"During the first half of the week, the weather will be warm with temperatures eight to nine degrees above normal. Daytime temperatures are expected to be plus two to five degrees, nighttime temperatures from minus one to plus two degrees. Wind on Monday will be up to 17 m/s, precipitation is light, but also sleet and rain. This is such uniform and boring weather."

– A disappointed meteorologist describing Moscow's upcoming weather

A security guard at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center was fired after defacing a $1 million Soviet-era painting. 

Two panda bears at the Moscow Zoo have predicted the winners of this year's Olympic Winter Games.

“About the dangers of alcohol, volumes have been written on the benefits of more than one brochure! From lack of education, we walk for five days and crawl for two! And, on Saturday morning, Russia from space looks like.”

– An unintelligible sign alerting Muscovites to the effects of alcohol.

The Snow and Ice in Moscow international festival, happening now, brings together artists from across the world to create brilliant works of art. 

In this week's Odder News: under-the-radar pets, dangerous tomfoolery, and a pregnant lady's trek through the mountains.

A nice refreshing outdoors shower? Or a dangerous collapse waiting to happen?

The governor of Moscow Oblast pushes for pelmeni in schools, despite resistance from the federal government.

In this week's Odder News: the weirdest New Year's show ever, the most eco-friendly person ever, and great news for Russia's orphan care system.

Our bimonthly roundup of news on Russia most others missed.

Some thoughts on George Turberville, who served as secretary in the embassy of Queen Elizabeth I to Russia’s Ivan IV, and was one of the earliest observers (and reporters) of Russian mores.

Despite the pandemic (and a bad reputation for a distinctly Russian grimace), it’s not all sad faces in Moscow at the end of 2021.