ABC defends broadcasting Russia-Ukraine war documentary after ambassador calls it ‘bowl of vomit’

The ABC has defended an international documentary about the Russia-Ukraine war screened on Four Corners after it was criticised as propaganda by the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko.

On Monday the ABC broadcast Ukraine’s War: The Other Side, from British film-maker Sean Langan, which promised to offer a human perspective on life on the Russian frontline.

But Myroshnychenko said the documentary repeated “blatant lies” that emanated from the Kremlin and served the interests of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and alleged the program “was the journalistic equivalent of a bowl of vomit”.

He demanded a meeting with the managing director of the ABC David Anderson and complained to the minister of communications Michelle Rowland.

“It also minimised and denigrated the deaths of thousands of innocent Ukrainian men, women and children who have been killed by Russian soldiers in an illegal and brutal invasion strongly condemned by Australia and the majority of countries through the UNGA resolution in March 2022.

“The Australian Broadcasting Corporation should be ashamed that it put such total garbage to air.”

The ABC said the documentary, which remains available on ABC iview, is considered an important contribution to the reporting of the war.

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“Ukraine’s War: The Other Side is a challenging but legitimate documentary, made by reputable journalist Sean Langan and first aired last month on the UK’s ITV, that offers a rare insight into the lives of Russian soldiers during the war,” an ABC spokesperson said.

The Australian Ukrainian community joined the ambassador in condemning the ABC for screening it, saying the film gave Russian soldiers “free rein to justify their brutal, unlawful invasion of a sovereign country”.

“In a series of unchallenged interviews, viewers see stomach-turning images of Langan fist-bumping, handshaking, hugging and smiling alongside Russian soldiers, and listening to gross lies, hate and genocidal intentions,” the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations said.

The ABC said the film was being screened internationally and is just one of a suite of programs about the Russia-Ukraine conflict broadcast on Four Corners.

“We believe Australian audiences also have the right to watch it and make up their own minds,” a spokesperson said.

“It adds to our understanding of this tragic conflict and shows the full, horrific impact of the war. The reporter challenges the Russian soldiers and civilians featured in the film about their beliefs and opinions.”

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations said the program had caused distress for the Ukrainian-Australian community.

Rowland told the ambassador the ABC has operational and editorial independence and any concerns about ABC editorial content should be directed to the ABC.

“I have received the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia’s correspondence, and have provided him with information regarding the ABC complaints process and relevant contact details,” Rowland said.

Guardian Australia understands the ABC’s editorial director Gavin Fang will meet with Myroshnychenko.

Langan made three trips to Donbas to film Ukraine’s War and had rare access to soldiers, sharing the extreme danger of their lives.

The Guardian’s defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh described the film last month as appearing “generous to the Russian position simply by giving its ordinary soldiers and civilians airtime”.

“But neither viewers nor broadcasters should completely disregard rarely heard points of view,” Sabbagh wrote.

“Throughout the documentary is careful enough to stress who is at fault for the invasion – Russia, and the overall narrative positioning justifies ITV’s decision to air it on its main channel, even in the aftermath of the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, widely believed to have been orchestrated by the Kremlin.”