This is the shocking moment a Daily Mail documentary team flees Russian forces after witnessing a Ukrainian missile launch.
New images of the Daily Mail Frontline YouTube Series shows Ukrainian soldiers running around a vehicle and loading missiles into the launcher, before taking cover a few meters away and firing two rockets in quick succession.
Daily Mail reporters Richard Pendlebury and Jamie Wiseman reported live from the front line, accompanying a special unit in the defense of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.
“The unit has now fired two range rockets and I think they’re about to fire a volley, and then they, we, are going to get out of here as quickly as possible,” Pendlebury said as soldiers prepared the rocket for launch. in the background.
Everyone disperses from the launcher as a soldier shouts to the unit commander that the rockets were ready to go.
Shortly afterwards, they can be seen firing at high speed towards a concentration of nearby Russian troops and vehicles, which were preparing to advance on the city.
‘The amount of dust collected by the kickback is tremendous. It can be seen from miles away. We can’t stay there, to do so would be death,” said Mr Pendlebury as soldiers hurriedly prepared the launch vehicle for departure.
But as everyone hurried away, Mr Wiseman can be heard saying: “Where the hell is my GoPro?” For God’s sake,” after apparently misplacing the camera somewhere in the wooded area.
Footage shows Ukrainian soldiers running around a vehicle and loading missiles into the launcher, before taking cover a few meters away and firing two rockets in quick succession.
Everyone disperses from the launcher as a soldier shouts to the unit commander that the rockets were ready to go. Shortly afterwards, they can be seen firing at high speed towards a concentration of nearby Russian troops and vehicles, which were preparing to advance on the city.
But as everyone hurried away, Mr Wiseman can be heard saying: “Where the hell is my GoPro?” For God’s sake’, after apparently misplacing the camera somewhere in the wooded area.
Wiseman finally said “there we are,” as he bent down to retrieve the camera from the ground, where it was hidden by tall grass.
He then filmed the launch vehicle as it spun and sped away while the driver punched the air in triumph.
Pendlebury estimated that the entire escape from the launch site could only have lasted about two minutes. But the journalist also warned: “We are not out of the woods yet.”
‘The escape begins. Ours is not a quiet retreat. “It’s chaotic, bordering on panic,” said Mr Pendlebury.
In the footage, Mr. Pendlebury can be heard calling out to Oleks, his translator, and to his colleague, Mr. Wiseman, who is then seen marching across the frame as he reaches for the GoPro camera.
Mr Wiseman finally said “there we are” as he bent down to retrieve the camera from the ground, where it was hidden by tall grass.
He then filmed the launch vehicle as it spun and sped away while the driver punched the air in triumph.
The tactic of trying to hit the opponent hard before escaping is called “shoot and slide.”
Mr Wiseman ran towards the second car when someone said: “Come on, Jamie, get in the car!” – ‘I’m coming, I’m coming,’ replied Mr. Wiseman.
Just after getting into the vehicle, it accelerated, leaving behind a cloud of dust.
Pendlebury estimated that the entire escape from the launch site could only have lasted about two minutes. But the journalist also warned: “We are not out of the woods yet.”