2 versions, multiple copies, and a hidden drawing. was there another symbolic meaning to this beautiful painting that perhaps we just don't understand? search for answers starts july 7th on dw. ah hello and welcome to focus on europe, where the focus this time round is still inevitably on the conflict in ukraine. and one of the closest allies of russia in the gruesome war of aggression launched by vladimir putin is alexander lucas shanker. the autocratic leader of bellows, the relationship between the 2 men, goes back a long way and they still meet on

a regular basis, which is a huge source of irritation and anger to the opposition that has, however, largely being crushed by the cushion that has in turn of course, force many to seek asylum in ukraine, including for instance, scientists and artists, and men like alexei had already been living in ukraine for a number of years and had signed up to join the military. they're so wild bellow roast the country, stand side by side with russia. many bellow, russian, people are fighting shoulder by shoulder with the ukrainian armed forces. and for his courage and his commitment, alexei has paid a high price. alexei has to learn to stand on to feed again. originally from bella roost. he's been part of the ukrainian army off and on for about 8 years now. the war has taken its toll. 2 weeks after the fighting started, he was on a reconnaissance patrol when

a russian shell struck nearby. now he's learning to walk on an artificial leg. when those are 2 or 3 weeks ago, i still needed to crutches. not like this one, but then it real crutches that you wedge under your arms. so now i manage without social, when i use this one like a cane thought. now alexei trains recruits. so many bela ruffians have joined ukraine's armed forces since the war started. that they formed an entire regiment of their own. yeah. alexa came to ukraine in 2014. after keeps euro my dan, protests great america. and my client is one of the last free countries remaining of the former soviet republics. yet if it had lost its freedom at ella, if to my dan protests had been put down as soon as the builder would have been no future left for the region, possibly neither for ukraine, nor for bella roost, belittles your neighbors, never slip was linear with me now the belly ruffian regiment numbers several 100

troops. many of them fled to ukraine in 2020 after president, alexander look ashamed, go crushed, mass protests all across bela ruth with roster as his fellow troopers call him as part of the regiment. he also took part in the protests and bella, ruth, nor wheat of literally no portion was mortal mutiny, a horse killed, but in the shower loom and not share, we were hoping we could topple lucas shinkel, p solissi you. but unfortunately, i had them through or hopes did not come true and the regime is still in power. my task now now is to do everything i can to bring down this regime of cynthia marshall tray booth newton. i run to the soldiers of the bella, rosie, and regimented the ukrainians fight is also very much theirs. they can't go back to their country now. any way that we need to carry

a procedure with them in their communion that i could expect a life sentence at the very least, given that the worst execution to law, not far from my participation in the protests extreme, you could charge me with extremism asada and now, on top of that, with being a mercenary in the war one year probably the fighters have many different political opinions. what unites them as their opposition to the regime in bella ruth, in 2014, alexei 1st joined the right wing nationalist as of battalion. since february he's been with a bela ruffian regiment. he describes himself as the nationalist but almost as one isn't clover campbell, that was more, you'll are supposed to chill which russian nationalists want to live in a free country. the former takes since his group, whether democracy or something else is not so important to lower. the main thing is that people can choose and develop as they wish. he wasn't until at the moment.

there is no development and been a roost lucel. now alexis morning starts with physiotherapy. his body has to learn to keep its balance without help from the left leg. he's down to receive a new, electronically controlled prosthesis. eventually, if alexi had his way, he'd like to go back to the front. i won't be able to return to active duty like i used to, but there are many different jobs at the front or below. different kinds of weapons . those is that i won't be able to fight in my former unit. that's physically no longer possible on the floor is always involved for the time being it's training, training, and more training. he still has many steps to take before he can return to the front. well, on a very different node. what you can see here are young bulgarians enjoy one of the very popular students bulls that mark the end of school days. and the pursuit of

new challenges a bit here to the war in ukraine. cast a shadow because just like in the rest of europe, the conflict to send consumer prices spiraling, selling the capital. sophia daniella says no corners will be cut when it comes to making sure that her daughter natalie will have a day to remember. that means lots of glamour and glitz. at 7 30 am. today, 19 year old natalie graduates from school, one of the most important days of her life. she and her mother have been preparing for it long in advance. today she is going to feel like a princess. me. no, i'm not nervous, but the family get together at the restaurant to be a bit nerve wracking. she's got just enough time for coffee before going to have her hair and makeup done. she's aiming for hollywood glamour, her mother daniela,

took out a loan to pay for it all. i mean, it wouldn't at all if you count all the preparations and the party afterwards. it costs around $3000.00 euros cup. that includes the restaurant, her outfit make up here. do you all the accessories and other details to the daily news at what does it mean for an ordinary bulgarian family to spend so much? anybody in air meal, the lesson over him, money, you have to save up the money for a long time, while most people take out alone to do it. that's how we finance everything in life . at any rate, you couldn't pay for it from your salary. as an accountant natalie's mother errands, an average income and bulgaria, that means about $500.00 euros a month. mother and daughter both have to get by him, but her 1st appointment is for may good as she started to get ready for the big day . oh, this only happens once in life,

and i want it to be unforgettable. willis as a girl, you have your maker hair and a manicure done, and you pick out a dress. these preparations are very important to us about an hour later natalie's ready at last, but she still got to hurry. the most important part is yet to come. bulgaria is one of the european union's poorest countries. currently, less than half the population earns enough to cover their living expenses. the moments natalie's been waiting for the whole morning has come. it's time to put on to dress. it cost on yellow. $400.00 euro's the pair of them took 3 months to find exactly what they wanted. yes. oh, you are so beautiful. well then, did he just gorgeous mark. let me straighten the netting

a little. he was up in the back to bravo. at the meal, the family showers natalie with presents it doesn't show at the party that many here are worried about their futures. the warren ukraine has made a difficult situation far worse. now. inflations running at 14.4 percent was beautiful. so sage the course, we feel that way of think there's a kind of fear that affects us all, my virtue is a psychological stress and we feel it so safe them. but if we look back at history up, we see that we're not the 1st to experience or felicia, and on the war watches are the winner. latelys mother daniella has gone into debt for her daughter's sake. the costs for the celebration have exploded over just the past few weeks. everything's got more expensive. everything. bread, cheese, meat, for example, chicken breast used to cost 3 years, 50,

a kilo. now it's 7 euro's the price has doubled. a few months ago with the party might have cost me around half as much after the meal natalie gets together with her schoolmates. many of them have rented a car, especially for this day. so they construct their stuff in front of the alexander, netscape cathedral, sophia's most famous landmark. the graduates count down the 12 years at school and the party begins. oh, well, they may party like there is no tomorrow. pressure in the country is increasing. in late april, russia could natural gas applies to bulgaria for now in the country can manage. but the sanctions on russia lead to a cuts and the flow of oil. things could get much worse. most of the

graduates here don't want to think about it. how do you imagine your life and 10 years from now? might be a family and a job. i see my future in bulgaria. you can accomplish a lot here. you don't have to go abroad. they leave the problems for another day. the money was rising prices, news of the war to night. they just want to enjoy the celebrations. now, temperatures are high in many parts of europe, and people are looking for places to cool down. but many rivers lakes across the continent are in poor shape, not least in the u. k. a close look at the river thames that runs through london shows that a number of places along its course. a badly clogged up by a sick clean mix of cleansing, wipes leaves toilet paper,

sludge and effluent. but as we see now, some hardy spirits taken up the battle against the muck. debbie leach is not impressed. few could guess where she is pulling up here. the river thames and london has a few undesirable spots along its banks, and this here is wet life. it's caught on this twig. it's about one half me to thick mound of wet wipes, mixed with twigs and some salt few leaves. but it's basically solid, used, wet wipes. locals have dropped the area which wipe island it come to real house is this south like in people's bathrooms? it's people are using wet wipes in the bathrooms and then i think he accost our flush, that down the low. there's no bite of esoteric there at all, all the small animals you'd expect to see on river banks. an unfortunate is gone. debbie is part of a group of britons monitoring the condition of the rivers. something the

authorities here rarely do these days. many are outraged that toiletries could end up here on the riverbank retired police officer. ashley smith heads up a group that conducts daily detective work the washer company for the thames region . once a purification plant, not far from here. we see quite a nasty coating of grey fine sediment on the bottom and brown and grey owl gay, which is coating the gravel choking any we've life out of it. ashley smith is on his way to a spot where the company releases the purified waste water into the stream. but directly next to it actually points to a 2nd pipe. this one sometimes spews out untreated waste water, the actual chemicals, your hormones, the drugs, the bacteria, the human waste,

the ah, heavy levels of phosphate and nitrate and ammonia that all comes out here. and that makes its way down into the river windrush then into the river. thames sewage las glued from it 2 days ago. he says, he's collecting film evidence. i'm going to put them gloves on because i'm going to post the camera after it's been in that the companies are allowed to release untreated waste water into the rivers. but only in exceptional circumstances, when there's flooding or the sewers are fool after heavy rain, otherwise it's illegal. our analyst can tell if it's happened by looking at water industry data flow data taken on 15 minute intervals. he can establish whether it's happened to early, if they've discharged it before treating sufficient for their permit. and we found a lot of illegal activity in that way. the washer company insists its activities are legal. the environment agency relies on companies to self monitor at the public

outcry has now prompted an investigation. u. k. rivers are among the most polluted in europe. the government and water companies are accused of feeling to modernize the sewage system over decades. this is basically a consequence of victorian infrastructure and it's a, it's a huge undertaking to remove all of the storm overflow. they are therefore emergency flash flooding events that say they've always been part of the system. but we're taking action right now to, to eliminate some of these and reduce their harm. but it's predicted to take 10 or 20 years. so ashley wants to keep up the pressure by exposing as many illegal activities as possible. he recently found an undocumented pipe from thames water is about 3 meters down into the thames. here the water is in a shocking state containing feces, old food and grease. every time we've come,

it's been worse than the last is. it's dreadful, it's, it's really bad. the washer company claims not to have released any untreated sewage year since march last year. so it's a mystery how this condo came out of the pipe, were presented to the environment agency, and i expect them to do very little life become almost redundant and a spectator in the engagement now between campaigners, the water industry and counselors and local people who are now really pushing for the changes. 2 of those local people arrive on the scene. oh you oh, they were hoping to go swimming, looking a bit round over usual. that is not looking good. is it? no, at least the water company, no issues warnings, when it's releasing sewage into the tank. it's disgusting and we shouldn't have to put up with this as a river here was so clean. you could see the river bed only

a couple of decades ago. especially when their group has come up with another strategy to get this stretch of the river cleaned up. the aim is that we're going to try and get designated bathing will to status, which will mean that the environment agency are obliged to monitor regularly and try and impose either some functions on times water the device their plan along with trevor williams. he takes regular samples and sends the results to the authorities. so you can see it's quite dirty today because it's just rained but hopefully not for much longer because their strategy worked. this stretch of the river has now been granted bathing water status to things ought to get a lot cleaner here. soup, that'll be the 2nd rabbi in the whole of the u. k. to have a bathing or to status, so i'm hopefully other rivers will follow suit and other water companies will take note that they can't get away with dumping that their waste in the river and

policing polluting on barnett. the campaigners are having to go to great lengths and even resort to tricks. but thee, along with many britons just want the u. k. 's rivers to be cleaner again. well, even i admitted shopping can be fun, but it can also be intimidating. what with all the attractions and distractions. so for people like joelle who are vulnerable to anxiety issues such as autism, it can be particularly stressful, but a supermarket in the small swiss village of or doth, is part of a chain of stores that has adopted a new approach. ah, loud, brightly lit and colorful, the average supermarket can be tortuous for people with autism. a sensory overload hard to bear. so twice a week, the supermarket, missouri scales, everything down, lights, music commercials, it's known as

a quieter. the idea came from new zealand helped us once of our yardi sailing. i know i read about it 2 years ago in a magazine or a molten all. i was so touched by the article, i found it really heart warming. and i thought if they can do to new zealand, we can do it in switzerland, a long time tom and cleaning those in the fried south. so without further ado hands, rudy shellman and his brother introduced a quiet hour to across 12 stores. for people like joel, who now ventures into the supermarket with her support dog, rocky, he's allowed inside even in the quiet, our shopping used to be almost impossible for joel when you called alice blake loud . every thing comes at me at the same volume, speed and intensity, and i can't filter things out of the radios on the shelves are being stocked and i can't block out what's happening. house blinking to well doesn't want special offers. she wants everything to stay in the same place. she always shops with

a list and sticks to it, doll, mrs. out the state, the so difficult when they reorganized the shelves and i organized my shopping list so that i can just add half through once. that way i minimize my stress is it even can joelle needs the cam atmosphere because her brain processes sensory input differently. but many other customers also appreciate the quiet hour and so do the staff love it along with the customers and condon them in florida. her, the 3rd time they did it, i thought, oh is this a power tighter that smith i was quite confused. you did your sister named. it's nice that a lot less hectic taking of the stress with a low sensory our a great idea that seems destined to catch on more widely fantastic idea. now let's go to the longer region of north western italy to meet

a man called roberto and 4. so he's very unusual, in fact, unique in this day in age because as a doctor he makes house calls on horseback. he carries all his equipment and a saddle bag flung over the horses back when he rides out to do his daily rounds. and i'm sure you can imagine it's an important service that he provides after all, the average age of his patience is 70 and some are over a 100 ah amber and roberto and in separable do from long gave in italy's piedmont region. but this is no pony dragon, they're on their way to work your factory. re mario a lot of fun for your state. it go and i had doctor on the horse as my assistant. she spoke my friend and the message that i bring to my patience, ah,

the pair ride up and down the hilly terrain. as long as it's not an emergency doctor on 1st though, prefers to ride to his appointments. so his 1st task of the day is to get his assistant ready for action. burger towel on, but i i am bradley sima. hello, gorgeous weather. bon book. it was like i brought you a little treat quite a bump. i'm bra a amber as my new horse khalilah i got her 3 years ago for nicholas the birthday. mandy corky, vienna court cover lot omega cork, a doctor that comes to tend to the sick on horseback is seen as someone who has time for his patients. medical venga corner, that fact alone that people know the doctor is taking the time to them. it does the patients good and makes them feel well cared for that manual,

but center for cindy rick, you're swatch will there till on far so has been a doctor for, for decades. 15 years ago he decided to combine his hobby with his job. the response from patients has been very positive, but he has to be prepared for everything in monte cristo bizarre to a checklist of this saddlebag has all the things i need from my appointment sick with dr. sarah petronela fair. the other one contains everything i need to tie the horse up while i'm seeing my patients. mr. trisha corkalon. once the horse ran away while i was examining some one stubble foot, she tore the snap hook and took right off. dorna this cup of you. ah, going from an easy truck to an elegant gallop umbrella, and roberto cover at least 80 kilometers a week. it covers a horse and eliza strength, elegance, and vigor. one of those are all characteristics that my patient slack due to ill

health or old age. so when i come with amber, it's as if we're bringing those attributes spectrum prompt all. hello, hey, yes, i'll be with you in half an hour. i see a soon survey roberto cares for some 1500 patients scattered across the hills and small villages of this famous wine region. the area had been a unesco world heritage site since 2014 wine grower, a daily oh tarry is roberto his 1st patient of the day when john good morning i good morning. yeah. how are you gonna vin in good. nice. you came to visit, you can of course i dish or just let me tie my horse up and i'll be with you

shortly. everyone will be glad to days. just a routine checkup to monitor the patient's heart and blood pressure. but lamp and assure blood pressure is find a chunk of 120 over 80. that's okay. oh, gotcha. oh there i am always happy when he comes to visit. it's like in the old days when there weren't any cars, b can, there's something special about it or not corella. and i speak brief in and then hold your breath for a moment. a lawmaker us and we are the only health care center and all of italy where when you call a doctor that cover letter we sent in the cavalry free of charge. it was once said, no hour of life is wasted. that is spent in the saddle. roberto unfold so might just agree. lovely,

wonderful and heart warming. now if you've enjoyed the slightest edition of focus on your roku joined us next time. brown and so and by 5 inches. ah ah ah, ah, with

conflict zone with the rash banner g, russia and ukraine are taking heavy casualties in the don bus. but has ukraine already lost the east my guest this week? believe that is likely the case in burma is a political scientist and founder of the your ration broke in going to happen and believe the russians would settle at all this and more on this week. conflict loan with 30 minutes on d. w. you great with

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o. ah, this is d w. news live from berlin. disaster in afghanistan. rescue times of rice to get i to survive is a day after a powerful earthquake left. a 1000 people did and many more inches. also coming up . the cranium president, philadelphia soleski.