Ilya Varlamov

Somewhere between Africa and Madagascar lies a tiny archipelago you might have never even heard of. For thousands of years, incredible events have unfolded here. Part of the archipelago, the Comoros, is an independent and impoverished nation made up of three islands. Meanwhile, the fourth island, Mayotte, is a French territory that enjoys a much wealthier lifestyle than its independent neighbor. Yet, just half a century ago, the entire archipelago was a single French colony. When the time came to decide their future in 1974, three of the islands voted for independence, while Mayotte chose to remain with France.
What happened next? Over the last 50 years, the Comoros experienced 20 coups. After declaring independence, the country plunged into absolute poverty. Now, the very people who voted for freedom from the mother country are fleeing to Mayotte, the island that chose dependency. More than 10,000 people have already perished in the strait between the islands, attempting to reach a better life on whatever floats. That is how desperate the situation in the Comoros has become.
The Comorian economy relies entirely on foreign handouts. Right now, China is actively pumping money into the region. They have even started training the Comorian military and teaching them Chinese. The Chinese built the presidential palace, a hospital, and a stadium. Of course, this isn't out of the goodness of their hearts, and all those loans will eventually have to be repaid. The French haven't abandoned them either, helping with food, education, and healthcare.
And what about the locals? The locals mostly sit under baobab trees, debating who is to blame. There are no jobs, and the only social elevator is to hop into a boat and sail toward Mayotte, which made the right choice 50 years ago. The question of freedom and decolonization is actually far more complex than it seems. By remaining a part of France, the residents of Mayotte today enjoy an average salary ten times higher than their neighbors, alongside independent courts, normal media, social benefits, education, healthcare, a French passport, and actual prospects. Granted, they have their own share of problems too. Did you know anything about these distant lands? Will you be tuning in for my coverage from there?

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3 days ago | [YT] | 63

Ilya Varlamov

Forget what you see in the movies. This is the India that tourists rarely see—where your name and birth define your entire future. We went to the heart of the "Untouchable" districts to see how a 3,000-year-old system survives in the age of smartphones.

Is this the "Real India"? Watch the new video!

5 days ago | [YT] | 13

Ilya Varlamov

I’ve traveled to a lot of intense places, but boarding a train in Delhi was a different level of chaos. You have about 30 seconds to fight your way into a moving carriage, or you’re left behind. 🚂 🇮🇳

Would you be brave enough to travel India the "raw" way, or are you sticking to the luxury tours? Watch the full chaos here: vrlmv.com/gs6q98

6 days ago | [YT] | 50

Ilya Varlamov

Kenya is a land of incredible and sharp contrasts. On one hand, you have wealthy tourists willing to shell out thousands of dollars a night for a stay in a trendy lodge surrounded by wildlife. On the other hand, human traffickers are targeting Kenya, ready to pay thousands for the lives of the local poor only to send them off to die on the battlefields of Ukraine. It seems that being a mercenary is a lucrative business these days, as no amount of public scandal or even government outrage can stop this bloody trade.
But the most interesting part is how it all began. Since 2022, parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) have been popping up across the country. “You are not lost. You have found the Orthodox Church,” reads a sign outside the parish named after St. Panteleimon. Initially, the church provided humanitarian aid to the locals. But once they gained the trust of slum residents, Kenyan media began sounding the alarm, reporting that these parishes were being used to recruit Kenyans for the war in Ukraine. Human rights activists say Orthodox leaders are grooming the youth, talking up the prospects of working in Russia and promising high salaries.
As you can imagine, for people living on a couple of hundred dollars a month, a salary of several thousand is like winning the lottery. I think the future of such mercenaries is pretty clear. Usually, they never see anything beyond the initial signing bonus. A “safe job in the rear” quickly turns into “meat grinder” assaults, leaving relatives back home struggling for years to find out what happened to their loved ones in a distant northern country.

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1 week ago | [YT] | 60

Ilya Varlamov

I was genuinely scared to film in some of these districts. The police presence and the open drug trade were unlike anything I've seen in Europe. Full video live now. ⬇️

1 week ago | [YT] | 16

Ilya Varlamov

57 shootings in eight months. Brussels is becoming Europe's gunshot capital. Watch the video now. ⬇️ vrlmv.com/4jzc9h

1 week ago | [YT] | 54

Ilya Varlamov

The camera gear was covered in grime within ten minutes of filming. The air here isn't just polluted; it's heavy. Watch the new video about Bangladesh now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdKqi...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 78

Ilya Varlamov

Filming in Eritrea means assuming someone is always watching. Locals get extremely nervous around cameras, and cybercafes require a passport just to send an email. I had to hide SD cards deep in my luggage just to get this footage out. Watch the new video now: vrlmv.com/f98159

1 month ago | [YT] | 58

Ilya Varlamov

just spent a week in the most isolated country in Africa. No internet, no social media, and beautiful 1930s Italian architecture perfectly frozen in time. The new video is up now on the channel.

1 month ago | [YT] | 13

Ilya Varlamov

Life without gas and electricity

The situation in Cuba is catastrophic. The island has been living without fuel for several months. The country was already struggling, but now it is facing a humanitarian crisis. There are huge lines at gas stations, electricity is scarce, hospitals are running on generators, and tourists have stopped arriving. What is happening on the island? Find out in my new video. vrlmv.com/m51e2i

1 month ago | [YT] | 47