Dr Eugene Botkin

The Romanovs RIP #Romanovs100

Commandant Yurovsky personally invites us all to go downstairs. I believe they realized Ipatiev House is no longer safe to keep high-ranking prisoners in here. Car with working engine in the yard must be waiting for us #Romanovs100

I’m convinced that the one enduring to the end will be granted salvation. If faith augments our deeds - that’s only because of holy dispensation. I’ll do my duty to the end, just like Abraham, who never hesitated to sacrifice his own son upon God’s demand #Romanovs100

I’ve written a goodbye letter to my brother, just in case. I feel uneasy & believe I’m dead to my children, friends and job. Dead, yet not buried - or buried alive. The outcome to be practically the same. I cherish no illusion and look the reality in the eyes #Romanovs100

Commandant Yurovsky visits us on a daily basis. Today, after a week of promises, he finally handed over to us 50 eggs donated by the sisters of Novo-Tikhvin nunnery. That’ll be good nutrition for Alexei #Romanovs100

Yurovsky talked to Alexei in the dining room, inquiring after his health. Later on, Commandant promised to arrange some eggs and milk for him. One of Romanov girls also asked Yurovsky for some sewing threads to mend clothes. He said he’ll ask nuns to bring us some #Romanovs100

This morning, when women came to mop the floor, we all gathered in the dining room. Grand Duchesses helped cleaning ladies by moving their belongings and beds, chatting merrily with each other. Commandant Yurovsky kept an eye on them all the time #Romanovs100

All Romanov family members attended the divine service. They looked rather distressed, although better than at the previous mass. Pale yet brisk Alexei was seated in a wheelchair. All @OTMA_1917 girls were dressed the same, in black skirts and white blouses #Romanovs100

Priest and deacon have been delivered to Ipatiev House today. They put ceremonial vestments on in Yurovsky’s office. Of course they were instructed not to communicate with us so we haven’t exchanged a single word with them #Romanovs100

I wonder whether Nagorny and Sednev are still here in Ekaterinburg, whether they are still alive for that matter. I really doubt they can be made to leave Their Majesties so easily. There’s something truly sinister about their absence #Romanovs100

. @OTMA_1917 endure hardships relatively easily. Senior sisters Olga and Tatiana have a lot in common, they know how to keep themselves busy. Maria is kind of self-contained, spends a lot of time with mother. Ruddy and agile Anastasia is always cheerful #Romanovs100

I’ve been told that chances to defend the city against Czechs are slim. Question about what is going to happen to us is standing straight and tall. When and where are they going to evacuate the Royal Family? What about us, the retinue? #Romanovs100

State of siege proclaimed in Ekaterinburg. So-called volunteer internationalists from the Austrian and German POWs are joining Red Army in order to protect Ekaterinburg from Czech mutineers and their White Army allies #Romanovs100

Looks like Commandant Yurovsky replaced all local guards with Latvian Rifles. No Russians are guarding us and obvious language divide makes interaction with them hardly possible, particularly since they’re ordered not to communicate with us #Romanovs100

I’ve asked guards to allow priest to visit us to administer divine service for Their Majesties. Guard promised he’ll ask one to come #Romanovs100

I explained Yurovsky that we need provisions for the children and that we’ve never received everything the nuns brought to us, because Avdeev left most of the provisions for his men. We’re stripped of vital supplies, I told him - but he is rigid in his beliefs #Romanovs100

Commandant Yurovsky has put an end to supplies brought to us from the nunnery, explaining it by saying that his predecessor Avdeev had allowed too much to us. Now we can receive milk only #Romanovs100

Our new guards and their chief look really amazed by the simple way Romanov family dress. No festive attire whatsoever. Well, Her Majesty could be kind of arrogant sometimes, you can’t escape the inevitable #Romanovs100

I believe Commandant Yurovsky must be really baffled over Romanov family’s manners and customs. They live like ordinary middle-class, not like royal family at all. Drinking tea, doing laundry, cooking, embroidering, mending - nothing highbrow #Romanovs100

New guards on sentry duty inside Ipatiev House are Latvians. Outside guard on the perimeter remains the same; it consists partly of soldiers and partly of workers from Ekaterinburg factories #Romanovs100