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

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

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.

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.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

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.

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.

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.

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