What is a Russian home without a stove? Exactly. But how does one build one? Now that is less simple.

A determined artist, photographer, and activist takes on the restoration of some wooden homes in a village just outside of Samara. In the process, she learns much about angle grinders, her fellow Russians, and, of course, herself.

Everyone is pretty clear that 2020 was an "off" year. But these six stories were definitely "on." They got the most reads from our thousands of readers...

Russia has everything, including Shrek's house.

This week, Lada outdoes itself; emergency services fall short; and cows (and men) finally get the appreciation they're due.

This week, we've got brand-new guns, poachers from an unlikely place, and the frozen north gets an internet connection.

A well-to-do Russian tries to bring his green new ideal to life in a Russian village. Not all goes to plan.

Karma (and alcohol) lead a man in Sakhalin Island to have an eventful 24 hours.

Russia's election commission performed a "large-scale investigation" into tree stumps used as polling places. Only (?) three cases were found.

A library's famous cat now resides with the big yarn ball in the sky, thanks to foul play.

The veneration and preservation of nature are at the root of Mari culture. We get a unique inside look at their most sacred annual ritual of worship.

When you are deep in the woods, enjoying a day of raspberry picking with friends, anything is possible.