In 2019 I travelled to Ukraine and lived in Donetsk Oblast for Summer. I visited Azov a number of times, and travelled throughout both Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts conducting freelance journalism and research for documentary, filmmaking, and reporting projects.

The following ‘documentary’ is a collection of moments, interviews, and glimpses at life within Azov during their deployment to the Svitlodarsk Bulge area during 2019. This was Azov’s first deployment after years away from the front lines in the Donbas.

During my time embedded with Azov I was given essentially unlimited access to military personnel and positions throughout their area of deployment. I am not able to publish everything I was shown, due to operational security concerns.

To the best of my knowledge I am the first Australian journalist ever to have embedded with Azov during a combat deployment. This won’t be a project that is of interest to everybody, but I tried to produce a documentary/project that I would personally watch.

This project was self-produced and self-funded. I didn’t work with any fixers or translators. One very good friend in Kramatorsk gave me assistance at times – for which I’m forever thankful – but largely if was me on my own over there. Thank you to my friends in Kyiv. A lot of people have supported me in Australia and Ukraine, and helped me pursue my goals in many ways; I’m very fortunate in that regard.

Credits

‘AZOV – On the front lines with Ukraine’s elite infantry’

Directed, Produced, and Edited by Bryce Wilson
Russian/Ukrainian-to-English Translation by D. Nesterov and Bryce Wilson
Introduction music produced by, and copyright to, Dead Tanson