Documentary follows Ukrainian drone operators
A new documentary titled I See No Death, directed by Yevhen Titarenko and co-directed with Vitaly Mansky, documents the experiences of a Ukrainian unmanned systems unit. The film had its world premiere at the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival and follows the unit from deployments in the Donetsk region to operations on Russian territory.Technology reshapes warfare
The film highlights how drones have transformed the nature of warfare, serving as both weapons and cameras. It shows how aerial surveillance, attacks, and assessments of their aftermath are linked through live images, capturing the rhythm of operations and the perspective from which they are witnessed.Life beyond the battlefield
Between military deployments, the soldiers spend time with their families, visit relatives, or go fishing. These moments show their lives outside of combat and what they are fighting to protect. The film contrasts celebrations after successful strikes with images of Russian tanks attacking civilian homes and villages reduced to ruins.Desensitization and daily life
The film shows the relentless pace of operations and the black humor that emerges from them. Drone footage captures attacks on armored vehicles and soldiers fleeing wreckage. Despite working from cellars and shelters, the soldiers remain under constant threat of shelling, blending combat duties with activities like playing computer games and caring for animals.Title reflects a moment of absence
The title I See No Death refers to a drone’s video feed cutting out just before an explosion, withholding the moment of impact from the operator. Reconnaissance footage later shows the aftermath, including bodies and injured soldiers. The film captures how one camera’s interruption leads to consequences recorded by another.Human connection in a war-torn landscape
A search for a new base brings the soldiers into contact with Russian civilians who have remained in the destroyed villages. Shared cigarettes and casual conversation reveal moments of ordinary sociability. The soldiers later joke about wanting to leave a good impression, highlighting the human element amid military objectives.Documentary captures war’s transformation
Yevhen Titarenko, a war veteran, documents how drones have reshaped the battlefield, operational routines, and soldiers’ relationship with killing. Combining first-person-view drone footage with reconnaissance images, the film connects the practical aspects of warfare with its psychological demands. I See No Death was produced by Braha Production Company and Ego Media.
