According to some reports, in the first post-Soviet years of broadcasting, the producers tried to make shots from Red Square, attracted Nikita Mikhalkov, who filmed "the crosses and domes of Russia" from a bird's eye view and personally read the offscreen text. The broadcast was aired simultaneously on state channels like First Channel Ostankino, RTR, MTK, Forth Channel Ostankino (now NTV), 2X2, TV6, and Channel 5 in Saint Petersburg.
It is reported that during the early years following the Soviet collapse, broadcasters sought to capture aerial footage of Red Square, which drew Nikita Mikhalkov's attention. He then filmed "the crosses and domes of Russia" from above and read the on-screen text aloud himself. The broadcast was transmitted simultaneously on major state channels in Saint Petersburg.