The oblast is bisected into northern and southern sections by the Desna River, which enters the Dnieper just north of the Kiev city limits.
The river's source lies eastsoutheast from the city of Smolensk and not far from Yelnya in a forest near the village of Naleti.
The narrator lists the names of the rivers that the Red Army crosses as they march west: Volga, Don, Desna, Dnieper, Bug, Dvina, Neman, Vistula, and finally, Oder.
Mississippi River | River Thames | Amazon River | Columbia River | Hudson River | Colorado River | Potomac River | river | Ohio River | Missouri River | Delaware River | Murray River | River Tyne | Madeira River | Volga River | River Nene | River Clyde | River Trent | River Severn | Amur River | River Wear | Allegheny River | Red River | Dnieper River | Yarra River | Paraná River | River Tees | Fraser River | Yangtze River | Tocantins River |
Polekhs are a subethnic group of Russians settled along the Desna River and Seym River and mixed with local populations of Belarusians and Lithuanians.
The couple settled in Khotylevo estate acquired by Prince Tenishev in Bryansky district, Orel province; estate was situated on the banks of Desna river, where the Princess founded a one-class school.