My Serpentine swim with the Estonian ambassador - and why Russian diplomats weren't invited

Estonia’s Independence Day falls on Feb 24. This year was the country’s 105th such celebration.
To mark the occasion, Tallinn’s ambassador to the UK invited a small number of guests for a swim in the Serpentine, the lake in the centre of London’s Hyde Park, to embrace the environment and a sense of well-being, all to help build one’s resilience, Estonian style.
The date also marked exactly a year from the start of Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine.
Estonia’s ambassador, Viljar Lubi, intended the morning to show his country’s solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The Telegraph’s Associate Editor for Defence, Dominic Nicholls, was invited to don his Bermuda shorts and enjoy the bracing effect of immersion in near freezing water, to build his personal resilience.
Whilst in the water and still able to speak, he took the opportunity to interview Mr Lubi and ask whether the ambassador to Russia had similarly been invited.
#ukraine #ukraine #russia
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[@macster1000]

Dom Nicholls - Best journalist ever. Awesome sense of humor and great journalistic competence. I love your daily update on military matters in Ukraine. Cheers from Germany!

[@amanda72ist]

I've gone from listening to him talk every evening on the podcast on Ukraine without knowing what he looks like to seeing him in that tiny swimsuit. I guess all the magic is gone 😂

[@antoinettehiggins4527]

Not for me, Dom and his wonderful team on the Ukraine podcast are pure magic for me! Their coverage of the invasion of Ukraine helps me through this present dreadful time, before the final success of Ukraine and all its brave people.💙💛

[@kittyss2371]

😅😅😅😅😅

[@PeterSedesse]

exactly what i was going to write...

[@Alex-kd5xc]

Dom in a tiny swimsuit is something I didn’t know I needed in my life until now

[@alanheavey]

Good army people rock 👊

[@Cotictimmy]

Dom Nicholls is a new NATIONAL TREASURE. 🤣

[@ivarstikums]

Hilarious, props to Dom for being able to ask at least two questions 😄

[@nickstanton1090]

Well done Dom. Even better done the Estonian ambassador. But, he’s probably had more practice!

[@kingfisher9553]

Sauna boxes for Ukraine! 👍 BTW love that Estonian hat.

[@Ziggestorm99]

He starts slurring his speech near the end 😂😂

[@reduk1999]

So glad there was no budgie smugglers 😂

[@bendenisereedy7865]

Hilarious to watch Dom go beyond the call of duty and to show impressive self-control. Where was the rest of the Telegraph podcast team?

[@jameslynch7826]

I listen to the very informative Ukraine podcast most days. He should have used some lard or lanolin Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@pdunderhill]

Danger money Dom? Too blooming cold for me!

[@joshuachapman247]

"Where was my invite"...lol

[@andrewwhitcombe8133]

Telegraph dont normally allow comments. He's gone purple eek Well done anyways 🙂

[@Taketaketak]

Haha ❤

[@APW554]

Mad

[@aj225]

Self sacrifice at its finest!

[@t.d.straszheim]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@gerritzondag1585]

Lol

[@saucyinnit8799]

Seems like Estonian prime minister has no balls to face the Russian abmassador.

[@fuzer4047]

? they have but there is nothing to talk about anymore they are the terrorist and that's about it

[@madeanaccounttospillthebor9568]

Oh my that must be cold haha.

[@kittyss2371]

finally I see his face...😄 and his bottom..😳