Episode details
Available for over a year
Russia has made seizing the whole eastern Donbas region a key war aim, and the big eastern city of Severodonetsk has been a key target. There have been reports that half the housing has been destroyed and almost all buildings there had been damaged, with all the remaining residents were in shelters. Attacks on the city have been intensifying since the Russian invaded Ukraine. Desperate to escape the Russian attacks, Severodonetsk resident Arif Bagirov decided to brave the "frontline road" out of the city and head to Bahkmut, a city about 65 km away. He says he experienced Russian shelling on his journey, and that the road was littered with debris and destroyed vehicles, and evidence that people had died there. He managed to stay out of sight of the Russian jets by lying in ditches, and was at risk of shelling. He says this one of the most extraordinary bike rides of his life, and he's now aiming to get to Kyiv - but not by bike. "I didn't feel fear so much as anger - this is my land, my country. It was the craziest bike ride of my life." Photo: Arif Bagirov, who escaped Severodonetsk, Ukraine, on his bike Credit: Arif Bagirov
Programme Website