Russia Launches Digital Storytelling Platform to Preserve Life and Culture in Its Northern Frontier

An interactive project from the Khanty-Mansi region blends residents’ personal stories, indigenous culture, and advanced tech to keep a remote territory’s heritage alive.

The Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area in Western Siberia has rolled out an ambitious multimedia project, “Yugra to the Heart,” backed by Gazprom Neft and creative lab Gigarama. The platform shows how cutting-edge digital tools can help preserve cultural heritage while strengthening people’s connection to their homeland.

The site curates stories from across the region — from filmmaker Lev Vakhitov’s memories of untouched wilderness to engineer Rafael Abdullaev’s account of high-tech oil extraction in permafrost conditions. Indigenous culture plays a central role: visitors can hear traditional music performed by Vera Kondratyeva and learn about nomadic schooling from educator Olesya Aladko.

Beyond showcasing the life of Yugra, the platform lets users create custom slide shows from the facts and stories they find most compelling. The project is part of Russia’s broader cultural digitalization strategy, underscoring how innovation can spotlight history and traditions even in the country’s most remote corners.