Ukraine's 'Operation Spider's Web'

Kate Adie introduces stories from Ukraine, Chile, Indonesia, and France.

Ukraine’s audacious drone raid on Russian airbases was met with disbelief that such an attack was even possible. Operation ‘Spider’s Web’ was 18 months in the planning, and caused huge damage to Russia's bomber fleet. But as Paul Adams discovered, civilians in Kyiv are uneasy about celebrating this success, fearful of how Russia might respond.

Approximately one fifth of Ukraine is currently under Russian occupation. Russia doesn’t allow foreign journalists to enter the occupied territories, but the BBC’s Olga Malchevska has been corresponding in secret with Ukrainian civilians in Crimea, through which she learned of the risks they face for small acts of resistance.

During the rule of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in the 70s and 80s, thousands of babies were illegally kidnapped and adopted by couples abroad. Today, many of Chile’s ‘stolen children’ are in a race against time to trace their aging mothers. Jane Chambers was there as one mother and daughter reunited.

The coral reefs of Raja Ampat in Indonesia are among the most beautiful on Earth, but last year suffered a mass bleaching event which left reefs in some regions resembling white desert plains. Mark Stratton reports from West Papua where locals are worried that over-tourism is making the reefs even more vulnerable.

And we’re in Normandy in Northern France, where this week the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings was commemorated. Each year, commemorations take on greater significance as the number of war veterans able to attend declines. Ash Bhardwarj visited one village keeping their memory alive.

Series Producer: Serena Tarling

Production Coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie Hill

Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith