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By Andrei Erastov
Video producer in Chechnya
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I asked the commanders at the Russian military base camp for a clever, intelligent and brave soldier who removed mines.
Click here to watch 2 minute clip
Click here if you are a UK broadband user
I wanted to find a soldier with this particular skill because they are always very involved in everyday military activity.
The character, Ivan, was open and funny and I found it easy to form a good relationship with him quickly.
Ivan was born and raised in Mozdok, Chechnya, and went to university in Grozny.
When the war started in 1994 he and his family moved to the town of Samara in Russia. There is not much work there.
Ivan is a contracted soldier in the Russian army and is paid $550 a month. He is not engaged in combat because his job is to make mines safe.
He wants to buy a flat in Russia and to restore his old family house in Mozkok, which was flooded.
He has found himself a job in the civilian sector but still needs to continue his military work until he has saved up enough money to fulfil his dreams.
One Day of War was broadcast in the UK on Thursday, 27 May, 2004 at 2100 BST on BBC Two.
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