Them. A this week on well, stories. Dirty gold in congo. Portuguese sea horses in danger. We begin in ukraine. Officially, canada rob is leading many chechens to fight for russia. But there is also a battalion fighting for the up assigned storming a building. This is a Training Session for new recruits to ukraines jo had to die of battalion attention, volunteer Group Fighting for ukraine. They often the very 1st to go into newly one territory. Less of us. Our job is to storm and to clear the place you know, after that the other groups come in and do their job and play the lesson. Margo, as he calls himself, was born in chechnya, but grew up in europe. He has his always dreamed of fighting against russia. After pushing next crimea and installed proxies in the don bus, margaret moved to ukraine. He joined the battalion which bears the colors of chechen independence, and the name of its hero. Joe had to die longer. This has been going on for generations yesterday. My father fought against russia and the 1st and 2nd judging wars in the 1990. And i must continue this fight for the right. It was the last night the battalion was among the 1st to enter the tone of you as the chechen volunteers fight for ukraine. Many consider it part of their greater battle against russia. Way like in the morning, we want to go home, but we want to liberate our country. After ukraine, we will go home them the group is away from the front. No waiting for new instructions, preparing to reach her church and was on ukrainian. Austria fighting a common course. Ah, in recent weeks, thousands of russians have gone abroad to escape the draft and the war in ukraine. Some fled to berlin, maya finland. Maria is not here, real name. She also doesnt want us to show her face. She worked as a doctor in moscow hospital. She and her husband, i was eligible for military service. They cannot imagine taking part in the war against ukraine, where they have relatives. They decided not to wait for drop notices to arrive yet at the hotel by from the moment you get a draft notice for leaving would mean desert ingram and you most likely will be even allowed to cross the border on either at the airport nor by car by so we decided we couldnt wait for draft notices. We have children, and we had to rescue every one. I somehow, both headed for germany, not least because of the promises of german politicians to protect deserters and draft dodgers from russia scholars. Darnell bullard bring, you might have germany said it would accept those who are fleeing mobilization. Well, anyway, we have some friends here. Now who know the language i have and can help us not only as the as the form back up, but i am one with maggie, been up on watch. But getting political asylum in germany for people fleeing they dropped in russia is not an easy task. Says elena sir, gave up for berlin based in g. All the risk of being rejected is high. She and her colleagues, i have sent an open letter to German Authorities asking to ease the conditions for those who dont want to serve in the russian army. Not always him all we asked for simplification of obligation rules many terry and visa, because now its a very complicated process and one can apply only after having proven political persecution. And of course, we asked for simplified asylum for the waiters hope both pollutants regime. But before the rules are philip and maria are trying to find other ways of thing in germany, like applying for the work, you didnt leave them. They say, going back to russia, is not an option for them. On the gold mines in eastern congo exploit the suffering of many for the wealth of a few. A brutal cycle of greed involving miners and rebel groups. This gold may gleam brightly, but a disdain. Red with blood people likely died for this precious metal destined for the rich worlds finest juries. The democratic republic of congo has some of the purest gold in the world. But experts say almost all of it smuggled out of the country illegally. That often means links to armed groups and human rights abuses. It all starts here in suffocating li, hot tunnels that hit up to 40 degrees celsius. Young man scrape out the gold bearing rock. They earn barely enough to survive on for fear of reprisals. This man wants to remain anonymous when you go to work, he just pray to god because were feeling like its a death sentence. And on top of that, this mine is controlled by an armed group, the my, my. Yeah, catawba, according to a recent un report, the rebels demand what they call taxes from each worker. It beat me up with an iron rod because i couldnt pay that tax. They threw me into a mud hole for days with no food. I was imprison there with 6 other people. He lost 10 kilograms. He says other minors tell us similar stories. They say the my, my a never far. Even now theyre hiding further up the mountain because they were informed we were coming. This is the 1st time journalists have access this mine the both the my, my younger timber and local Government Official declined our interview requests. Its widely known that the rebels often Work Together with local authorities and even shap profits with them. But with the money they also finance, brutal attacks on an ethnic group who they see as their main enemy. The my, my claim the bunny lender dont belong to the d r c. So theyre burned down the villages, rape, and kill scores of people. Rebel control of the minds means conflict go. But thats not deterring this business man. The purity of the precious metal has convinced him soon he plans to open the 1st Gold Refinery in the country and export from d r. C to europe and america. At the moment we discussing a lot with the government, they will take all our to them while coming to work here. We will, they will try and trace how is going on, and maybe it will help. I hope it will help, but ensuring authenticity will be difficult. Traitors tell us, they fake certificates to hide. The real origin of the gold is done and who are i can only appeal for an end to the trade and blood. I can see why my, my says go to white people to buy weapons. That is why i sell the golds i live, you know, is i want to tell the wise people to stop buying from them. So they dont kill us, will least. What is the it is a simple equation as long as groups can re, profits from gold mining, they will keep earning the cash to kill ah, the horses, some of the seas most fascinating creatures. But in portugal, population is declining at an alarming rate due to over fishing along the coast. See horses have captivated the human imagination for thousands of years. And many cultures see them as mythical creatures. One person enthralled by these small animals is biologist george palmer. For the past 15 years, he has studied them here at the faro Marine Research station in southern portugal. Ah, i get really. Thats miss if animals because theyre so different. So interesting, so, so saturday of and they were present so well there i thought that become like a my role model for research. The station is located in ria formosa and lagoon with designated protected zones for short and long snout at sea horses. This is an oasis. Scientists have discovered more specimens here than anywhere else. But the sea horses are currently under severe threat. As far as i know the 1st the researchers, they estimate the us. Im more than 1200000 sea horses in lagoon. Ah few see 4 years ago they were estimating around 150000 quite to be good to please. One problem is the fishing community, although its far from being the intention of Francisco Molina and his colleagues see horses keep getting caught in their nets. We bay and i at oh, they live in the see we on the and when the net gets close to the bottom and they get tangled in it all set vega, another fisherman brew, we can say sal lives on an island in the lagoon. He loves the sea horses having grown up around them. He knows the areas where fishing is prohibited, but he also knows that there are those who dont respect the restrictions odd, it will be the method again on my protect its own, starts close to where we are now and stretches all the way back fairhope voice professional fishermen are not the problem. Always pick the ones were fish illegally. Dont really use dragon had to sort of match the song horses with her last good a year by your go. All gobbledygook, them up. George. The biologist is looking for small shrimps for his d. Horse farm. To him, the issue is more nuanced. See horses becoming cart is understandable. A much graver problem is the destruction of the sensitive animals habitat by the fishing nets themselves. This has led him to search for alternatives and experiment with artificial seaweed. Together with his colleagues, he has already covered large patches than the lagoon and by the looks of it, the sea horses are warming up to the new material theory of go their love in an artificial thing. Its good for the story and then becomes natural because all other animals are colonized this artificial fructose and made. And thats why we thought out of 100 official, one. If the animals by some means of old folks that does happen, the use appeared from here that can be a major blow for the general conservation of the switches. But now we are seeing some increase. So there is hope for the future. Its a glimmer of hope for a species that keeps captivating the imagination of humans, but is now threatened by their very actions almost everywhere in the world. Not only in their oasis and the rhea formosa lagoon. Ah, i am cheap to africans through thailand because my experience, his bottom bottom bottom, indefinite, cannot thisll key the multi talented justice mckelly shows you what african art is all about. Come along for the ride. Happy next on the w. And to the conflict on the contract in ukraine is only one of the was Vladimir Putin is fighting hootons. Chief target in russia has been alex and me my guess this week, your next island london is one of the valleys associates, email, a shortcut. The group is made me and sharing thousands of officials supporting more in ukraine for how far will that dent hootons power conflict zone in 60 minutes on d. W. Ah, rearing to read. Ah, everyone who loves books has to go insane. A. D. W literature list 100 german must reads for todays episode after you megs a, we visit the vibrant and ever evolving friends making santa inter hannahs big. We know as artist proved studio this studio was established in 1991 as a pioneer in community center