'Completing a task is the priority, there's no time to be afraid. Fear is there, but you feel some power that helps you further.' This is how Denis Chernyakov, a fourth-generation military officer, describes the most challenging moments on the frontlines. In a new episode of "Here and Now," Denis shares why he chose a military career and the most crucial factors necessary for accomplishing tasks in order to ensure a safe return from the hot zone.

Here and Now: Episode 3 / 2023
#Russia #Ukraine

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

"A sapper's biggest enemy is mines. We try to locate, destroy, and defuse them. And we never know what to expect. Some may be in the ground, inside a residence, or wherever," says Senior Lieutenant Yevgeny Yashchenko.

Yevgeny led a demining mission in Donbass. Despite modern mine-detecting technologies, he believes that intuition is extremely important in his profession. He describes what it's like to work under enemy’s artillery fire and what helps him persevere in the face of danger.

Discover more about Evgeny's remarkable story and his unwavering commitment to keeping Donbass civilians safe.

Here and Now: Episode 4 / 2023
#Russia #Ukraine

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

What started as an experiment by one couple, is now a role-model rehab center - for bears!

The Orphan Bear Rescue Centre (OBRC) in Russia, established by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), saves and cares for bear cubs separated from their mothers due to human activity. Begun as an experiment by biologists Valentin and Svetlana Pazhetnov in the mid-nineties, the centre is now run by three generations of the Pazhetnov family. The OBRC has developed techniques to keep the cubs wild while being raised by humans. Cubs receive constant care initially but are later transferred to a natural enclosure to learn forest skills.

How did the centre become a global leader in bear rehabilitation?

Bear with Me / 2018
#Russia

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

Aisha Bakari Gombi once hunted big game with her father in Nigeria's forests, but then she turned to pursuing a different kind of prey—Boko Haram insurgents.

Leading a vigilante group in Adamawa state, Aisha and her fellow hunters refuse to remain passive in the face of mass kidnappings, rapes, and killings perpetrated by the extremist group. Though Boko Haram is now confined to a few rural areas, the hunters rely on homemade weapons, mystical potions that purportedly shield them from bullets, and their intimate familiarity with the region's mountains and forests to aid government forces in tracking down the terrorists.

Does Nigeria need more huntresses like Aisha?

Hunting Boko Haram / 2018
#Nigeria

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

Is the American Dream exclusive to white people?

Despite individual successes, African Americans in the 21st century continue to face challenges such as failing schools, drugs, crime, incarceration, unemployment, decaying housing, and broken families.

Some, like barber Shariff Griffin, believe the American Dream is attainable through hard work. However, others suspect that they are held back by a system rigged against them. Explore different perspectives from Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Richmond, with opinions ranging from systemic racism and white supremacy to other points of view.

Will Black America ever truly attain the American Dream—or was it always an illusion?

Black Lives: Trap / 2019
#USA

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

Imagine if the family you believed was yours had actually abducted you…

The victims of Argentina's military dictatorship discovered a devastating truth: their families and identities were part of a cruel conspiracy. With the help of their natural grandmothers' tireless efforts, they reclaimed their true identities. These children, whose biological parents were among the "disappeared" activists, now face the challenge of living as their authentic selves. While their past remains painful, they are determined to embrace their newfound freedom and self-discovery, guided by the unwavering dedication that brought them their true identities.

Argentina's Stolen Children / 2015
#Argentina

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

Why are many women in Kyrgyzstan tragically compelled to wed their abductors?

The deeply rooted custom of Ala Kachuu, or "grab and run," entails young men forcibly abducting girls and coercing them into marriage. The pursuit of gender equality and human rights for girls in Kyrgyzstan is complicated by traditional norms. Despite the efforts of human rights advocates to impose a ten-year sentence for kidnappers, these girls frequently endure humiliation at the hands of their families, communities, and even the authorities.

How can this pervasive issue be effectively tackled?

Stolen Brides, Stolen Lives / 2021
#Kyrgyzstan

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

'Since World War II, the United States has fostered extremist anti-Russian prejudices and hatreds among the Ukrainian diaspora in at least Canada, the United States, and countries in Eastern Europe.

Probably, everywhere in the world,' states American politician Geoff Young. While sifting through declassified CIA documents, Geoff frequently encountered evidence of U.S. intelligence collaborating with radical cults. Could they have foreseen the harrowing consequences this might lead to?

Cults: The CIA's Secret Weapon / 2023

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

How much effort does it take to save China’s bamboo-munching bears from going extinct?

The Giant Panda thrives in China's wild. The government has gone to great lengths to protect these adorable creatures from extinction. The Chengdu panda breeding center, staffed by experts from all over, ensures the safety and successful reproduction of the pandas. They provide everything from a perfect diet to Sex Ed classes for the pandas, even acting as interpreters for their language. Their efforts paid off when, in 2016, the Giant Panda was removed from the endangered species list.

Yet, challenges remain, as pandas need to breed freely in the wild without falling victim to poaching or deforestation.

It's a Pandaful Life! / 2017
#China

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

When false promises of a better future in Europe don't work, young Nigerian girls are ensnared in the horrors of sex slavery while taking binding voodoo oaths.

Dutch authorities made a distressing discovery as girls brought to Europe mysteriously vanished from refugee centers. Their investigation exposed a criminal network responsible for trafficking these girls from Nigeria and dispersing them across the continent. Operating under the guise of a travel agency, a front organization in Nigeria seized their passports upon arrival. Consequently, these girls sought asylum in the Netherlands without proper documentation.

Voodoo, Money and Sex Slaves / 2022
#Nigeria

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

From playing music on stage to the frontlines of a raging conflict – it’s not the easiest move to make!

Musicians and singers who found themselves on the frontlines of the Donbass region have joined DPR forces to fight against neo-Nazism. Musician Victor Petenko, who played the drums in the Donetsk philharmonic, was connoscripted into the military in February 2022. His squad, comprising only musicians, received codenames based on their instruments. Vocalist Francois Maud d'Émé, volunteered to join the Donbass militia to protect his new home.

Despite the ongoing conflict, their colleagues continue to give concerts to uplift civilians and wounded soldiers in hospitals. The question remains: how do they adapt to their new roles?

Theatre of War / 2022
#Donbass #Donetsk

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

One Tunisian man built a cemetery providing a dignified burial for migrants who have failed to reach Europe through Libya.

Since 2010, a significant number of migrants' bodies have been discovered at sea by fishermen in the Mediterranean or washed ashore. Chamsaddin Marzouk has established a cemetery in southern Tunisia called the "Cemetery of the Unknown," where he voluntarily ensures that these strangers receive a respectful burial. Each grave in this cemetery tells a poignant story of hopeful aspirations for a better future tragically cut short by the perils of the sea.

As EU countries have suspended rescue missions, the plight of these migrants serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges of migration in the Mediterranean and underscores the urgent need for effective solutions.

Fisher of Men / 2019
#Tunisia

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

Is Europe ready for a second winter without gas from Russia?

Sanctions on Russian energy sources have led to soaring prices, leaving many Europeans unable to heat their homes. Some have resorted to moving to rural areas where firewood is used for warmth. However, the consequences extend beyond high bills. Unemployment and a looming famine are attributed to the link between Russian gas and fertilizer supplies. ‘Sanctioning Russia is like shooting ourselves in the foot,’ says Austrian Hannes Brejcha. And many European citizens agree with him.

Protest organizer Martin Rutter warns that the sanctions only benefit companies selling more expensive energy resources, while entrepreneurs suffer losses. Could alternative energy sources offer a solution?

Ice Station Europe / 2022
#Europe

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

Nenets children from families of reindeer herders can herd thousands of deer in the wild tundra, but may not know how to wash up or sleep in a bed.

This year, the kids will be attending boarding school in the city for the first time. Accustomed to living in self-made tents with deer, they must learn basic things from scratch and try to adjust to the city life. The school can be reached only by a helicopter, and their parents, perturbed by the months of separation, share their worries. What challenges do these kids, torn from their nomadic life, face?

Torn From The Tundra / 2023
#Russia

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

This 69-year-old man walked 16 km every day to attend classes!

Durge Kami, a widowed father of seven from Nepal, is finally realizing his lifelong dream of education. Despite financial constraints preventing him from attending school in his youth, he joined a class alongside schoolchildren to learn reading, writing, English, and computer skills. Despite facing ridicule from the community, Durge Kami remained unwavering in his pursuit. His remarkable story garnered national and global recognition, inspiring hope for children to excel in school and bring about positive change in Nepal's education system.

Discover if his decision to seek education was supported by everyone in this film!

The Long Road to School / 2016
#Nepal

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!

Warding off troubles, curing diseases, and providing advice - that's what a resume of a skilled shaman should include.

The Buryat people of Buryatia, Siberia, embrace the belief that spirits are present in our world, with shamans acting as intermediaries. Passed down through generations, shamanic traditions are flourishing in the region. Shamans, dressed in traditional robes and headdresses, enter a trance to communicate with spirits, offering protection, healing, and guidance. A three-day rite of passage follows a reluctant shaman named Zandan, while a visit to the Tengeri center in Ulan-Ude reveals the daily lives of approximately 100 shamans. The journey culminates in a vibrant ceremony on Olkhon Island, where numerous shamans summon spirits through rhythmic chants and drumming.

So, you want to be a shaman / 2019
#Russia

🌍 Join Documentary Planet for more!