The Siberian forest is a harsh and unforgiving place, where only the hardiest of individuals can thrive
Samuil is one such person, the only resident for miles around for the past 20 years.
As morning breaks, Samuil stirs from his sleep, slowly rising and beginning to prepare himself
for whatever the wilderness may bring.
To start his day, he washes his face with ice-cold water that he collected from a nearby lake
Another crucial aspect of morning routine is to tend to the wood-burning stove and keep
the fire going to ensure that the temperature remains consistent throughout the day.
It's a beginning of April, the long-awaited spring has finally arrived
The winter's icy grip is slowly loosening, and the forest is starting to come to life once again
The temperature has begun to rise, with the biting cold of -60 degrees Celsius is slowly
being replaced by a relatively balmy -10 degrees Celcius.
This change is a welcome relief for Samuil, who has weathered the extreme cold alone in wild forest
It has been quite cold recently The temperature has dropped to -50°C (-58°F)
some days it's went to -60°C (-76°F) I couldn't go outside for too long
I spent my days gathering firewood and heating up my home
And sometimes I collect branches to make brooms
As the temperature starts to rise and spring fills the air, Samuil takes advantage of the
favorable weather to create a significant number of brooms.
To make money for food, Samuil uses his skills to create brooms from branches in the forest.
He walks for five hours to reach the nearest village, where he sells the brooms for $3 each
Samuil faced a difficult past as he lost his family at a young age and worked at a farm
that eventually closed down, leaving him without a job.
With determination to survive, he moved to the forest and used his skills to make a living.
However, life in the forest was unforgiving, and Samuil faced harsh living conditions.
His small wooden house lacked proper windows, and he had to use cellophane instead.
When we heard about Samuil's situation, we couldn’t ignore it, and decided to take action
We decided to surprise him by bringing new windows, food, and supplies to help him live
in more comfortable conditions.
Thanks to Nikolai, Lazar and our cameraman Radomir for organizing and bringing essential supplies to help Samuil
Wow, that's so much!
Look, new chainsaw for you
Oh my God!
It will be much easier now to get the firewood
Yes, it's so amazing
Oh God, it's so heavy!
Aahh!
Wow, so much food I can hardly carry it
Wow!
That's so fancy!
Yeah
I'm so happy
Ohh!
It's so heavy!
Wow!
So much duck!
What is it?
It's rice
Oh, is this rice?
This is such a nice chainsaw
And completely new
Wow
If I don't use them, will the battery not drain?
No, no
Are you sure?
No, it's fine
So amazing!
I can use them for many years I can finally have lights and listen to my radio
So nice
As Nikolai and Lazar diligently work on installing the new windows, Samuil eagerly heads out
into the forest to check the traps he had set earlier for hares.
Living in the wild, Samuil depends on his trapping skills to obtain meat for his meals,
and tonight he plans to share his catch with our team.
Ah!
Such a gift was given by the father of the forest
I can make a soup for my friends It's so difficult to take it out
Especially during the winter, when it's very cold
The metal sticks to your skin
Okay, great
Look, such a gift from the father
It's so heavy
Okay, great
We are having a big feast tonight!
I don't always catch something
There are times when I don't catch anything
After successfully installing the new windows, the guys decided to help Samuil gather firewood
and prepare some stock.
with his new chainsaw, Samuil is able to obtain firewood faster and with greater ease.
After a long and exciting day, Samuil is ready to wind down and indulge in his specialty
of the house - Yakutian bread.
This traditional bread, originating from Yakutia, is a staple in Samuil's diet and a source
of comfort for him in the wild.
He expertly mixes the flour, water, yeast and salt, kneading the dough until it's just right
We need to mix it well
Make sure to knead the dough well
So let me show you how I make Yakutian bread
Just add a little bit of flour
Mix it around and then roll it flat
And then put it on the pan ready to heat
Make sure that it's even and flat
And now I will cook it for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown
Alright
I use my heating stove for cooking
Put the wood in to heat it up
I'm so happy now that I've received so many gifts
Nobody ever gave me so much
And I'm so happy now I've got these new windows
I can finally feel warm and comfortable
It's so beautiful and I can see everything so clearly
Also it's so amazing that the guys helped me to install it
Now my life in the forest will be much easier
Now I have the modern windows, a chainsaw, and so much food
And I feel like now I'm going to have such an easy life
Now, I need to think what else I can do during my free time
As dinner is being prepared, our team takes the opportunity to show Samuil the first part
of the video we've made.
This is the first time he's seen it, and his face lights up with joy as he watches himself
and his way of life on screen.
Seeing the footage is a heartwarming experience for Samuil, and he's grateful for the chance
to share his story with others.
As the video ends, Samuil expresses his gratitude, offering to share his food and many interesting
stories about living in the wilderness.
For Samuil, it's a reminder that even in the rugged wilderness, there are people who care
and are willing to lend a helping hand.
This experience was a powerful reminder of the importance of showing kindness and compassion
towards others, and how such acts can make a meaningful difference in someone's life.