The Role of Propaganda and Information Warfare

One of the most analyzed elements of the documentary is its exploration of modern information warfare. “The war was as much fought in digital spaces as on the ground,” observes war journalist and film consultant Jakub Novák. “STUKTV reveals how state-controlled narratives shaped public perception, while independent voices struggled to be heard.” The series exposes coordinated disinformation campaigns, deepfakes, and social media manipulation aimed at destabilizing trust in official reports.

Near real-time footage of viral false claims broadcast by opposing sides illustrates the blurring line between fact and fiction. This digital dimension deepens the conflict’s complexity, confirming that modern warfare extends into the realm of perception—where truth itself becomes a battlefield. The documentary’s inclusion of intercepted communications and metadata analysis lends rare transparency to this invisible war.

Key Themes in “What Went Down”

Civilian Impact: The series presents harrowing accounts of civilian casualties, with over 40 percent of documented incidents involving non-combatants. Personal testimonies detail mass evacuations, destroyed medical facilities, and long-term trauma.

Military Accountability: Investigative segments scrutinize command decisions, highlighting patterns of delayed aid, unexplained casualties, and alleged cover-ups. Source documents cited include leaked internal memos and testimonies from whistleblowers.

International Reactions: The documentary traces diplomatic responses, from UN condemnations to uneven enforcement of war crimes investigations, exposing geopolitical blind spots and vetoed interventions.

Technology’s Dual Role: Drones, AI targeting systems, and satellite surveillance are portrayed not as neutral tools, but as agents embedded within human judgment—and its failures.

The production also dedicates significant space to the psychological toll, featuring firsthand accounts from military personnel grappling with moral injury and post-combat disorders.

A 2022 report cited in the series found that nearly 60% of frontline troops exhibited signs of PTSD, a figure amplified by chronic exposure to moral dilemmas and high-intensity combat under 24/7 surveillance. Psychological breakdowns, often dismissed in official briefings, are presented as critical but overlooked consequences of modern warfare.

Factual Rigor and Ethical Choices in Storytelling

STUKTV’s approach distinguishes itself through adherence to journalistic integrity.

The team cross-referenced thousands of source documents, from battlefield reports to diplomatic cables, ensuring nuanced, multi-perspective analysis. Unlike many conflict docs that lean into emotive extremes, this series balances harrowing personal stories with structural critiques of defense policies and international law. “We aimed to inform, not inflame,” stated lead producer Marek Kováč.

„Every casualty recorded, every strategy analyzed, was verified through at least three independent sources,” he clarified. The inclusion of expert panels—including former simmers, international lawyers, and humanitarian workers—adds authoritative depth.

Documentary ethics are also addressed transparently.

Footage from conflict zones was obtained through secure channels, with survivor consent rigorously obtained and anonymized where necessary. The series avoids sensationalism by focusing on verifiable events, allowing viewers to form independent judgments. As DR.

Růžičková emphasized, “Our goal wasn’t to assign blame—it’s to illuminate the chain of decisions and their impacts, so history doesn’t repeat missteps in silence.”

In an era of fragmented media and contested truths, STUKTV’s 2022 War: What Went Down stands out as a benchmark in conflict journalism. It compels audiences to confront the raw complexity of war—where facts are fragile, truths are contested, and accountability remains elusive. Through meticulous detail and human-centered storytelling, the film transcends typical war narratives to challenge how societies remember, understand, and learn from the darkest chapters of recent history.

More than a chronicle of violence, this documentary is a call to rigorous inquiry—and a sober testament to the enduring stakes of conflict in the 21st century. The war may be over in headlines, but its echoes live on in lives reshaped, laws tested, and lessons ignored. Only through unflinching examination, as “What Went Down” provides, can the world begin to process what truly unfolded.