The Narva river flows into the Russian Federation barely 101 metres away and the forests lead to highways nearly 250 km away from St. Petersburg. Both historical monuments were controlled by different conquering forces until the Estonians broke free from five decades of Soviet occupation in 1991 and the river border divided the countries. Mr. Kirik and Mr. Ilja avoid speaking to their parents. Young people like me mostly support Ukraine,” adds Mr. Kirik. But most of them have moved to other countries,” says Mr. Kirik with a smile.

Source: The Hindu December 31, 2025 15:00 UTC