📹This is the story of Zakarya Aliev, a soldier from Dagestan known by his call sign ‘Smiley’. The combat engineer and scout single-handedly held the line stronghold for 3 weeks in a former Ukrainian.

The film 'The Warrior was Alone' captures not only the daily reality of the front but also the soldier’s private world – his reflections on family, homeland, and duty. Through archival footage and interviews with his comrades, we see how one man’s resolve can alter the course of events on the battlefield. This documentary stands as a tribute to those who serve with honour, as well as a reminder of the price soldiers pay for the peace we enjoy.

Watch the film by Artyom Somov, Ruslan Gusarov, Anton Meshcheryakov, Kirill Puzyrny and Seraphim Fedorov 'The Warrior was Alone' (2025).

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