🧿 Eternal memory to the fallen heroes.

(All the monuments I visited today had flowers laid at them, it would seem that the memory of the second world war is still very fresh and alive.)

🧿 Today is Monday, museums don't work on Mondays in Russia, I had planned to visit two. Thankfully the hotel reception introduced me to a tour guide (who also works with the ICRC) who volunteered to take me around all the monuments in and around Rostov-on-Don. Not only was he full of information about the city, the memorials, and the history, he was also versed in the current situation. Fifteen years ago he lived in Lughansk, he tells me he still has a 'babushka' living in Kiev, and another in Moscow, even though he was born in Rostov-on-Don.

He was adament that the Ukrainian and the Russian people are one. He was also hopeful that this will not escalate to a third world war, or a nuclear exchange.

Likewise, he pointed out that Rostov-on-Don was occupied by nazis for three years, yet it was liberated.

Big thanks to Yevgeni for the tour.

🧿 Went for a walk around the hotel. Even the hotel has a memorial.

"Eternal memory of the heros"

🧿 All of your questions have been noted and will be addressed 👍

🧿 Dodge and Bentley, quite unexpected for Russia.

🧿 Yet another of the WW2 memorials I filmed today, this one featuring a Maxim machine gun, and a woman holding a pistol.

🧿 For those that are unaware, or curious as to why I chose the label of 'Working Brother' here is a bit of history for you.

You may have also heard Russian forces use the term 'work brothers', this is where it originated.

+18
Magomed Nurbagandov, who was killed by ISIL (CIA creation) militants in Dagestan,Russia. The militants demanded from Magomed that he appealed to his relatives working in the police, and urge them to leave the service.

Magomed calmly said: "Work, brothers."
In the video of his execution he looks coolly into the camera of the isil militant as he is shot. These events took place in 2016.
After that the policeman was postumously decorated with the noscript of "Hero of the Russian Federation". His father is today one of those personally targeted by the sanctions.

"Work Brothers"

Upon my personal discovery of the story of Magomed Nurbagandov, earlier this year, and sharing to random channels, the following message was sent as a reply by a Russian.

"And the world should know what Spetsnaz did in return; because this is also very important to understand the unity in the Russian Federation" -

https://youtu.be/rprDTei35mA

🧿 Lights, camera, action. (Wall art in the hotel)

And good morning to all.

🧿 Next stop

🧿 Arrived

🧿 Dinner at a Georgian restaurant in central Donetsk, met some journos, Miodrag Zarković, Johnny Miller, and the one and only Texas Donbass (Russell Bentley)

🧿 As authentic of a ride as it gets. A Lada Niva in the donbass.

(I may show you the whole car at one point but for security reasons this picture is zzzzzzzooomed in)