Stranded In Russia's Creepiest Village

We travel from Astrakhan to the Republic of Kalmykia, crossing the border by taxi and then hitchhiking after being stranded in the middle of nowhere. We explore the deserted village of Kholkota, its abandoned buildings, Soviet memorials, and wartime history before continuing across the steppe. We eat at a roadside café, reach Elista, and check into a modest hotel in the Kalmyk capital.