Ukrainte: The Cost of Arms

A tv programme

Directed by

Hugo Van Offel, Martin Boudot

Produced by

Premières Lignes

Leading French distributor

France 5

Production year2023

Programme formatOne-off

GenresDocumentary

Runtime 52 min

Synopsis

Never have we heard these two words as much as today: arms deliveries. Drones, tanks, missile launchers, planes, semi-automatic rifles, grenades, ammunition. Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, beyond the battlefield, weapons have become a diplomatic instrument, objects of hope, concern or propaganda. This film tells the story of arms diplomacy and its dark side: arms trafficking, akin to a spy thriller. The narrative unfolds from small-time arms traffickers in Marseille to European intermediaries and ultimately to wholesalers from Odessa in Ukraine. The storyline takes us from high-profile political summits to arms factories in Europe and their shipments to Ukraine, while also delving into the challenging battle fought by law enforcement to prevent the weapons from slipping into the wrong hands. It also unveils a concerning international dimension: global rearmament. The conflict in Ukraine has accelerated a trend that has been observed for a decade. Europe is rearming, from Scandinavia to peaceful countries like Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and even France, which has decided to increase its defense budget by 30% over the next seven years. What will be the consequences of such a scenario in the years to come?