May 08, 2026

Attacked for "Speaking Buryat" on the Bus


Attacked for "Speaking Buryat" on the Bus
Footage of woman who confronted a passenger for speaking Buryat. Astra, Telegram.

On May 1, Mediazona reported that authorities had opened a criminal investigation into a racially-motivated attack on a woman of Buryat descent. She was on a bus and allegedly speaking Buryat over the phone. Footage of the incident went viral on social media.

On April 29, interior designer Natalya Sundupova, who is from the Russian republic of Buryatia, got on a Moscow bus while on a call with a colleague. A nearby young female passenger in a gray hoodie shoved and insulted her as she walked to the back of the bus. She accused Sundupova of conversing in a foreign language. The attacker said, "You come here to our country, speak on the phone, that language is always yours. How are we all supposed to listen to this? Why should we, people, listen to that?" The victim claims she was actually speaking Russian and wrapping up her phone call.

Sundupova was told to go "live in your country." She told her attacker, "So you don't think I'm Russian?" The woman in the hoodie and an older female passenger hit the interior designer in the face. According to Sundupova, one of the women said a racist insult towards her. Then, she got off the bus and called the police. 

Sundupova told MSK1.RU, "Nobody helped me. A man sitting next to the woman merely asked her to calm down. Other women told the two of them that they had done everything right, [that they] shouldn't be afraid and continue." Since the attack, the interior designer has been suffering panic attacks, which further aggravate her preexisting heart condition.

On April 30, Sundupova uploaded footage from her cellphone, documenting the attack. The video quickly went viral, garnering 2.6 million views. The reaction was mixed, with many attacking the designer. However, Sundupova received support from Buryats and other ethnic minorities. Members of Buryatia's State Duma contacted her to submit a parliamentary inquiry over the incident. Authorities announced they had opened a criminal investigation, but have not publicly identified suspects or what charges will be filed.

 

You Might Also Like

Teaching Russian DNA
  • May 06, 2026

Teaching Russian DNA

In January 2027, war propaganda in schools will be expanded by adding another ''patriotic" lesson to the curriculum. 
Starlink's Shadow Network
  • May 01, 2026

Starlink's Shadow Network

An investigation finds that the Russian army is still using Starlink in Ukraine despite restrictions, but connectivity remains fragile, worsened by Russia's own messaging limits.
Black Rain of War
  • April 29, 2026

Black Rain of War

An environmental catastrophe hits Tuapse following an attack by Ukrainian drones on a local oil refinery.
Watch Your Mother Tongue
  • November 19, 2024

Watch Your Mother Tongue

Students chanting in Azerbaijani inside a Russian university are being investigated for terrorism.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

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. 

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

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.

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.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, 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