Dicing with Death: Ukraine – In the Midst of the Carpathians

In this acclaimed series, we journey on some of the world’s most dangerous routes and explore the lengths people go to in order to change their destinies.

Ukraine is Europe’s poorest country and during thirty years of independence, road maintenance has not been an economic priority. Driving in Ukraine requires steady nerves, mechanical know-how and a lot of imagination. Here, anything goes if you want to reach your destination.

Mikola, Dimitri and Viktor demonstrate the importance of solidarity between drivers in their country. They each have to undertake their own blood-curdling journeys to carry out errands that you and I would consider far beyond the line of duty.

The Carpathians, Just south of the Rivne region, have been compared to the Amazon of Europe – but the wild animals and their habitats are being threatened by deforestation. Yuri and his father, Miroslav, are on a mission to preserve this natural gem and its ecosystem. They use their abandoned Russian army truck to forge paths through mountains to help stags reach food during the winters