Man of Iron

After an explosion rocked the Crimean Bridge, Ilya Kazakov, a native of the peninsula, joined Russia’s special military operation to defend his homeland from Ukrainian nationalists. Following two months on the front lines, he stepped on a mine and lost both legs. The explosion also claimed the lives of two of his friends. Ilya’s injuries were severe but he miraculously survived and hasn’t lost his optimism and love of life. Now, he has even more plans than he did a year ago. He wants to show people that life doesn’t stop after such challenges, but instead becomes more interesting and vibrant. Ilya has started a blog and is writing a book. How can people maintain faith in themselves after such trauma, and what helps them to find happiness again? Through his own example, Ilya aims to demonstrate that life can still be rich and meaningful despite facing such trials.

Watch “Man of Iron” on RTD website and on RT’s live feed. The time of the broadcast is available on RT’s schedule page.