In the footsteps of Nevelskoy: Primorye traveller shared stories of his expeditions
Primorye adventurer and explorer Maxim Kharchenko, who has devoted eight years to expeditions following the routes of the great Far Eastern explorer, shared his experience during the lecture "Where the Russian flag is raised, it must never be lowered. Expedition in the footsteps of Admiral G. I. Nevelskoy". The event was organised by the Russian society Znanie and took place on 8 November at the Primorye branch of the National Centre RUSSIA.
Maxim Kharchenko, a member of the Primorye regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society – Society for the Study of the Amur Region, lecturer for the Russian society Znanie and staff member of the Pacific State Medical University, shared with the audience stories from his journeys inspired by the exploits of Admiral Nevelskoy. Guests saw rare footage from his expeditions and heard personal accounts in which the line between exploration and challenge is barely perceptible.
According to Kharchenko, his interest in the routes of the great explorer began after reading the book "Feats of Russian Naval Officers in the Far East of Russia". It changed his life completely, turning it into a continuous adventure.
Over eight years, the traveller has completed nine expeditions, covering 1,000 kilometres along the coasts of the Sea of Japan and the Tatar Strait, and crossing the Nevelskoy Strait from the mainland to Sakhalin Island on a paddleboard – becoming the first person to do so solo. He also navigated the Lower Amur and reached the Bay of Happiness in the Sea of Okhotsk.
This year he undertook another journey – a SUP expedition retracing the route of the Manchur transport ship, covering almost 500 kilometres. However, he had to end it early due to exhaustion and bad weather.
The lecturer also shared his principles of expedition work: always travelling alone, without weapons, relying on training and endurance. Maxim Kharchenko noted that he plans to embark on a new expedition in the spring of next year.
