On a Saturday morning, accountant Natalya Saaya sets out for an old farmhouse in the Siberian city of Kyzyl. She wants to know if her son has to go to war. She waits for a moment on the terrace while Yuri Oorschak puts on his uniform inside: he puts a feather headdress on his head with strings of colorful beads dangling from it. His black jacket is embroidered with shells. Rattles, drums, bells and pebbles lie ready for use on his desk. Since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, dozens of shamans in the Russian Republic of Tuva have been busier than usual.
Access to all STERN PLUS content and articles from the print magazine
ad-free
Already registered?