RT Documentary

Ordinary Russian women from all corners of the country, volunteer to meet the needs of their husbands who are fighting for the liberation of Donbass. "They can buy things themselves, but what are we supposed to do then? Where's our patriotism?" says one of the women. These women knit, cook, sew, write letters, offer support and prayers. Each one puts her heart into her actions and contributions, for the sake of the frontline defenders. Olya and Masha went a step further; they decided to use a van to personally deliver the aid they had collected for the fighters. The journey was extremely perilous, but the women were willing to embrace this risk to support the fighters and provide them with a sense of home. Watch our premiere to hear first-hand accounts from the frontlines.

Paracale in the Philippines’ is also known as “Goldtown”. RTD visits its illegal goldmines where child labour is rife and health and safety virtually non-existent. To extract gold, miners dive into a mud-filled shaft, sometimes never to come back.

Callsign 'Zero' is a medical officer and a neurosurgeon. He is actively involved in evacuation missions, and provides first aid on the frontlines of the Special Military Operation within the army group 'West.' Some surgical procedures could last four hours or even longer. The work of a neurosurgeon is physically exhausting, but 'Zero' admits that sometimes it is even more challenging to determine the course of action to save the patient. "So, you need to recognize where and when, and most importantly, who needs your help in the first place," says 'Zero'. Watch the new episode of Here and Now to find out why he chose this profession, and what qualities are essential for working on the frontlines.

Hero of Russia, Major Alan Datiev, was born in Vladikavkaz and began his journey to the skies in a model aircraft club. After completing flight school, he was assigned to the 4th Center for Combat Use and Retraining of Flight Personnel in Lipetsk. The skills he acquired during years of training exercises proved invaluable when he joined the Special Military Operation. In one engagement, the fighter pilot destroyed three aerial targets simultaneously. During another, he came under attack from a missile system and, sustaining injuries to his hands, legs, and head, ejected over enemy territory. He managed to reach friendly forces and receive assistance. Find out firsthand what it was like.

During the Special Military Operation, first and second-year cadets from the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School served under contract in one of the Ground Forces formations. Among them is Nikita Barsukov, who had aspired to become a soldier and defend his homeland since childhood. When the Ukrainian army began shelling civilians in Donbass, Nikita couldn't stand by and joined the SMO to protect them. His unit's primary tasks included assault and defence. They served as stormtroopers, aiming to free Donbass villages from Ukrainian nationalists. "The scariest thing is the unknown. You never know what's coming for you and when it'll land," says Konstantin Morozov, Nikita's fellow cadet. Once, his squad narrowly avoided being surrounded, but Konstantin not only saved himself but also rescued a wounded comrade.

RT Documentary goes back in time to explore the reasons for and the course of the Crimean War (1853-1856). The film is a mix of historical re-enactment and the present day: a group of international scientists excavate and rebury the remains of fallen soldiers in the Crimean War. Pierre Malinowski, head of the Russian-French Relations Development Fund, is the driving force behind the initiative. He’s fascinated by the history of the Crimean War, and how circumstances can miraculously connect people and make a story. During his project on General Gudin, who fell in the 1812 war in Russia, Mr. Malinowski talked to the D’Orleans family, French descendants of the General. While working on the project, Mr. Malinowski took a fancy to an old desk the family had. It turned out the desk had belonged to General Gudin’s great-grandson who fought at Sevastopol. The D’Orleans family has become the link between two major historic events: the war of 1812 and the Crimean War. The father of the family says their ancestors had been involved in fighting since the Middle Ages. This was one of the amazing coincidences that encouraged Malinowski to start the excavations. The fallen soldiers will be identified and given an honourable burial, regardless of which side they were on. They are part of history and must be respected and treated decently for the sake of their families. During the excavation and ID process, the scientists made numerous extraordinary discoveries, and learnt many heartfelt stories about the soldiers and their lives. Watch the film and experience the excitement of history unfolding before your eyes.

Despite his musical background, this soldier with the callsign 'Gorynych' couldn't turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the Ukrainian army against Donbass civilians and ventured to the frontlines. Yet, amidst the conflict in Donbass, 'Gorynych' held a modest yet heartfelt desire: to have a piano in his unit. One day, his wish came true, and it was installed in their shelter. The piano now offers him a brief respite from the turmoil. "Well, it's a complete detachment from what's going on here. I mean, for 5 minutes, you can literally immerse yourself in another world," he reflects. Such moments of joy are rare on the frontline but are crucial for bolstering the soldiers' morale. That's why the team of the "RT.DOC: Time of Heroes" Festival made it their mission to uplift the spirits of the fighters. This time, the team traveled right to the frontlines. There, amidst the chaos of shelling, fighters were shown films that portrayed their own heroic deeds and those of soldiers who courageously risked their lives for peace in Donbass. The Festival goal is to remind Donbass heroes of the love and anticipation awaiting them back home.

"In my opinion, the Ukrainian position towards Donbass residents has fundamentally changed. They probably seem to have stopped feeling any kind of human sympathy for them, as they consider them enemies, that is, the entire population of Donbass," notes Aleksey Smirnov, founder of "Angel" relief battalion. For 10 years now, Aleksey and his team has been delivering humanitarian aid to the most perilous areas, assisting in maintaining contact with families in combat zones, and offering support to people through their acts of philanthropy. Watch the documentary to discover how one volunteer's efforts led to the establishment of a charity, that collects millions of rubles each month to assist thousands of families in Donbass.

The Akhal-Teke, the closest descendant of wild horses, is the world's most expensive and popular breed. They are characterised by remarkable speed, endurance and rapid recovery. Orazguly Babalyev, an honoured horse breeder from Turkmenistan, comes from a family deeply involved with racehorses for generations. "My father at one time - back in the Soviet era - in 1956, took a trip to England, where he presented the Queen with an Akhal-Teke horse called 'Melegush.' I also travel to different countries, on behalf of the Esteemed Arkadag, taking along with me Turkmen racehorses as a gift," says Orazguly. His family follows the old belief that such a horse is the wings of a Turkmen, and they treat the Akhal-Teke as members of their families. In this new documentary, discover how these precious horses are bred and why genetic tests are performed on each newborn. Learn more about how they are trained to become race winners, capable of covering a distance of 100 metres in just 4 seconds.

After moving to Russia in 1992, John Kopiski, a former London coal and steel trader, found more than just a place to call home, he found his true calling. These days, John Yanovich, as he prefers to be called, runs a dairy farm with more than 4000 cows some 200 km east of Moscow in Vladimir region. Along with his wife, Nina and 5 children, he’s an exemplary patriot, proud of his new-found motherland and its history. How can a troika-riding, white-bearded Brit be even more Russian than many Russians?

The Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa is one of the world’s most resource-rich countries. A wide range of rare minerals can be found here in abundance, all commanding high prices in world commodity markets. Diamonds for jewellery, tantalum, tungsten and gold for electronics; uranium used in power generation and weaponry and many others. Congo has copious deposits of raw materials that are in high demand internationally but remains one of the poorest countries in the world. From colonisation, with the horrors of slavery and other atrocities, to a turbulent and equally brutal present in which militant groups control the mines, Congo’s richness in natural resources has brought nothing but misery. Referred to as “conflict minerals”, these riches leave only a trail of death, destruction and poverty. Under Belgian rule, Congolese labourers were often required to meet quotas when mining different minerals. Failure could mean punishment by having a hand cut off with a machete. The country gained independence in 1960, but that didn’t put a stop to slave and child labour or to crimes being committed to extract and exploit the minerals. Warring militant fractions from inside the country and beyond seized control of mines for their own benefit while terrorising local populations. For our translator, Bernard Kalume Buleri, his country’s history of turmoil is very personal; like most Congolese people, he and his family fell victim to the unending mineral based power struggle. Born in the year of his country’s independence, he has lived through war and seen his homeland torn apart by violent looting and greed. His story is a damning testament, illustrating how nature’s bounty, instead of being a blessing, becomes a deadly curse.

The road to ISIS’ self-proclaimed capital, Raqqa, has been long and hard. The battle rages in the suburbs of the Syrian city. Improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers, sniper fire and grenade-dropping drones have been deployed by the surrounded terrorists. This film features the stories of fighters in the Kurdish People Protection Units (YPG), as well as European volunteers who joined them. There are also stories of military hospital staff. Dr. Akhiv, a veteran military doctor considers his work a “sacred calling.” Adham, a frontline nurse, joined the field hospital after his brother was killed fighting ISIS. Sema, a Kurdish female commander, left her family to join the fight. “We’re not fighting for a certain nation. Humanity is what we’re fighting for,” she says. Some Europeans have joined the YPG as volunteers. Rosa left a mundane life in Sweden to fight for women’s rights in Syria. Robin, a volunteer from Germany, got sick of hearing how “someone should do something about” ISIS after every terrorist attack in Europe. He left his girlfriend and a comfortable life to do something about them himself.

In the heart of the rugged mountains of Dagestan, a small school struggled for years to find an English teacher for its students. Despite the breathtaking landscapes and the rustic charm of rural life, the road to this school can be utterly perilous. However, Musakay Musakaev’s resolve wasn’t swayed by the challenges - everyday, he spends 4 hours commuting to work on impassable roads, where rockfalls, landslides, and floods from mountain rivers pose threats. Friends advised the rural teacher to quit his job and find another one in the city - more profitable and comfortable. But Musakay instead, jumps into his car and drives to the school. Inspiring children and giving them a chance for a better future is what motivates Musakay to take such risks.

Valentina Ivanova from Lugansk recalls that her entire family was at home when the shelling began. ‘When the shell hit the house, we got really scared. We thought that we wouldn't make it out alive—none of us ... neither Egorka, nor Dasha, nor Sasha—no one’, Ivanova recalls about that fateful day. Tragically, their home was completely destroyed due to the Ukrainian bombing. It was then that Ivanova's young son, Sasha, made a heartfelt promise to do everything in his power to help others. Despite his young age - Sasha studies at primary school - he joined a volunteering project that supplies Donbass residents with hot meals daily. The 'Food for Life Charity' began operations in Donbass in the summer of 2022. When the cities of Donbass were freed, significant destruction was left behind by the Ukrainian nationalists. In areas devoid of food, water, and electricity, 'Food for Life' volunteers became their only hope for residents to get food. What drives Sasha and other kids to help others at their own peril?

On March 22, 2024, Svetlana Sheremet came to the concert with her family. The show was about to start when Svetlana's son said, 'Mum, it's gunshots.' As the terrorists opened fire on defenceless people, the family narrowly escaped from the concert hall. Svetlana's son's legs gave out, and a man carried him out of the burning building. “Everyone who could help did so. Those who smashed through the walls to get to the roof, those who tried to break down the doors, and those who steered people away when gunshots were fired outside the door,” says Oleg Ukolov, an eyewitness of the Crocus City Hall tragedy. Watch the documentary to discover how amidst this harrowing ordeal, people united, offering support to one another.

‘Bears are very clean animals. Water is like a second home to them', says Andrey. While working as a pilot at an airfield, he met an orphaned bear cub and started to take care of him. He and his friends called him Mansur. All the while the animal was small, it was fun and easy to keep him, but adult bears need a lot of space and up to 20 kg of food per day. It was too late to return Mansur to the wild, and crowdfunding became the ideal solution to meeting his needs. With the help of volunteers from 16 countries, they launched an online reality show about Mansur’s life. His bear enclosure is under round-the-clock observation, and watching how Mansur keeps himself busy has become a popular internet sensation. He’s also been known to befriend foxes, cats and hedgehogs, which are sometimes caught on camera while visiting their giant friend. The Documentary explains why Mansur is known to some as a ‘forest cow’ and looks at how bears are treated in different parts of the world.

WWII fighter pilot Aleksey Maresyev survived the impossible: his plane was shot down in a remote wilderness, the crash broke his legs and he still managed to find safety. It took him 18 days of crawling through a snow-covered forest, with no food or water. The amputation of his legs meant he would be discharged from the armed forces. No doctor would send him back to the front-line. Maresyev, however, wanted to fly fighter planes again to defend his country against the Nazi threat. Related: Russia's Top Guns Showcase their Aviation Skills His doctors and commanders took a lot of convincing to let him return to the pilot’s seat and his comrades were nervous about teaming up with a handicapped pilot. They needed to know that every unit member would have their backs in combat. Soon, however, Maresyev dispelled all concerns with his skill. His example inspired other pilots. When the War was over, Russian writer, Boris Polevoy, wrote a book about Maresyev’s heroic feat, “The story of a real man”. His work was taught in schools and every child knew of Maresyev’s amazing willpower, determination and courage. His example saved the lives and careers of other pilots who found themselves in similar situations in years to come. Related: Three disabled men reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro One detail from his story remained a mystery for many decades: nobody could find his plane. Finally, one man, Aleksandr Morzunov, became a forensic investigator and, by a twist of fate, discovered the crash site. He would only agree to reveal it in the presence of Aleksey Maresyev’s family. The hero’s son and grandson travel to where the legend of their ancestor was born.

The Beslan School attack is still the deadliest act of terror Russia has ever seen. Fifteen years on, RTD meets survivors who face the daily challenge of coming to terms with an event that tore their lives apart. The three-day hostage crisis remains infamous not just because of its unequalled death toll, with 334 killed, but because so many of the victims were children. On 1 September 2004, pupils, teachers and families gathered to celebrate the start of a new year at School Number 1 in Beslan, Northern Ossetia, a region in the Russian Caucasus. Radical Islamists from neighbouring Chechnya took 1,127 children, relatives and staff hostage. They were held without drinking water in suffocating heat in the school sports hall, which was packed with explosives. A number of the captured men were executed. On the third day of the siege, time appeared to be running out. Security forces surrounding the compound stormed the building to rescue the victims. Many exhausted hostages died in the chaos of bullets, explosions and fire, or in the aftermath. The children are now grown up, caught between unending grief for lost loved ones and a determination to lead worthwhile lives. For Irina Gurieva, who was starting in second grade at the time, life is split between ‘before' and 'after' the terror attack. Dzerassa Kyudzaeva, the seven-year-old girl, chosen to ring the first bell of the school year, now tries to live “for 334 people”. Fatima Dzgoeva, who was severely disabled in the attack, fights hard every day to keep her body working. For the rescuers too, time has taken its toll. At Moscow's Arkhangelsk military cemetery, the section where officers involved in the Beslan siege are buried is filling up. The soldiers still alive must live with their memories. Vitalii Demidkin spent 27 years with “Spetsnaz”, or special forces, but despite having served in several hot-spots, he sees Beslan as the most horrific mission of his career. He still feels survivor’s guilt towards his brothers-in-arms who died in the operation to free the hostages. He has never returned to the school; until now. Many survivors prefer to avoid publicity, but for some, talk about the events proves helpful. Former child hostages and rescuer agree to accompany RTD and go back to the school, now turned into a shrine, to relive those three terrible days, and at last, to meet in person.

Western Sahara is one of the most heavily mined territories in the world following decades of conflict with its neighbours. Despite a 1991 ceasefire, most Sahrawis still linger in refugee camps in Algeria because it is too dangerous to live there. Now, some brave young women have taken it upon themselves to clear their ancestral lands of landmines so their people can return.

Kristina was only 19 when she took on the role of mother to her five younger brothers and sister. After their parents tragically both died within a year, determined to keep her family together, Kristina applied to become the children’s guardian. The big sister dropped out of college and moved back to the village to take care of her family. Running a household is a full-time job for Kristina, who toils away from early morning until late at night when the kids have finally gone to bed. It’s not just her siblings who need Kristina’s attention. The family farm has escaping livestock, numerous dogs, cats and a couple of hamsters, all in need of care. There's a lot to be done on a farm: milking, chopping, mowing, fixing and cleaning. Luckily, the kids all help their big sister and share out the daily chores among themselves. When Kristina’s story surfaced on the internet, people started sending letters, gifts and money from across the country and beyond. Numerous suitors also flooded Kristina’s social media with messages and romantic overtures! For the 21-year-old, however, her own plans and aspirations are on hold until her siblings have grown up. She's passed a six-month trial period but still has to prove she can handle the parental responsibility. Child Services visit the family regularly to check on the children's diet, clothing and their extracurricular activities. To find out how she copes with her hectic household and large family, an RTD crew visits Kristina and the kids in their Chelyabinsk region village. It’s a heartwarming story of a young girl’s devotion to her family and the drive to keep going, even in the hardest of times.

"We're shooting a film here, but this is no movie," says Sargon Hadaya, half Russian, half Syrian. He is a war correspondent who has dedicated his life to revealing the truth behind the conflicts in Ukraine and the Arab world. The war correspondent finds himself in the midst of hell: in the phosphorus-burned forests of Kremennoy, in a combat helicopter above Bakhmut, and during the attacks of paratroopers in Svatovo. He openly admits that this kind of job isn’t enjoyable, but it's necessary. Sargon has filmed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. But after the war in Syria, according to him, everything changed - journalists became targets. Sargon reports in Arabic, fluent in Russian and prays in Aramaic, the language of Christ. Watch our new documentary to learn more about this challenging yet indispensable profession.

How easy is it to fall into the cunning trap of microloans? Tatyana's apartment in Moscow was fraudulently sold at auction. Sergey was forced to sell his apartment to pay off a $75k debt that has been pinned on him. Svetlana found herself tangled in loans, low receipts, and debts. What do these individuals have in common? They are all victims of the dubious microloan scheme. It has proven to be the most common stratagem for seizing people's assets nowadays. How can one avoid falling prey to such schemes and protect themselves from losing everything they’ve worked for all their lives? Find out in our new documentary!

In 1994, about one million people were killed in Rwanda in just 100 days. Two decades on, a classical ballet school for young girls in the Rwandan city of Kigali has come to symbolise just how far the country has come in recovering from the trauma inflicted by the inter-tribal conflict. Children from the Hutu and Tutsi tribes were once seated on opposite sides of the classroom in Rwanda and taught that they were different, even in appearance. Tribal differences were also often emphasised by parents at home. This has radically changed since the genocide, however. Government initiatives in both schools and communities now teach, “No one’s a Hutu or a Tutsi, everybody’s Rwandan and that’s it,” as one aspiring young ballerina put it. Weekly reconciliation meetings are still held in every Rwandan village to reinforce this concept. Though the families of the genocide victims are still full of pain and can’t forget those they lost, they harbour no resentment and don’t promote anger, as “we can’t hate our neighbours, because we must all live together,” one woman said. Related: The Curse of the 'conflict minerals' in Congo The fresh voices and attitudes of the young ballerinas in this film attest to Rwanda’s success in dealing with its brutal past and preparing its new generation for a peaceful future. As one young dancer said, “We can’t let this happen again… we can’t go back to where we were; we have to keep growing and expanding on that.”

The Moiseyev Ballet is a world-known and loved folk dance ensemble, which has played an important role in establishing Russia’s international cultural ties since its inception in 1943. Its dancers are under constant pressure to do justice to the legacy of its visionary founder, Igor Moiseyev, and to keep proving the Ballet’s leadership among folk dance groups of the world. They undergo gruelling rehearsals and have to accept the inevitability of injuries and health problems – all in the name of art. Yet they are always trying to reach perfection, no matter the cost. They give the dance their all and, unlike in classic ballet, are prepared to share fame with each other, rather than stand out as lead dancers. Related: The hard path to becoming professional ballerina: a look Inside Russia's most famous ballet academy In 1943, the visionary Russian choreographer founded the Moiseyev Ballet, which showcased traditional dances from various cultures not just from around Russia and former Soviet republics, but from around the world - from English arrangements to Cossack dances. His ballet exists and performs to this day, still using his original choreography. The Moiseyev Ballet is grueling for the young dancers who perform there. Hours and hours of rehearsal, scores of injuries and high emotions are all par for the course on this stage. As they say, being polite and soft with people won’t get results. But in the end, the result here certainly shows. Related: What it takes Russian rhythmic Gymnasts to keep Russia's leadership in this beautiful and demanding sport The Moiseyev Ballet is at its heart an ensemble, and to that end so-called “superstars” have no place here. The dancers must all share the stage with one another, and work and perform as one flowing unit. This famous ensemble has been travelling all over the world for decades. They were among the first Russians to go to America after the Cold War, and were on the first Russian flight to Israel after a long hiatus in relations. However, they also make sure to travel around Russia’s vast territories. During the course of the film, one young dancer suffers a debilitating knee injury, and must undertake surgery. It’s heartbreaking, but he takes it in stride. It’s understood by all in the Moiseyev Ballet that these things happen, and at any rate the career of a dancer is bound to be short. For the time being, though, these young stars shine brightly on the stage, and work tirelessly to show their own and others’ culture all over the world.