We are in the depths of the Ukrainian forest, hidden by a thick canopy of trees and foliage.
We have been given rare access to one of the most valuable military assets in the country in action in this brutal war.
The Ukrainian soldiers of the 93rd Brigade, with whom we are, are waiting for their orders.
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They are prepared for a long stay in the woods if necessary and have built some napping areas: hiding places created with branches, twigs and leaves that offer a natural camouflage.
Being detected by his Russian enemies would ruin his mission and endanger his lives.
Invisibility is key in their role.
Parked and half submerged in a bush is his prized weapon.
She is a 60-year veteran, but the Ukrainians believe she is critical in this long-range war, and the soldiers constantly care for her while we are there, as the precious resource they believe she is.
It is a former Soviet-era multi-rocket launcher, built in the 1960s but still operating with devastating effect.
Its full charge is 40 122 mm missiles, which can be fired at a target 20 km (12.4 miles) away in less than 20 seconds.
They deliver a massive explosive device and can cause great destruction and fragmentation over a wide area, capable of destroying entire enemy positions but also entire villages within minutes.
Image: The missile launcher has the ability to cause great destruction
‘Hail’ of explosives
Both sides in this bloody conflict have been criticized by human rights activists for using weapons like these.
They are called graduates, the Russian word for “hail” and can drag a “hailstorm” of explosives indiscriminately over large areas.
They are not considered precision weapons.
But in this war, Russia is deploying its arsenal of long-range artillery with wild effects in the Donbas region and has the numerical advantage.
Ukraine’s stock is overshadowed by that of its enemy, prompting troops and President Volodymyr Zelensky to demand more long-range weapons from its foreign partners.
Image: The full charge of the weapon is 40 122 mm missiles
The much younger American-made multi-launch rocket (MLRS) system is considered much more sophisticated and much more accurate.
It also has a much longer range and can hit targets hundreds of miles away.
But right now, the old Soviet veteran is what the 93rd Brigade has at its disposal, and they need it.
The crew receives their orders to change and suddenly there is action.
They move quickly to enter the rocket launcher and quickly exit dusty forest routes to avoid being seen by Russian drones.
Image: Soldiers are ready for a long time in the woods
The crew moves to a field and in a matter of minutes they have set their sights on and are placing the rockets.
“Fire 20” are the commands.
The first 20 rockets are launched with a thunderous shudder of a noise wave moving through your body to your feet and soles.
Those near the receiving end will hear a terrifying howl before crashing into the blows when they land.
“Fire 20”: The command arrives again and the second charge goes off.
It has only been a matter of minutes, but the crew is back on board and fleeing the field before the long-awaited return attack arrives.
Image: The weapon can hit targets hundreds of miles away
“Not safe here”
South of the city of Izyum there are several groups of troops trying to prevent the Russians from advancing south to attack the Donbas region from another front.
We set off at high speed with the “Chief” of ’93, through terribly exposed farmland and Russian lines about 4 km (2.5 miles) away.
We could see clouds of smoke rising from various Russian positions as our vehicle drove through fields and sandy tracks until we came to a small policeman.
We were greeted by slightly worn-out, exhausted-looking soldiers with dirty faces.
“It’s not safe here,” are the first words Ivan tells us as we get to know him.
It looks like they were recently bombed, an hour or two before we arrived.
No wonder, they say they are bombarded regularly, repeatedly throughout the day.
It seems that Russian troops are not moving much in this area.
Image: Fighters have built hiding places with branches, twigs and leaves
Ukrainian soldiers show gratitude to Britain
Ivan proudly shows us some of the weapons given to him by his foreign allies and pulls out an N law.
“He’s British,” he says and smiles.
Troops and civilians often say “God save us queen” when they realize we are British, to show their gratitude for the weapons the UK has sent.
The N laws have been especially powerful.
They are designed to destroy tanks at close range with a single shot.
But Ivan tells us that in his position they have served him less.
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Image: The fighters need more artillery and tanks to fight the Russians
“Their (Russian) tanks are not less than three and a half kilometers away and this weapon cannot reach the target at that distance effectively,” he says.
They have had some success recently and point to Russian tanks and other destroyed military vehicles on the other side of a stretch of water.
It shows how far they are approaching before they are stopped, and the Ukrainians expect them to carry out more attacks to move forward unless they can be stopped and so, they say, they need many more weapons.
“We need tanks and more artillery,” says Ivan, echoing what all senior Ukrainian officials, including the president, seem to be saying right now.
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It seems that the Russians have learned from their previous failures, in trying to encircle the capital Kyiv and the second city of Kharkiv.
They have adapted their tactics and are launching men and machines with long-range capabilities towards smaller targets in eastern Ukraine and the Donbas region.
And they do so at a distance, forcing both sides to strike towns and cities in a brutal battle to gain the advantage.
:: Alex Crawford reports from the front line of eastern Ukraine with cameraman Jake Britton and producers Chris Cunningham and Artem Lysak, Nick Davenport and Misha Cherniak