BORIS JOHNSON HEADS TO UKRAINE FOR CHANNEL 5 DOCUMENTARY FILM

5 has commissioned Soho Studios and Two Rivers Media, to produce Boris Johnson: Into the ‘Kill Zone’  (w/t), a powerful, feature-length documentary film following former Prime Minister and journalist Boris Johnson, as he undertakes a deeply unofficial and secret assignment in a dangerous and  potentially life-threatening trip deep behind the frontline of the Russia/Ukraine war.

Quietly entering the country so as not to draw attention to himself, Boris travels beyond Kyiv in a 72-hour unprotected journey to the front line ‘kill zone’ near Zaporizhzhia, where drones, artillery and the realities of modern warfare quickly replace diplomacy and political rhetoric.

Boris witnesses the realities of modern war at close range. Embedded with Ukrainian soldiers, he visits shattered villages, a frontline chapel, secret drone bases and even a makeshift bomb factory hidden inside abandoned cottages, and shelters in an under-siege eighth story flat during a missile strike.

He joins mobile gun teams and Kyiv’s volunteer air defenders for a terrifying and freezing night shift protecting the capital from Russian drone attacks. With the part-time soldiers of the 112th Territorial Defence Brigade, he witnesses how mobile gun teams armed with heavy machine guns hunt drones in the night sky.

Boris Johnson said: “The Ukrainians are fighting the same war, against the same drones, that are being sent against civilians by the same alliance of tyrannies. We have spent four years psalming platitudes and telling them that their fight is our fight. On the basis of what I have seen, we are risibly failing to live up to our pledges, and to give them the help they need. The Ukrainians can win and will win. But our delay and our timidity continue to cause unimaginable human suffering. We are right to say that the Ukrainians are fighting for all of us – so why the hell are we still short-changing them?”

Guy Davies, Consultant Editor for Commissioning, 5: "Boris takes us on a traumatic and revelatory journey in this documentary. It is clearly a cause that is close to his heart and we see him in a new light - no longer looking at the war from the statesman's perspective, away from the frontline, but in the trenches and more able to speak freely."

Soho Studios’ Founder, Ian Lamarra said: “Seeing a recent British Prime Minister on the frontline of a conflict, with his life in genuine danger, is extremely powerful. I think this will be the talked about doc of the year and make worldwide headlines as it sells internationally.”

Two Rivers’ MD, Alan Clements said: "Two Rivers is really excited to be co-producing this important and remarkable premium feature documentary for 5 which will provide a unique and compelling view of the war in Ukraine".

Boris Johnson was determined to see the realities of this conflict on the front line. His and the crew’s access was secured in collaboration with Richard Pendlebury, the award-winning foreign correspondent at the Daily Mail. 

Boris Johnson: Into the ‘Kill Zone’  (w/t) is a Soho Studios (a Pantheon Media Group Company) and Two Rivers Media production in Association with Daily Mail Originals.  Distributed internationally by Sphere Abacus.  Commissioned by Guy Davies, Consultant Editor for Commissioning, 5.