Ha Kiev Ukrainian forces have been counterattacking and retaking territory in the northeast of the country in recent days as Moscow focuses on the Donbass region.

Further south, our special report tonight is from near the eastern city of museum known as the gateway to the dumbass.

That area has seen some of the most ferocious fighting.

Over the last three weeks.

Our correspondent Quentin Sommerville and camera journalist Darren Conway had been on patrol with volunteer fighters of the territorial Defense Force war descended suddenly upon Ukraine along the eastern front.

It's men maybe in bunkers but they do not cover here.

Three times in the last month the Russians have attacked the space with infantry and tanks and three times they've been repelled.

Another attack may be imminent.

So here they wait.

Vladimir Putin has turned their days in tonight and taking them away from their families.

But for the men of this territorial defense unit, this is now home above their heads hangs a constant threat.

The town they've dug under is all but abandoned, its people gone orphan pets have sought shelter here too.

The men know it won't be long before the next attack.

Yeah, above a Russian barrage is the signal.

It's time to get to work outside these walls.

Everything is in the line of fire and these men face it daily mm hmm mm hmm.

They need a little reminder that to the north, the majority of Russia's forces are headquartered and to the south, most of their Ukrainian comrades, Their patrols and defense along this front line, keep these two mighty forces apart.

The shells start landing closer as the Russians adjust their aim.

We're heading back.

We're not.

So you get a sense of what Russia's artillery and tanks can do.

Two Ukrainian homes.

This is relentless.

But the reason these men holding on so tight here in these defensive positions is because they simply cannot let the Russians through here.

If they do more Ukrainian troops to the south and the Donbass will be under threat.

So they're hanging on for dear life here.

Mm hmm.

At the front there's no bunker but they're armed to the teeth, Yuri, This is a volunteer battalion.

These men are doing ordinary jobs before the war and they're facing against Russian tanks, Russian heavy artillery, indirect fire.

How are they managing to hold the Russians off?

Oh man, they are go go in the moment they fight every day by this fire, you can wash it.

Of course we believe that all the democratic countries, all the world will help us and when we will take, you can give modern weapons, these brave men, they can destroy completely Russian army.

Mm hmm.

As the day goes along, it's time to pick up the pace on open ground.

There is no safe hiding place pinned down.

The route back is cut off by artillery fire.

So through gardens and backyards they search for an escape soldier calls out, leave this place as soon as possible.

And it's here we find Natasha stubbornly hanging on.

Do you need help leaving?

Yuri asks something.

I don't have anyone here but she's defiant.

This war wasn't her choice.

It's as if she refuses to acknowledge it.

Even as Russian shells soar overhead, we can't go forward.

That was for sure.

Yuri tries to convince her to come with us to stay, risks death.

I don't want to betray my husband.

He's buried in the cemetery here.

I won't leave him.

We try one last time.

Natasha, why don't you leave here?

Because it's my home and I have nowhere to go.

Yuri implores her, Natasha go to a nearby town.

They will help you there.

Why?

I got used to it now.

He says we can help you.

Are you ready to be evacuated?

And if I go there, what will I do next?

Off you go guys.

Thank you.

We have to leave.

But Natasha is told to pack her bags will come back for her when the shelling stops despite the onslaught, the men pushed forward.

Mm hmm.