December 01, 2021

New Moo


New Moo
Thanks, Putin.  Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann via Unsplash

When thirteen-year-old Alexei called Putin's annual televised direct phone line, he didn't think much of it. It was only when someone answered the call that the boy, who lives in Yakutia, was really surprised at all. Having planned out his actions very little, the boy asked for the first thing that came to his mind; a few days prior, his family's best milk-producing cow had passed and they could really use another cow to take her place.

While his actual call was never televised (like many of the other calls from the program), Alexei's request had been pushed forward to the Ministry of Agriculture, who agreed to honor the boy's request, albeit in a very roundabout sort of way. Months later in October, the boy received a letter from regional authorities advising him to partake in an agricultural economic support program that would allow him to earn a grant and buy himself a brand new cow.

The problem with this solution is that in order to participate in such a program, one must be at least of legal age and already own and operate their own business, none of which are possible for a thirteen-year-old child.

When word got out about how this arrangement, social media users were rightfully mad at how this kid was being screwed over. Finally, at long last (and perhaps not entirely out of the goodness of their hearts but in a case of some bad PR management), the Yakutia Ministry of Agriculture has publicly announced that it will be buying the boy his very own cow. A dairy happy ending after all.

You Might Also Like

Bovine Brassieres
  • December 30, 2020

Bovine Brassieres

A dairy farmer in Russia's coldest village has found a way to keep his cow's udders warm in the dead of winter.
Bovines, Berries, and Bros
  • December 10, 2020

Bovines, Berries, and Bros

This week, Lada outdoes itself; emergency services fall short; and cows (and men) finally get the appreciation they're due.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

White Magic

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.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

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.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

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

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 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