In the Soviet period, artists were treated with esteem and lived comfortably, but their privileged position also required sacrifice.

In this week's Odder News, a new Russian Barbie, Russians need to work on their dental hygiene, and squirrels attack in Vyborg.

Some little-known art from a civilian eyewitness to the Siege of Leningrad is public both at one of the blockade museums in St. Petersburg and in a new book.

One person’s problem becomes another person’s easel. An artist takes on his city’s sidewalk problems with a bit of porcelain creativity. One person can make a difference.

The thematic arc that unites our features in this issue is that of creativity in the face of neglect, persistence in the face of oppression, resilience in the face of difficulty.

In this week's Odder News, one of Russia's most unconventional actors and an ice dancer get married (again), polar bears take over Russian trucks, and the Hermitage is faking it.

Hooligans struck a collection of over 200 snowmen in the town of Kaluga, an act of gruesome vandalism.

The Museum Ludwig in Cologne, Germany, is turning a negative into a positive: breaking art world taboos by launching a major new exhibition on Russian art fakes it has unearthed within its own walls.

Slavic folklore sports a spooky old crone that just might give you a costume idea this Halloween.

Viewers can take a virtual tour of several Russian museums via TikTok.

When you can't go to the museum, the museum comes to you!

A Lenin statue in Russia's Far East temporarily sported a new 'do.