from the front.
Regardless, the soldiers have not ceased their efforts to liberate it, knowing it can serve as a strategic blockade for russian aggressors to advance through Bakhmut.
Chernov alternates long single takes between soldiers’ first-person bodycams, birds-eye views from drone footage, and hand-held camera angles to draw the audience into the front lines themselves.
The front lines of any battle field bring images of violence and brutality to mind. This film however balances those associations with the care, vulnerability and moral strength of Ukraine’s defense forces in a unique demonstration of the art of filmmaking and storytelling.
2000 Meters to Andriivka is in Dutch cinemas as of 15 January.
Read more from VATAHA on Ukrainian film:
- Ukrainian films to watch this season
- “Ukraine-Washing” in Western Filmmaking
- Boycotting the IFFR 2025
VATAHA Recommends features events and exhibitions unaffiliated with VATAHA but aligned with our mission to promote Ukrainian arts and culture in the Netherlands.
This recommendation was suggested by Dasha Lohvynova. Check out all VATAHA Recommends here.