Golden Bridge and AI-powered exhibits: what impressed the young guests from Transnistria at the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye

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The winners of the special category of the II Video Essay Contest "Dreams of the Future" — students from the town of Rybnitsa in Transnistria — have completed their trip to Vladivostok. The highlight of three eventful days, filled with impressions and sightseeing, was a visit to the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye. The journey to the Far East was a special prize from Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.

"The visit programme turned out to be as multifaceted as Primorye itself. We are delighted that the first branch of the National Centre RUSSIA has become a place where our friends from Transnistria could learn about the country's prospects and the region's achievements. The younger generation is the key audience of the National Centre. It is especially great to welcome young people who are already thinking about the future. Our goal is to show this future — promising, technological, accessible to everyone who wants and dreams of developing in our country," noted Vitaly Stanislavchuk, Head of the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye.

The team "Guardians of the Future" explored Vladivostok during a city tour, visited the Primorye Oceanarium and the Safari Park, and enjoyed both walking and boat trips — around the city centre and beyond, to Glass Bay and Russky Island.

"From the very first minutes in Vladivostok, I dreamed of swimming in the sea — we don't have one in our town. I thought I would do it later, when I had free time after all the planned events. But on the very first day, we had a training session in dragon boats, and right after it, I felt drawn to the water. I walked up to the jetty, asked my friends to film the moment and jumped in. It was a pleasant surprise that the Sea of Japan was not cold at all. I also really enjoyed the training itself — it was dynamic and exciting, and it gave me a huge boost of energy," shared team member Dmitry Negru.

Throughout the trip, the students were accompanied by their teacher, Inga Parfentyeva, who had suggested that they take part in the competition.

"We are so happy to have received this prize — even more than if we had taken first place in the main categories. In Vladivostok, I was particularly impressed by the Golden Bridge — its unusual structure and its sheer scale. While crossing the bridge, I immediately sent photos to my family — they couldn't believe it: 'Is that you in Vladivostok? Or Paris? San Francisco?' The view from Nagorny Park was also stunning — the whole city lay at your feet!" shared Inga Parfentyeva.

At the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye, the young guests explored interactive expositions dedicated to the region's history and achievements, as well as panoramic installations dedicated to Far Eastern lighthouses, and displays showcasing the culture and traditions of the Far East.

"I was amazed by how actively technology and artificial intelligence are used here — almost every display comes to life, responds to your movements, tells a story. I especially remember the 'boat ride' and the interactive panels featuring heroes of the special military operation — their stories and 'living' portraits," said another team member Sergei Lisnik.

For Yaroslav Korzhevsky, the third member of the team, the revelation was the display where education meets the future. An interactive career guidance test suggested a technical profession to him — as if confirming that the path he is already on is the right one. All three students are in their second year of college, training to become automotive mechanics.

The II Video Essay Contest "Dreams of the Future" is a project of the National Centre RUSSIA, aimed at developing the scientific and creative potential of young people. The event brought together 3,740 participants from all 89 regions of Russia and 10 countries of the near abroad. Schoolchildren and university students presented their reflections in the form of short video clips, combining live footage with content generated using artificial intelligence.

The team "Guardians of the Future" presented a video essay with the poetic title "Decode the Future by Preserving the Present". In it, they declared: "The future is not where we are going, but what we are creating right now."