The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is just a few months short of the four-year mark.

Four years of brutality and carnage fought almost literally inch by inch from World War I-style trenches in the east.

Tonight, PBS's front line, working with the Associated Press, will air 2,000 meters to Andrivka, a relentless portrait of life and death on the front lines.

Nick Schifrin spoke with his filmmaker.

In the spring of 2023, with U.S. support, Ukraine launched a much-anticipated counteroffensive.

It was designed for Ukraine to break through massive Russian defensive lines to try and seize back some of the 20% of the country occupied by Russia.

The fighting was often brutal, and it largely failed to achieve Ukraine's own goals,

as well as American hopes that Russia could be beaten back.

One of the most intense battles during that counteroffensive

took place in the eastern province of Donetsk, including the village of Andrievka.

That battle is the subject of the new film 2,000 meters to Andrievka.

The director is Mitzisselov Chirnov, who won an Oscar and a Pulitzer for his previous film 20 days in Mariupil.

Thanks very much. Welcome to News Hour. The film is unflinching.

Almost all of it takes place in a tree line or a forest with two minefields on either side.

That's the only route into Andrievka. It is a hellscape of World War I style bleakness, trees stripped bare,

explosions everywhere, men

die and only small trenches for protection. How brutal was that fight?

Oh, it was brutal and not only for Andrievka. I think Andrievka is an example of that fight.

And you just mentioned that this was believed as a counter-offensiveensive largely failed at that point.

But it's not the right way to say about it.

The right way to say about it is amazingly,

Ukrainians having less forces,

...