Russians at War - Inside a Russian Battalion on the Front Lines in Ukraine (Full Documentary)

Russians at War is a rare, unauthorized look inside a Russian battalion during the invasion of Ukraine. Filmed by director Anastasia Trofimova, the documentary follows soldiers, medics, and newly drafted men as they move from the rear to some of the war’s deadliest front lines, including Krasny Liman and Bakhmut. Through candid conversations, frontline footage, and scenes of daily survival, the film reveals a complex portrait of the people fighting on Russia’s side: their motivations, fears, disillusionment, and the heavy toll of the conflict. From young conscripts to seasoned volunteers, from drone operators to medics retrieving the dead, Russians at War shows the human reality behind official narratives—exposing a world of confusion, loss, shifting beliefs, and the personal cost of a war many struggle to understand. Unauthorized and filmed at significant personal risk, the documentary offers a perspective rarely seen: Russian soldiers speaking freely about a war that has reshaped their lives, their families, and their country. 00:00 - Introduction 03:44 - Ilya, a Ukrainian fighting on Russia's side, says goodbye to his family 05:43 - Anastasia joins the soldiers in occupied Eastern Ukraine 08:58 - The soldiers talk about their experience so far and what they're fighting for 21:08 - The battalion leaves for the front 27:01 - Spending the night in a Soviet nuclear bunker 31:32 - At the Krasny Liman Front, the medics go looking for bodies 37:45 - 21-year old Medic talks about her feelings about the war 40:40 - Heading to the trenches 48:41 - A soldier has shrapnel in his heart 51:24 - Talking with the soldiers about war crime accusations and following orders 57:04 - Taking food to villagers, 2km from the front line 1:03:58 - Soldiers talk about the difference between what's shown on tv and reality 1:09:45 - Hiding in the cellar from bombs 1:16:10 - Three soldiers die 1:25:10 - Soldiers talk about not getting paid and having to stay after their contract ends 1:30:00 - Ilya abandons the front and risks criminal prosecution 1:32:24 - At the Bakhmut, before the offensive 1:43:21 - The offensive 1:58:13 - Families mourn their dead 2:05:55 - Credits