April 20, 2021

Repeat Offenses: Mothers Grieve a Spectacular Repast


Repeat Offenses: Mothers Grieve a Spectacular Repast
Perhaps not the most comfortable perch to cook a meal. "File: Eternal Flame, Obelisk of Glory, Togliatty, Russia.JPG" by ShinePhantom is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

It was not the first time, and is likely not the last: a woman chose the wrong spot for her spectacular repast...

Will they ever learn?

In early April, a woman was caught sautéing a quick meal over the Eternal Flame of the “Grieving Mother” Memorial in the town of Pushkino near Moscow. The police quickly apprehended the 65-year-old woman.

When asked to explain her transgression, she responded: “But what did I do? We’re not used to eating in restaurants.”

She will be tried under article 244 of the Russian Criminal Code: "Desecration of the bodies of the dead and their burial places."

This isn't the first time we've reported on memorial flame hibachi chefs. Last year, picnickers suffered the same temptation: on May 24, 2020, two young women in their early 20s attempted to grill meat over the Eternal Flame of the Tomb of Workers and Sailors on Yakornaya Square in Kronstadt.

Acts, surely, that give many a mother good reason to grieve.

You can view a video of the newest culprit enjoying her socially-distanced grub here.

 

You Might Also Like

A Tender Tartar Dish
  • July 01, 2000

A Tender Tartar Dish

Shashlik a la Tartar is the featured dish this issue, with a delectable plum sauce... No summer could be complete without it.
Soviet Fast Food
  • September 01, 2011

Soviet Fast Food

A look back at the many variants of Soviet Fast Food.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955