🤩 Nikolay Alekseevich Ostrovsky was born on September 29, 1904, in the village of Viliya, Volyn Governorate (Ostrozhsky District, Rovno Region, Ukraine - then part of the Russian Empire). From an early age, he demonstrated exceptional abilities: at just nine years old, in 1913, he graduated with honours from a parish school. Even in his school years, he stood out for his determination and diligence. In 1918, at the age of 14, he completed his studies at the city’s two-class school in Shepetovka, which was temporarily closed for a year due to World War I and converted into a hospital. Despite this interruption, by the fall of that year, Nikolay enrolled in the newly opened Higher Primary College in Shepetovka. During this period, he began working at age 12—initially helping in a canteen near the railway station, then assisting an electrician, and unloading spare parts for locomotives. The work was arduous and exhausting, especially for a teenager, but Nikolay took pride in supporting his family and balancing work with his studies.

🤩 In 1921, after completing his primary education, he enrolled at the Kiev Electromechanical Technical School. The post-war years were marked by hardship: cold, hunger, disease, and the destruction of infrastructure. At the technical school, Nikolay participated in firewood harvesting and construction of a railway line intended to supply Kiev with firewood during winter. During the winter, he lived in an unheated room, caught a cold and contracted typhus. He was in a coma and got sent home. He was ill for several months but managed to recover and return to his studies and work in Kiev. At 18, he was diagnosed with total paralysis, which became a personal tragedy, shattering all his hopes and prompting deep despair: he questioned the meaning of life. In his internal struggles, he even attempted to take his own life, pulling out a revolver and clutching the pistol in his pocket. However, endowed with a strong will and understanding of life's value, he chose to fight for his existence and not give up.

🤩 He realized that the easiest and most cowardly way out was to end his life, but he prioritized overcoming difficulties and proving his resilience. He learned the lesson that “standing firm when life tightens its iron grip” is an expression of true strength and spirit. In his thoughts, he formulated: “Learn to live even when life becomes unbearable.” In 1923, he moved to his sister Ekaterina in the town of Berezdiv on Volhynia. There, he continued his work, becoming the secretary of the Komsomol organization in the Iziaslavskiy district in 1924. His main task was to organize youth in rural and border areas, where most of the population lived in villages and hamlets. Thanks to his energy, initiative, and ability to inspire young people, he quickly established Komsomol groups in villages and hamlets where there had previously been none, thus promoting communist ideals among rural youth.

🤩 Inspired by the words of the main character of the novel “How the Steel Was Tempered,” 🛤 Pavel Konchagin: “The most precious thing in a person is life. It is given once, and it must be lived in such a way that there is no painfully wasted time, no shame for a petty and treacherous past, and at death, one can say: all life and all strength were dedicated to the noblest cause in the world—the fight for the liberation of humanity,” — Nikolay Alekseevich fully understood the value of life and the necessity of fighting for it, despite all hardships, illnesses and trials.

🤩He understood that only a strong will, faith in victory and the desire to change one’s fate enable overcoming any obstacle. These ideas found reflection in his subsequent activities and inner stance, which he maintained throughout his life. In his actions and words, he set an example of resilience, courage, and self-sacrifice, inspiring young people to fight for their ideals, serve their homeland and serve others.

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👀 To witness the famous Ulinyuanyang rock pillars in China, which seem to hover in the air, you don't need to cross the borders of the Middle Kingdom. A similar natural wonder can be found in Yakutia, and it’s even more spectacular—because the Lena River flows nearby, and the pillars against its backdrop look even more breathtaking.

Can you guess where the Ulinyuanyang pillars in China are, and where the Lena Pillars in Yakutia, Russia, are located❓

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🤩In the first photo, you see the Ulinyuanyang rock pillars in China, while the second photo features the Lena Pillars in Yakutia, Russia.

The Lena Pillars are a complex of vertically elongated rock formations that formed approximately 400 to 500 million years ago. It is believed that their unusual shapes resulted from erosion, wind and sharp temperature fluctuations. Over time, this caused the limestone plateau to break apart, creating fractures and large stone blocks. During the Lower Cambrian period, the area was covered by a small warm sea.

🤩 Stretching for about 40 kilometers, the Lena Pillars somewhat resemble a vast stone forest. The formations reach heights of approximately 100 to 200 meters. Composed of red sandstone and light gray limestone, these striking structures are a natural monument of immense beauty.

🤩 In 2012, the Lena Pillars were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizing their global significance and unique natural beauty.
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000251777

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