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. Culture Language Reference Language Learning Nonfiction
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. Fiction
August 17, 2018 Resilience ~ The Russian Version (Переживем) Call it resilience, grit, or just perseverance – it takes a special sort of person to have survived the last 100 years of Russian and Soviet history. Nonfiction
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. Nonfiction
December 12, 2016 Murder and the Muse KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead. Fiction
November 01, 2012 Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture. Nonfiction
March 05, 2018 Resilience: Life Stories of Centenarians Born in the Year of Revolution Call it resilience, grit, or just perseverance – it takes a special sort of person to have survived the last 100 years of Russian and Soviet history. Nonfiction
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. Culture Nonfiction
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. Language Reference Language Learning Nonfiction
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. Literature Fiction
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. Bilingual Books Fiction
May 01, 2015 Bears in the Caviar Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of. Nonfiction
Putin ReElected Again Presidential elections held. Vladimir Putin won a new six-year term with a reported 87% of the vote.
Prigozhin Rebellion End of a short-lived rebellion by the Wagner Group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who marched on Moscow and challenged the Russian military leadership. Prigozhin died in plane crash one month later.
Annexations Russia claimed the annexation of four Ukrainian regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia).
Fake News Russia passed laws imposing heavy prison sentences for "fake news" regarding the military, leading to the closure of independent media.
Navalny Poisoned Opposition leader Alexei Navalny poisoned, leading to his subsequent arrest in 2021.
Putin Given Additional Terms Conclusion of the nationwide vote on constitutional amendments, allowing Vladimir Putin to seek two additional terms.
Navalny Murdered Alexei Navalny murdered while serving time in Siberia on a trumped up conviction for political crimes.
Putin Indicted on War Crimes The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights for the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
Full Scale Invasion of Ukraine Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine following President Putin's announcement of a "special military operation" to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine.
Malaysian Airline Shot Down Russian-controlled forces killed 298 civilians when they shot down a passenger aircraft, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, as it was flying over eastern Ukraine.
Russia Annexed Crimea After declaring approving, on March 1, the use of armed force in Ukraine, on this day Russia officially annexed Ukraine.
Russia Begins War on Ukraine Russian soldiers without insignia began to occupy Crimea, storming the Crimean parliament. Russia's War on Ukraine begins.
Recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk Russia formally recognized the independence of separatist-held areas in Donetsk and Luhansk, ordering troops to "peacekeeping" missions.
Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.
Kremlin Tool Breaks Out of Shed? Russia's Kremlin-backed Novye Lyudi party was designed to absorb dissent. Now it's rising, making both the Kremlin and the party itself nervous.
Of Course, Russian Weapons Are Best An "impartial" study finds that Russian tanks, guns, and equipment outstrip Western counterparts.
The Parade Must Go On Amid regional parade cancelations, St. Petersburg offered a subdued Victory Day march.
Language Learning Learning Russian is not a sprint, it's a marathon. We don't publish standard language learning books, but books that supplement your learnings on grammar and vocabulary.
MAXophone ~ Word of the Month History is repeating itself as the Russian state murders civilians for resisting its ruthless will.
Extras Included A review of Alexander Voloshin's Sidetracked: Exile in Hollywood, translated by Boris Dralyuk.
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"You Will Live Here Forever" The little-known story of a Russian academic who held his ground and made a difference.
"I Still Can't Stand the Smell of Bay Leaves"... Memories of Serafima Korolyova, a St. Petersburg woman who lived with her family in the Mariinsky Palace during the Leningrad Blockade
Tamara's Millions The mysterious case of a seemingly destitute pensioner who left a large bequest to a fund for children.
The Living and the Dead How red tape, politics, and state indifference combined to kill 82-year-old Svetlana Mitina.
Lady With A Puck In the Russian North, hockey is more than just a sport. And for these retired women, it is a lifeline.
Reliving the Glory Days A massive reenactment festival just before Victory Day reveals a great deal about modern Russian discourse.
Attacked for "Speaking Buryat" on the Bus A Buryat woman was attacked on a Moscow bus for speaking "her language." According to the victim, she was speaking Russian.
Targeting Russia's Antiwar Party Fines, raids, and arrests hit Yabloko, the only legal party in Russia openly against the war in Ukraine, ahead of upcoming elections.
Teaching Russian DNA In January 2027, war propaganda in schools will be expanded by adding another ''patriotic" lesson to the curriculum.
The 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.
Black Rain of War An environmental catastrophe hits Tuapse following an attack by Ukrainian drones on a local oil refinery.
Pushkin Is Out A new federal law introduced on March 1 might change the way books, including classic Russian titles, are distributed.
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.
Twitch Says No to Russian Drones Twitch banned Russian streamers for retransmitting a recruitment event for drone building by a Russian university.
Introducing Russia's Newest Minesweeper Russia is expanding its fleet of advanced minesweepers, aiming to secure strategic waterways.
Dostoyevsky Bilingual Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided.
I Won't Grow Up! A review of A Hundred Years of Childhood: An Anthology of Russian Writing for Children, 1917-2017, by Olga Bukhina & Kelly Herold & Andrea Lanoux
Where We First Touched Outer Space The world's largest and most active space port is situated in the middle of the Kazakh desert. Largely off-limits to outsiders, it is an unusual mix of hi-tech and low-key. And it was from here, just over 50 years ago, that humankind first reached out to touch the stars.
Testing Victory More than 70,000 Muscovites participated in this year's "Victory Dictation," testing their knowledge of WW2.
From Poisoning to Firewalls The same FSB unit tied to Navalny's poisoning is now leading Russia's push to restrict Telegram, WhatsApp, and VPNs, according to industry sources.
"We Shouldn't Feel Fear" A blogger uploaded a video message to Putin, saying people were afraid of him. Two days later, she thanked him.
A New Festive Tradition Two criminal cases are active for “insulting” images of the Russian Easter cake on social media.
Jews in Service to the Tsar Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.
Young Voices Under Pressure Young Russian journalists navigate fear, censorship, and an uncertain future in a shrinking space for independent reporting.
Tolstoy Would Be Proud Alexei Tolstoy's grandson, along with four people and a Tatar advocacy group, was declared a foreign agent on the same day.
A Rough Patch for Putin? The Russian president is seeing some of his lowest approval ratings in decades, and that's according to state media.
Historical Events in November and December Dates and anniversaries that coincide with this winter's issue.
100 Young Russians to Watch This is the sixth article in our series: 100 Young Russians to Watch. In this issue we present seven notable individuals—from an alpinist turned preservationist to an editor to an outstanding oboist ... All personify the sort of excellence and hope which embody a positive Russian future.
Russian Lacquer Miniatures: A Mythic Art Russian lacquered miniatures came to fruition in the Soviet era--skilled icon painters' adaptation of a centuries-old art to new, secular reality. Collector and expert Cherry Gilchrist offers a fascinating look at the history of this art form, plus offers useful tips on how to buy top-quality miniatures.
19: Horse Power JUST 1 LEFT IN STOCK! Our theme is "Horse Power," in which every tale and memoir has to do with that noble friend. There are tales of work horses, race horses, war horses and little humpbacked horses. And always it is their interaction with and affect on us humans that makes the tale so poignant, powerful and classic.
33: Military Tales JUST 1 LEFT IN STOCK! This issue of Chtenia collects stories of war and combat from some of the earliest days of Russian history to the current day.
34: Treasure Hunting Only 1 issue left! This issue takes you on a multi-century romp through Russian literature in search of treasure. From bells hidden on a dilapidated estate, the long lost library of Ivan the Terrible, a son's coveting of his father's treasure (a la Pushkin) to the little treasures held close to a girl's heart...
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.
Reading Between Black Lines In Russia, censored pages are sparking underground libraries, secret book clubs, and quiet acts of literary resistance.
Convicted for Crypto A Bryansk man was convicted of financing terrorism for transferring cryptocurrency to a banned Russian political organization.
An Oasis for Russian Jokes There's a surprising space where Russians find safe space for topical humor and how they comment on what's happening in the country.
Kazakhstan: Stop Fighting for Russia, Please Kazakhstan has been arresting citizens who are fighting for Russia in its War on Ukraine.
Sexual Anarchy, Too Much for the FSB A court fined a bookstore chain for novels that contained "sexual anarchism."
Navalny's "Concentration Camp" Closed A prison that once held opposition leader Alexey Navalny has been closed. He referred to it as a "concentration camp."
Avoiding Expulsion Through the Draft A prestigious Russian university is offering military contracts to fight in Ukraine to students at risk of expulsion.
Now Queen is LGBT Propaganda A Moscow man was fined for "LGBT propaganda" after posting pictures from Queen's 1984 music video, "I Want to Break Free."
Fight for an Apartment Russian orphans have to fight in the war to access apartments they are legally entitled to.
Groceries for International Women's Day United Russia gifted groceries to elderly women, female volunteers, and widows of soldiers who died in Ukraine to celebrate International Women's Day.
Man Murders "English Spy" Girlfriend In St. Petersburg, a man killed his friend thinking she was an English Spy.
"Mehh": Fined For Reposting Government Video A man in Moscow Oblast was fined for reposting a video of sheep with the letter "Z" on their wool.
Lawyer Convicted for Bucha Massacre Comments A lawyer who represented dissidents and Ukrainian servicemen was convicted in absentia over comments about the Bucha massacre.
Roskomnadzor Protestors Arrested Three activists blocked the doors of Roskomnadzor to protest internet surveillance and were arrested.
Dual Nationals Are Traitors, Again Russian authorities plan to crack down on dual citizens, adding penalties for those who fail to disclose a second passport.
Cracking Down on Drunk Driving In response to persistently high rates of drunk driving in Russia, stricter punishments are being enacted.
Cheburashka's Nationality Debated Debates over the nationality of the popular Soviet cartoon character Cheburashka erupt.
Volodya the Robot's New Job A humanoid robot named Volodya helps flight attendants at Pobeda Airlines.
Russia's Top Car is a Soviet Staple Russian consumers say the best new car in Russia is from an (in)famous Soviet company.
Sinking Hopes for Russia's Last Aircraft Carrier Long out of service for repairs, the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov faces an uncertain future.
How Did Putin Celebrate Orthodox Christmas? Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated Christmas at a military church near Moscow.
Crossing the Border is Part of the Job Finnish workers cross the Russian border for jobs on the Saimaa Canal.
Music Worth the Fine A Russian citizen was fined R50,000 for listening to a song by Ukrainian artist Verka Serduchka.
Estonia Parries Visas for Russian Fencing Team The European Fencing Championship was moved from Estonia after Russian athletes’ visas were denied.
Russia's Streaming Content Crackdown Starting March 1, anyone can report films and TV shows streamed on social media and video services that discredit traditional Russian values.
Toiletries Instead of Tech Russian officials were quick to criticize the meager gifts given to Russian athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Children Celebrate the Defender of the Fatherland Day This year, Russian children had ample opportunity to join in on Defender of the Fatherland Day festivities.
More Undesirables Two American academic organizations have been designated as "undesirable" in Russia, stifling scholastic collaboration.
Sore Spot over Scythian Gold The Investigative Committee of Russia is launching a criminal investigation into the alleged theft of cultural property.
Pro-War Babushkas Evicted An unexpected series of setbacks has halted a Russian volunteer organization’s efforts in support of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On Journalism's End in Russia A powerful, anxiety-filled documentary captures the final breaths of independent Russian journalism.
Putin's Internet Offensive The Kremlin's "spring offensive" to shutdown the mobile internet, VPN services and Telegram, has revealed a dysfunctional regime.
Never Drink and Sign At least three Russian men have been nabbed by police while intoxicated, only to realize after sobering up that they'd been enlisted.
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.
Events Calendar The Russian Life Events Calendar is your first stop for finding Russophile-related events in the US and around the world. Have an event to share? Use our submission form to give us all the details of your event and we will add it to our database.
The Most Dangerous Russian Skill A pro-war patriotic blogger suddenly spoke out against Putin and ended up in a psychiatric hospital.
Memory On Trial: Relitigating the Finnish Occupation of Soviet Karelia Finland’s occupation of Karelia during WWII is being recast as a genocide.
From Blitzcringe to Gasogeddon An exploration of how Russia's War on Ukraine has altered the Russian language.
Russia's War on Metal Raids, fear, and censorship: Russia's metal scene faces pressure as authorities target concerts, fans, and artists.
Defender of the Grill A Russian woman sued for the illegal distribution of her dacha recipes, and won.
Are You With Us? A subscription to Russian Life is far more than the bound magazine you pull from your mailbox or the articles you read on our website.
Pay or Die Russian commanders in Ukraine are extorting money from their own soldiers under threat of death, according to independent outlet Verstka.
Weird Flex, but Ok Putin says Russia's defense products have a great price-to-quality ratio. We're not so sure.
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.
Mikhail Lomonosov: The Misremembered Hero An online lecture with Dr. Susan Smith-Peter The lecture will discuss how Mikhail Lomonosov, the 18th century polymath and poet, turned into a culture hero. A culture hero personifies the transition from one era to another, in this case from old Russia to new Petrine Russia. While this made Lomonosov a central figure in Russian culture, his importance to Russian history has not always been clear. Making things more difficult is Lomonosov’s connection to Peter III, the unlucky and deposed spouse of Catherine the Great. While Catherine dismissed Peter as disloyal to Russia and lazy, new work shows that he was highly involved in governance and had a tight-knit circle around him. Lomonosov was part of that circle. Already in the 18th century, former members of that circle reshaped Lomonosov’s memory after his death so that it became apolitical and linked to poetry and physics. This has meant that Lomonosov’s work on geography has not been seen as central to his life and legacy, even though his influence on the provinces was considerable. Lomonosov did reshape Russia’s approach to geography by introducing the idea of economic geography. By moving beyond the tropes of the culture hero, we can begin to see the outlines of an important figure in mid-eighteenth century Russia who has not yet been fully appreciated.
Welcome to the Russian Nursery: Toys and Games in Nineteenth-Century Russia An online lecture with Liliya Dashevski What did children play with in nineteenth-century Russia? Many of us might immediately think of the matreshka—the iconic Russian nesting doll. But surprisingly, matreshkas were not actually traditional folk toys at all. They were invented at the very end of the nineteenth century to look traditional. So if Russian children were not playing with matreshkas, what were they playing with? This talk examines the rich and often underexplored world of children’s toys and games from both peasant and elite households, from handmade wooden figures to imported European dolls, board games, and paper theatres. It shows that Russian play culture was not simply “traditional” or “European,” but a blend of both. Russian childhood was shaped by a vernacular craft tradition shared across social classes and by a Europeanized model adapted to elite educational goals. Looking at toys allows us to rethink how Russians imagined childhood, culture, and identity in a period of profound social change.
Origins of the War: A Conversation with Serhii Plokhy A conversation with Serhii Plokhy, renowned historian at Harvard University and author of several books on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This conversation will explore Professor Plokhy's new book, David and Goliath: Commentaries on the Russo-Ukrainian War, and the historiographical questions in involved in understanding the origins of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Cats and Dogs in Soviet Art: Workers, Teachers, Friends The Museum of Russian Art presents an exhibition of forty paintings featuring cats and dogs, on loan from The Raymond and Susan Johnson Collection of 20th Century Russian art and other private American collections. Thirteen of these have never been shown before and will be displayed in an American museum for the first time. Painted by both renowned and lesser recognized artists of the Soviet era, these masterful works depict domesticated animals and their various interactions with humans. In world art, portrayals of pets have historically been endowed with rich symbolism: dogs could be symbols of loyalty, status, or vigilance, while cats are often associated with domesticity, but, on some occasions, the otherworldly, the ominous, and the mystical. Soviet art metabolizes age-old traditions and brings new and additional meanings into the mix. As behooves Soviet cats and dogs in a Proletarian State, these amiable creatures are portrayed contributing to the communal life of a socialist collective. We see dogs resting by a dog sled, pulling ice from a frozen river, or tending cattle. Children’s pets teach their little masters to be caregivers, and cats become friends of retired collective farmers giving them consolation in their advanced age. Also included in this exhibition are Soviet-era porcelain figurines from TMORA collection. These rare sculptural pieces were produced at various Soviet porcelain factories, including the famed Lomonosov (formerly Imperial) Porcelain Factory in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). The Museum gives its thanks to the outstanding collectors with a keen eye for quality who generously share their art through gifts and loans. We are especially grateful to those whose contributions made this exhibition possible: Susan and Ray Johnson, Rose Brady, Duane Engstrom, and Loren Bough.
Russian Language Program Learn Russian with The Museum of Russian Art! Spring session classes begin Monday, March 23, and run for 10 consecutive weeks. Classes for all adult learners take place on Zoom, taught by experienced teachers who are native speakers of Russian. Language learning boosts memory retention, supports cognitive function, and improves concentration and listening skills. Nourish your mind and join us in class!
Ivan Kupala Festival The Russian Cultural Garden is excited to invite you to its first-ever Ivan Kupala celebration — a vibrant summer festival of Slavic traditions, sun, and nature. The program includes a market and traditional cuisine, contests for children and adults, a folklore performance, and special surprises.
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.
Moscow Doesn't Believe in Internet Recent internet outages in Moscow have had some 90s-esque consequences.
Russia's Shrinking Health Budgets In 2026, a record number of Russian regions reduced healthcare spending amid the war in Ukraine.
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.
Transfers Taxed behind Bars Russia has introduced rules allowing prison authorities to withhold up to 75% of the money transfers to inmates from relatives.
Putin and the Apartment Bombings A new BBC podcast delves into Putin's connection to the 1999 apartment building bombings.
A Pretty Penny for the Best Seat in the House A tourist was fined R850,000 (almost $11,000) for sitting on a historic throne in the Hermitage.
13: Luck What is luck (udacha) in Russian culture? That which you constantly expect, but which does not always arrive.
Fish: A History of One Migration 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.
Concordia Language Villages' Russian Camp Hundreds of thousands of satisfied language learners have experienced the wonder of speaking a new language through our fun and natural immersion environment.
War, Outsourced An investigation reveals a Russian private center recruiting foreigners for the war in Ukraine, funded by state organizations and private businesses paying to keep their workers home.
Skiing Unfriendly Slopes Don't help your kids on Russian ski slopes; you could lose your lift ticket.
Kholodomor ~ Word of the Month History is repeating itself as the Russian state murders civilians for resisting its ruthless will.
How Russians Hunt in Winter Leonid Arkadyevich Zemsky, a literary scholar, dreamed of visiting the countryside in winter and going on a real Russian hunt.
War is Hell Statistics from the four years of Russia's horrific War on Ukraine that deserve to be better known.
Past Reframed, Narrative Reset A Moscow museum dedicated to victims of Soviet repression will be replaced by a new institution focused on what officials call "genocide of the Soviet people" during World War II.
No Butterfingers Here A 19-year-old St. Petersburg student has set a new record for the number of blini cooked in an hour.
One War Volunteer's Story Ukrainian author Andriy Lyubka chronicles his work supporting the fight against Russian aggression.
Elite Children Profit from War In over three years of full-scale invasion, the children of Russia's political elite amassed billions of rubles thanks to the country’s high-interest key rate.
A Spike for Spiritual Services The Russian Orthodox Church has seen a sharp increase in prices for things like baptisms, weddings, and funerals over the last few years.
Topographies of Dissent: Armenian Art from the Dodge Collection A selection of over 60 works by Armenian artists from the Norton and Nancy Dodge Collection of Nonconformist Art from the Soviet Union
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.
Far & Away ~ Tales from Rural Russia 33 original stories about modern (and not so modern) life in rural Russia.
Russia's War Falls on the Poor Data show Russia's war deaths are concentrated in regions with higher poverty rates.
Youth Victimized Twice Residents of one town are taking to the streets and writing letters to Putin, trying to keep pregnant women from having to travel to big cities to give birth.
Birthing Protest Residents of one town are taking to the streets and writing letters to Putin, trying to keep pregnant women from having to travel to big cities to give birth.
Veterans Struggle for Jobs Many former soldiers say stigma and disability keep them from getting the jobs they need to carry on.
Don't Worry, the City's Got It In Russia's latest efforts to boost birthrates, St. Petersburg students who have children will be paid R200,000.
More Chekhov to Enjoy Reviewing a new volume of Chekhov's earliest work, on the writer's 166th birthday.
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.
Bears in the Caviar Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
From the Baltics with Love An investigation revealed how a Russian intelligence network across the Baltics recruits informants and feeds data to Moscow.
World's Coldest Place Gets Its Time in the Sun A survival YouTuber has brought unusual internet attention to Yakutia.
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual) This edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
Cargo Business Breaks Down Thousands of Russian freight transport companies are facing liquidation or bankruptcy amid rising costs, falling demand, and tightening financial conditions.
Bad Economic Indicators Behind its Potemkin façade of stability, the Russian economy faces some real threats in 2026.
Not Great, Maybe Patriotic, Definitely a War As of January 2026, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has dragged on longer than the USSR's involvement in the Second World War.
Our History In March of 1990, a bizarre confluence of events – involving two gung-ho Norwegians, one Vermonter tangling with Young Communists, and a Californian with ink in his blood – led to the founding of a small publishing company in Vermont.
Russians Turned to Diet Drugs and Antidepressants Sales of weight-loss drugs and antidepressants surged last year, while abortion pills fell in response to tighter controls.
The Story of Ivan and Anna from Popovka How a simple act of individual protest turned a family's entire life upside down.
Steppe / Степь (bilingual) 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.
Taxing Foreign Agents As of the new year, registered foreign agents are liable for a high income tax rate.
39: Turgenev Bilingual We have re-worked this issue into book form, which can be found HERE The author of masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels, Ivan Turgenev seemed to have a particular gift for writing about nature and about social iniquities. He also seemed to have a unique ability for attracting controversy.
31: Okudzhava Bilingual We have re-worked this issue into book form, which can be found HERE Bulat Okudzhava was the king of the Russian bards. Now 19 of his poems/songs and 9 autobiographical sketches are presented in our popular bilingual format, with English and Russian on facing pages.
24: Dostoyevsky Bilingual We have re-worked this issue into book form, which can be found HERE Including a series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be uneccesarily one-sided.
12: Chekhov BILINGUAL We have re-worked this issue into book form, which can be found HERE Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, including "the little trilogy"; an extract from "The Seagull"; Chekhov's own favorite story; plus the earliest version of Bunin's memoir about Chekhov, full of wonderful first person reportage on the writer's habits and manner.
20: Tolstoy Bilingual We have re-worked this issue into book form, which can be found HERE Meet the Tolstoy you never knew! This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious.
16: Wisdom and Wit JUST 3 LEFT IN STOCK! We didn't have to go far to find plenty of selections about Wisdom and Wit in the rich body of Russian literature. The challenge was selecting just the right combination.
26: Springtime in Paris A look back at the life and work of Russian emigre writers, poets, artists and non-artistic types in Paris after the Bolshevik Revolution. It is a colorful, fascinating look at the nature and effects of exile.
02: Three Russian Springs Spring is the season of rebirth, of love and, sometimes, of political change. This issue celebrates spring's arrival with a rich collection of stories, poetry, photos and nonfiction that explores the eternal mysteries of renewal and hope.
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.
An Author by Any Other Name... One of Russia's largest publishers uses ghostwriters to churn out books. But high quantity has led to low quality.
Musical Ministerial Chairs After President Putin was reelected there was a government reshuffling. But very little new blood.
Crimea River On Prime Minister Medvedev's gaffe and ensuing viral internet video... and on unconventional protest methods.
Vanishing Act Under the guise of restoration, many of Moscow’s long-treasured historical buildings are being razed to make way for parking garages and office buildings or condos for the wealthy.
Tending the Goals Many consider Vladislav Tretyak to be the best hockey player of the 20th century. We chat with Tretyak about his second act – in an arena where things can get tougher than on the ice: politics.
Who Guards Russia's Nuclear Button? Behind the Russian nuclear briefcase: secret duties, modest lives, and strict control.
If You Fight in the War, We'll Forgive You A soldier's sentence for murder was attenuated by his participation in Russia's war in Ukraine.
In Loo of Drones Russia's new head of drone warfare has no military background, but lots of experience in plumbing.
Nörüön Nörgüy (Welcome) In Sakha Republic, many towns are finding they like being alcohol free. We visit to find out why.
"Careful What You Say At School" How mothers raise children under censorship and propaganda -- and what it does to the minds of parents and kids.
Snowy Bunnies Vasiliya and Yevdokia have long nursed a secret sorrow. But you have to be careful what you wish for...
Fall 2025 End of an Era * Ethical Language * Hooked on Hockey * Village Children * A Crime in Kurgan * Language Careful What You Say * Dry Siberia * Two Books Worth Reading
Notes at the Front Items of note, including a Last Word by a teacher who was in the wrong place at the wrong time; reversing the course of a river; book sales; statistics; and more.
440 Years Ago in Russia EXCERPT: The Fall of the House of Rurik: Russia’s “Time of Troubles,” 1584-1613
Imprisoned for a Playlist A Moscow professor was sentenced to three years in prison for adding Ukrainian songs to his Vkontakte playlist.
"Slavs Only": Discriminatory Rental Ads Persist An analysis of rental ads across 30 major Russian cities finds ethnic discrimination is still shaping who gets housing.
The Terminology of Wartime Morality and Ethics Surviving the testy waters of morality and ethics, with some tips on language and idioms.
Party Like It's 1945 Moscow's Museum of Victory has created a temporary exhibition highlighting how the Russians of the Second World War celebrated New Year.
Back in the CCCP The Russian government is obsessed with restoring the former greatness of the Soviet Union. It is well reflected in the language.
Okudzhava Bilingual Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards.
When Granny Olya Decided to Die Granny Olya Shumakova had taken to her bed to die. But life, and death, are generally not simple.
Dacha: A Love Story A rumination on the cultural touchstone that only Russians are said to be able to understand and truly appreciate.
Summer 2025 Dacha Life * Recruiters Selling Out Fellow Russians * Blind & Deaf Parenting * Hostages to Tigers * Language Going Back to the CCCP * Granny Olya Decided to Die * A Last Word * Four Books Worth Reading
Killing Exposes Hunt for War Deserters In Zabaikalsky Krai, a serviceman who tracked down deserters has been killed.
36: Bulgakov This issue showcases the abilities of one of the twentieth century's finest writers, Mikhail Bulgakov, a literary chameleon able to work in an impressive variety of genres against a rapidly changing political background.
28: Superfluous Men Superfluous men do not fit into society, they battle against fate and often try to impose foreign ideals onto their community. And they have been with Russia from the beginning of its modern existence.
01: The Hearts of Dogs Where else do we find so many instances of dogs invested with human-like powers of thought and feeling and in Russian literature? Dogs which are not simply house pets, but friends, relatives and confidantes.
Convicted for Automatic Payments Two retirees from occupied Zaporizhzhia were convicted of treason by Russian courts for making donations to the Ukrainian Army.
Defiance through Artistic Recreation Ukrainian soldiers recreated a famous classical painting to playfully showcase their resistance to Russian invasion.
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.
Game Over for Roblox? Russia has banned Roblox, one of the most popular video games in the world. In turn, Russians protested on social media.
Research under Surveillance Starting next year, Russian scientists must request FSB approval before working with foreign colleagues.
Dial-a-Putin Russian citizens are invited to submit questions for 2025's "Direct Line with Vladimir Putin" television program.
Pigeon-Drones are Here A Russian company introduced biodrones: pigeons with chip implants in their brains and surveillance cameras.
Property Lost, Entry Denied Thousands of Ukrainians are having their homes in Mariupol stolen from them by the Russian state.
A Pretty Penny to Park Across Russia, the prices of parking spots are rising faster than the prices of housing.
Newspeak: Authoritarianism Is Good A new state dictionary has changed definitions, praising authoritarianism and promoting "traditional values."
Cars for the Front The Russian state reports that more than 5,000 vehicles confiscated from criminals have been sent to serve in the war in Ukraine.
Griffin Edwards Griffin Edwards is Russian Life's managing digital editor, and is based in Eugene, OR. He holds an MA from Indiana University's Russian and East European Institute, where he received the Daniel Armstrong Prize for his thesis essay on neomedievalism in the ideology of Putinism (It's more interesting than it sounds). His adventures in Russia include witnessing modern theater in Moscow for St. Olaf College's undergraduate research program; experiencing the joys of an all-male winter banya in Valdai; and having the honor of collecting fares for a Peterhof-bound marshrutka. He has written in the past for the Independent Voter Network in San Diego, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and D.C.'s Lugar Center.
Referencing Putin Data show a long-term upward trend in academic mentions of Vladimir Putin in Russia.
A Russian AIDOL Falls Russia’s first artificial intelligence robot faceplanted after its first steps on a Moscow stage.
Putin's Office a Potemkin Village Investigative journalists have discovered that Putin's office is actually three near-identical rooms scattered throughout Russia.
Shop We got our start in 1990, publishing books on Russian business and travel. Over our 25-year history, we have ventured into maps, periodicals, ebooks, ejournals and online publishing. But books are still a core part of our publishing business. In just the past few years, we have published nearly two dozen titles, and two of them have won a prestigious national award for the best translation of the year.
Watch Only Half an Episode A Russian TV channel cut half an episode of a popular sitcom for jokes that implied a character might be gay.
Fear and Decline in Military Academies How Russia's War on Ukraine has shattered its military education system.
Tolstoy Discovered in an Unlikely Place Russian customs officials confiscated a lost artwork by one of Tolstoy's descendants.
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.
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.
Vologda Honors Ivan the Terrible Vologda's governor installed a statue of Ivan "the Terrible" to save... himself?
Inside Russia's State-Run Volunteer Movement Across Russia, state-backed programs are drawing millions of teenagers into volunteer work.
Russian-Styled Wrapping Paper We searched high and low for Russian-themed wrapping paper, but couldn't find any, so we decided to make our own. Which means that now you can wrap your Russophile's gifts in Russian style!
Notecards by Moscow Orphans A beautiful set of 8, 4x6 inch notecards with designs created by children in Moscow orphanages.
Tamara Eidelman Arrested in Absentia Tamara Eidelman, Russian Life's history editor for 18 years (2003-2021) has been arrested in absentia.
Russia's Growing "Terrorist List" Hundreds of Russians, including minors, are added each month to the country's "terrorists and extremists" list.
Visa-Free Paradise Lost? Montenegro is considering introducing a visa requirement for Russian citizens.
Woe From Wit (bilingual) One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
03: On the Road The road is a favorite subject in Russian literature, spanning all eras and genres. This should not be surprising in a country where huge expanses are paired with such miserable byways, where any journey can turn into a major event with unexpected consequences.
Singing Can Get You Jailtime A group of street performers was arrested for performing songs by "foreign agents" in central St. Petersburg.
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.
Why I Wrote a Book about Russia ... And Why You Should Read It (it's a history, btw, and it's important)
37: The Year 1917 A look at the world 100 years ago, through memoirs, poetry and fiction that recapture what artists, politicians, soldiers, and citizens were thinking and experiencing as events unfolded – all written or published as close to 1917 as possible.
30: Science Fictions An eclectic sampler of some of the best scifi produced during the Soviet and post-Soviet eras. From scientific experiments gone wrong, to space travel, utopianism and social experimentation, this collection has it all.
29: Leningrad Under Seige Mainly memoirs, this issue looks at what it meant to be a conscientious writer in the Soviet Union, and Leningrad in particular. The pieces are full of poignant memories, insightful humor and powerful emotions. Almost all of the works in this issue are translated into English for the first time, and many of the authors have never before been translated into English.
27: The War to End All A poignant collection of poems, stories and memoirs from World War I, often called Russia's "forgotten war."
Russia's War on Books: A Censored Translation A Russian publishing house censored a part of an American author's book that advocated for trans rights.
Discover Russian Life Russian Life is more than just a magazine. It is also a massive website with articles and resources galore. And it is also a book publishing house. But more than all that, it is an international community of Russophiles like yourself.
Immortalizing a Modern Hero? The governor of the Kursk Region has announced plans for a new monument to honor a "hero" of Russia's war in Ukraine.
Held Hostage by the Tigers In a strange turn of events, Russians living near the Amur Tiger are being prosecuted for killing the animals that nearly killed them.
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.
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.
Russia to Ban Hijabs and Niqabs in Schools? Two Russian regions have banned headcoverings in schools. Is a nationwide ban approaching?
Inside Russia's Teenage Drug Epidemic A new BBC investigation exposed how mephedrone is fueling a teenage drug epidemic across Russia.
Rubles to Rebuild The Russian Prime Minister will allocate over R 4 billion to foster businesses in regions that border Ukraine.
My Son Smells Like Caramel In the summer of 2024, blogger Alyona Kapustyan, who is fully deaf-blind, and sightless massage therapist Islomiddin Barotov had a son – who can see and hear. Here’s how she, a poet, and he, an athlete, are building a family and undermining stereotypes about relationships and parenthood among people with disabilities
"Bring A Friend" All sorts of recruiters, from “local authorities” to women on maternity leave – not all of them in Russia – are convincing people to sign contracts to fight in Russia’s War on Ukraine. Russians are making money by sending other Russians off to war.
Notes At The Front Last Word, teachers' salaries, discrimination, recording Russian casualties, and Sosnowsky’s hogweed.
War Experience, Few Seats Despite Kremlin support, veterans of Russia's war on Ukraine were elected to few posts during the September elections.
Is Russia Closing the Tab? Vodka and cognac sales have fallen significantly due to restrictions on alcohol purchases across Russia.
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.
No Politics for a Politician Putin notes that Stalin was a key figure of Russia's victory in World War II, but says his image should be "depoliticized."
Red Star Tales: A Century of Russian and Soviet Science Fiction For over 100 years, most of the science fiction produced by the world’s largest country has been beyond the reach of Western readers. This new collection changes that, bringing a large body of influential works into the English orbit.
Tolstoy Bilingual This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious.
Three Years Gone Inside the quiet toll of Russia's mobilization in Tomsk: a quarter dead, missing, or injured, few veterans recognized.
No Open Relationship Movies A U.S. movie set to premiere in Russia on September 25 could not get distribution.
Women Looking at War Two female Ukrainian authors have been honored in Germany’s Hotlist literary awards for 2025.
A Modern Fairy Tale The Ukrainian journalist Anastasiia Marsiz’s first novel, set in modern Italy, reads in the literary tradition of skazki, Eugene Onegin and Tolstoy’s folk tales.
An Essential Discount The Russian State Duma is considering a bill that would limit the markup on some "essential" foods.
Intervision: Russia's Eurovision Russia was banned from Eurovision in 2022. This year they will revive the Intervision contest in response.
Murderer Released or No? Conflicting accounts emerge whether a notorious convicted murder has been released.
FSB's New Treason Trap Russia has opened over 100 "light treason" cases in under two years, many born from FSB operations.
A Civic Duty? A local Russian leader opened a new kindergarten by calling on citizens to be fruitful and multiply.
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.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.
Looking for a Few Good Interns Love The Russia File? If you are an advanced student of Russian with excellent writing skills, we should talk...
38: Happiness A great deal of Russian literature is chiefly about the pursuit of happiness. What Raskolnikov, Karenina, Pechorin, Chichikov, and many other prominent characters in Russian literature share is a longing for something better, for a contented, full life. But, like most great creations of literature, they are also deeply flawed...
Guns from Front Flood Courts Weapons cases against servicemen have tripled since the Russian war in Ukraine began.
Navalny Volunteer Arrested at Kazakhstan Airport A former Navalny volunteer was arrested during a layover in Kazakhstan. She is fighting extradition to Russia.
Manga Library Fined as "Destructive" Online manga library Mangalib has been fined R14 million by a Moscow court for “LGBT propaganda.”
Hourly Taskmaster Rise Russians looking to get a little extra cash on the side can become "specific assistants." And the marketplace is booming.
Mysteries and Odysseys An exhibit featuring remarkable stories told by the artifacts in the Russian History Museum’s collection.
Where to Study Russian What we like to think is a fairly comprehensive listing of high schools and universities in the US that teach Russian. With links to the programs if we have them.
32: Musical Writing Any author who chooses to write about music faces an immense task. The most abstract of all arts, music forces the writer to put into words and descriptions – much more concrete things by comparison – its ephemeral nature.
Marriage War Scams Grow Russian lawmakers push for tougher rules amid reports of women marrying deployed soldiers to collect benefits.
Racial Attack Goes Viral An Uzbek taxi driver suffered a racist attack near Moscow. Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry responded.
Prima Donna Elicits Protest A prominent Russian singer has caused a backlash with her return to European opera houses.
A Bit of a Boost? Russia's minimum wage is to increase by 20% at the start of 2026. But how significant is that bump, really?
Marooned in Moscow This gripping autobiography plays out against the backdrop of Russia's bloody Civil War, and was one of the first Western eyewitness accounts of life in post-revolutionary Russia. Marooned in Moscow provides a fascinating account of one woman's entry into war-torn Russia in early 1920, first-person impressions of many in the top Soviet leadership, and accounts of the author's increasingly dangerous work as a journalist and spy, to say nothing of her work on behalf of prisoners, her two arrests, and her eventual ten-month-long imprisonment, including in the infamous Lubyanka prison. It is a veritable encyclopedia of life in Russia in the early 1920s.
The Cost of Insulting Putin Since 2019, hundreds of Russians have faced trial for showing "disrespect" to Putin.
More War, Fewer Books Ukrainian book sales are decreasing, but demand for English-language literature is on the rise.
Anthem of a Disputed Land The government of Russia-occupied has adopted a new national anthem that highlights it ties to Moscow.
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
40: Fall Our final issue of Chtenia looks at the season of transition into winter, and how it has made its appearance in Russian literature and memoirs.
The Vanishing Books of Dmitry Bykov Author Dmitry Bykov's books are disappearing from shelves after Russia placed the writer on its international wanted list.
WhatsApp and Telegram Blocked Russia has blocked phone calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. Novaya Gazeta Evropa gave tips on how to stay connected.
Running Out of Doctors and Nurses Russia's health care system is running out of doctors, nurses, and hospitals. Some regions have no oncologists or cardiologists.
Indicted War Criminal Plays Convicted Felon Like Fiddle Presidents Putin and Trump spent 6 hours in Alaska and agreed they like spending time together.
Spring 2025 Putin on the Brain * Why Russians Like Traveling to North Korea * Siberian One-Student Schoolhouse * The Karelian Occupation * Power of the Press (Village Story) * Coping in Arkhangelsk * Books We Liked
Vanishing Numbers in Russia Russia pulls hundreds of key statistics and shuts down most demographic data.
Authoritarianism Is a Disease The antiwar collective Artists Against the Kremlin will exhibit in Amsterdam for a second time.
Alleged Daughter of Putin Speaks Out Vladimir Putin's alleged illegitimate daughter speaks out against him and Russia's War on Ukraine.
Historical Accuracy, Enforced Three books by a former Soviet soldier have been banned for challenging the dominant narrative of World War II.
From Arizona to Trenches A 46-year-old American who moved his family to Russia in search of “traditional values” is now serving on the front lines in Ukraine.
14: Provincial Life This collection of stories, poems and photos offers an offbeat, intimate view of provincial town life in Russia. Featuring contributions by classic and modern writers, including recent award winners.
11: Dacha Life For well over a century, Russian city dwellers have been attracted to dacha life for the autonomy, solitude and peace it has to offer. So it is no accident that so many works of Russian literature take place in dachas – this is where people feel freer, where they open up more quickly.
10: Hope Dies Last Russian literature has so many lonely, despairing heroes whose lives have been ruined, that it seems like one cannot even begin to speak of things like hope... But of course things are not so simple...
08: Love a la Russe There are many types of love, and sometimes they assume a form that is not immediately recognizable...
07: To the Caucasus To Russian literature, the Caucasus is a place of adventure... a wild, untamed region where those spoiled by civilization collide with virginal nature, with people who live simple, self-reliant lives... it is a territory of freedom, meaning free will... a place where poets and writers have found shelter...
05: Winter Holidays Oh, how Russian Literature loves winter... it is a time when wishes come true, when families gather together, when everything in the home is transformed because, in one room, there is an evergreen, full of shimmering decorations, filling the home with its glorious aroma.
04: Childhood "Childhood, along with two or three years of youth, is the fullest, most exquisite part of life, the part that is most our own, and, indeed, almost the most important, for it imperceptibly shapes our future." – Alexander Herzen
Fled to the U.S., Jailed in Russia A Russian businessman and opposition supporter was arrested on terrorism charges after being denied political asylum in the U.S.
"There Was No Thought of Leaving the Operating Room" A group of surgeons in Kamchatka went viral for a video in which they protected a patient during a recent 8.8 magnitude earthquake.
Neither Master Nor Margarita Russia bans the "International Satanism Movement," demonstrating the modern interpretation of Mikhail Bulgakov's classic "The Master and Margarita."
Even Nonagenarians Can Be Propaganda A 98-year-old veteran who moved to Russia from Latvia is the Kremlin's latest propaganda spotlight.
Ukrainian Artist Honored Serhiy Zhadan is the first Ukrainian to win the Austrian State Prize in European Literature.
Street Sweepers under Surveillance A new initiative will closely monitor Petersburg city employees to ensure that they do their jobs right.
The "Eternal" Draft is Coming The Duma is considering a bill to hold conscription year-round, making it harder for Russians to avoid the draft.
War Memorials, Harsh Justice Russia is increasingly using its “rehabilitation of Nazism” law to punish for minor acts near war memorials.
Juvie for Bullies The General Prosecutor's office proposed sending school bullies to temporary detention centers.
Medvedev Compares Ukraine to Nazi Germany Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev claims "denazification" as a motive for the invasion of Ukraine.
Putin's Popularity Perpetuates The Russian president maintains a high approval rating despite challenges.
No More Summers in Turkey? Pro-war bloggers are calling for a boycott of vacations in Turkey after it joined a drone coalition to aid Ukraine.
Law, Order, and War Contracts Russian police offered bonuses for recruiting criminal suspects to fight in Ukraine.
The "No" Exhibition Russian journalists in exile collaborated with international artists on an exhibition celebrating resistance.
The Chkalov Flight: Almost Lost to Time An easily-overlooked monument and museum outside Portland, Oregon, marks the site where three Soviet aviators completed the world's first transpolar flight.
Hired to Fight, Jailed Back Home Central Asian migrants recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine may face prison at home.
Welcome to Moscow, Taliban! Russia has become the first country to recognize Afghanistan's Taliban government.
Fiction Stranger Than Life Modern Russian literature is leveraging a science fiction trope to rewrite history.
The Persecution Doesn't Stay at Home A LGBT rights activist asserts that homophobic groups from Russia are still persecuting her in exile in Lithuania.
Does Russian Literature Need Support? Author Maria Galina declined to accept the 2025 Dar Literary Prize, sparking debate over engagement with Russian-language literature in wartime.
Budget Money, Party Power Party finance data from 2024 suggests Russian political parties heavily rely on public funding and opaque regional channels.
Tightening Trade Ties Russia and Belarus celebrate a record year for trade between them in 2024. No surprise there.
"Let's Get Me into Prison" Russian soldiers seek prison to avoid combat, say lawyers and rights defenders.
Russky Letters Only! Russia has passed a law prohibiting inscriptions in foreign languages in signs and billboards.
Russia's Forgotten Female Poet Karolina Pavlova struggled to find literary acclaim as a woman in the 19th century, but her work endures.
Environmentalism, Kremlin Style State-backed NGOs replace independent environmental voices in the Arctic.
iState: A Russian Government Messenger? The Duma has approved the creation of a national messenger app to digitize the government and collect data on its citizens' chats.
Vladimir Mayakovsky: A Century of Censorship Vladimir Mayakovsky sports a complicated legacy a nearly a century after Joseph Stalin immortalized him as the defining poet of the Soviet epoch.
Cultural Calendar Codified Russian leadership has approved a new plan for cultural policy through 2027.
Tilting Toward Hope The trend worldwide over the last two decades has been clear: democracy is slipping.
Notes At The Front Foreign workers, vodka decline, what Russians think of perestroika, and, of course, a Last Word.
ГОПНИК, ЦАРЬ, КАРЛИК A President by any Other Name ... The various ways Russians euphemize the aging denizen of the Kremlin.
"We'd Be Nothing Without You" In a remote Siberian village, a single student keeps the school from closing.
Why Russians Like Traveling to the 'Hermit Kingdom' Why Russians like traveling to Totalitarian North Korea so much.
All Of Our Buildings Together Would Cost The Same As A Few Days Of War A region's housing woes could be solved at the cost of a few days of Russia's War on Ukraine.
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.
Murder and the Muse KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors 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.
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.
The Latchkey Murders Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
East of the Sun: The Epic Conquest and Tragic History of Siberia The very word Siberia evokes a history and reputation as awesome as it is enthralling. In this acclaimed book on Russia’s conquest of its eastern realms, Benson Bobrick offers a story that is both rich and subtle, broad and deep.
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.
Remembering James Lloydovich Patterson A look at the extraordinary life and legacy of James L. Patterson, who recently passed away at 91.
Teenagers Hired Online, Jailed for Arson Russian teens face terrorism charges after allegedly being paid to commit acts of sabotage.
Sanctions after the Bra Storm? American rapper Tyga performed in Moscow after Russia's three-year Hollywood drought.
Pleading for Help, Punished Instead Russians face fines and prosecution for public video appeals to Putin over environmental and social issues.
Pills and Poisons Tuva has Russia's highest birth and abortion rate. Women are buying counterfeit abortion pills online — at a high cost.
Game against Ukraine A new video game published by the son of a Russian diplomat lets players test their mettle on Ukraine's battlefields.
Dry Flights? Russia may ban alcohol on flights and use breathalyzers to prevent drunk passengers from boarding.
Job Ads Lead to the Front Line Russians are being misled into signing military contracts under the guise of civilian jobs.
A Patriarch by Any Other Name The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has another legal name that's useful for filing taxes, avoiding sanctions, and more.
Russia's War on Books Police in arrested 10 current and former employees of Russia's largest publishing house on charges of "LGBT propaganda."
Drones for War, Not for Pizza Delivery Russia’s drone boom hides military aims behind civilian promises and depends heavily on Chinese imports.
Clownworld Comes to Russia A court in Novgorod fined a man for LGBT-linked extremist propaganda for using an absurdist meme.
Victory Day: Or Parades, Sausages, and Distorted Footage Russia commemorated the eightieth anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat with Ukraine war-themed parades and exhibits. And German sausages.
Silent Casualties of the War Dozens of residents in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast have been injured or killed in military-related traffic accidents and are struggling to find justice.
Russian Soldiers Want Peace Independent outlet Verstka interviewed Russian soldiers about a potential ceasefire and the objectives of the war.
Victory Day: Not Just for Russia Anymore Trump has proposed new names for Veterans Day and VE Day – but Russia has already called dibs.
A Posthumous Conviction Mikhail Khachaturian, murdered by his daughters, was posthumously convicted of sexual violence.
With Prayers and Drones Dozens of Orthodox military-patriotic clubs across Russia prepare children for war.
Belarusian Repression Hits a New Low At least 33 Belarusian dissidents have received forced psychological treatment since 2020.
"Come Work in Ta... Tatarstan?" Two Argentinian influencers were accused of promoting a human trafficking scheme in Tatarstan.
Tali-unbanned The Russian government has removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations.
Finn-ancial Crisis? The Finnish parliament has passed a law forbidding Russians from owning real estate in the country.
From Bashkortostan to the Global Charts A band from Bashkortostan has gone viral for an electro-folk song about a Bashkir epic poem.
Chekhov Bilingual Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout.
Fined Pacifist Bishop: "Thou Shalt Not Kill" A Russian Orthodox priest was forced to pay a fine for posting a video calling for peace.
They Draw Swastikas, Set Fires, and Break Crosses Incidents involving desecration of monuments honoring soldiers who fought in Russia's War on Ukraine are increasing.
Log Your Blog, or Else Russian influencers could face consequences if they fail to register with the state.
Putin's Daughter: A Battlefield Hero or a Myth? Putin's daughter was allegedly injured while saving soldiers in the war. An independent outlet questions the story.
Neo-Nazis Return to Russian Streets Experts report a significant increase in hate crimes in Russia, many committed by teenagers.
A Deserter's Dilemma A Ukrainian man who had served with Russian forces in the Donetsk People's Republic and was discharged has been sentenced for desertion.
09: Beyond the Urals Russian literature only truly noticed Siberia in the nineteenth century, and primarily as a place of exile... Gradually, however, Russian writers began to recognize a different Siberia: a richly forested Siberia where hunters roamed, a Siberia filled with villages tended by Russian settlers...
Regions Face Medication Shortages Patients struggle with finding insulin and essential drugs; residents rely on group chats and online exchanges to survive.
Artists in Custody Russia currently has 42 "cultural" figures who are political prisoners and another 176 on their way to becoming the same.
Flying on Russian Fuel? State edia claims Latvian-state airline is purchasing fuel from Russia. The company denies it.
301 Things Everyone Should Know About Russia How do you begin to get a handle on the world's largest country? This colorful, illustrated guide will get you started...
Necropolis for Putin's Elite Replaces Forest A billion-ruble church complex linked to Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov is being built outside Moscow.
"How Are You, Still Haven´t Given Birth Yet?" A pink sign reading "How are you, still haven't given birth yet?" is the latest government effort to push women to give birth.
Thank You for the Occupation The Russian government invests in pro-Kremlin bloggers in occupied Ukrainian territories.
Dog No. 39 We may hate war, but we understand what is going on. But what about the animals? Who will help them?
Winter 2025 Saving a Church and Memories * The Difficulty of Being a Trans Soldier in Russia * * Saving Dissenters from Psych Prisons * Saving the Pets from Warzones * The Perils of Dating Military Men * Books on Tolstoy * Word of the Year for 2024 * Books We Liked
The Man Situation Some women try to find love with soldiers. Generally speaking, it does not end well.
Hospitals of No Return Psychiatric imprisonment did not end with the Soviet Union. It has a new lien on Russian lives.
Maxine's Journey What if you loved your country, agreed with its policies, but it didn't quite love you back?
Flooded History You can get a lot of meaning out of life by trying to save something others sought to destroy.
Words of the Year What was the word of the year for 2024? And what should have been the word of the year?
Words STILL Matter Those with a careful eye will note that we have a very specific way of referring to the conflict in Ukraine: Russia’s War on Ukraine.
Win Office, Escape War? An active conscript was elected head of a village and thus allowed to leave the front lines, sparking a legal debate in Russia.
Women's Rights in Wartime Women's rights activists face increased pressure and reduced domestic violence resources in Russia.
Putin's Culture Guru, Now Head of Writer's Union Vladimir Medinsky, a writer in Putin's inner circle, is now the head of the Union of Russian Writers.
On Russian Casualties Radio Liberty has published a database containing details on 166,000 Russian casualties of war.
Three Years, 95,000 Dead Three years after the start of Russia's War on Ukraine, more than 95,000 Russian troops have died.
Words from Jail: "Optimism Is My Diagnosis" A trans man was sentenced to 12 years in a women's jail. Despite bullying and threats, he remains resilient.
Fines for Navalny Nods More than 150 Russians have been fined or arrested for using symbols associated with Alexei Navalny.
Hell Behind Bars for a Teenager A 14-year-old Russian girl accused of terrorism spent almost a year in a pretrial detention center, where she was beaten and subjected to sexual violence.
Full Immersion in the War Russian schools now include VR exhibits that immerse kids in Russia's War on Ukraine.
Frontline Sex, Moscow Prices Russian sex workers have flocked to the frontlines of Ukraine to satisfy soldiers' growing demand.
Russia Comes for Norwegians The independent Norwegian news site The Barents Observer has been declared "undesirable" by the Russian government.
Losing Weight on Russia´s "Ozempics" Semaglutides have landed in Russia as the country struggles with an obesity epidemic.
A Hidden Ecological Threat Russia uses river tankers to evade sanctions, raising environmental concerns.
State and Business (and Moral) Corruption Russia's Anti-Corruption Foundation has published an eyebrow-raising investigation into one of Putin's closest allies – and his girlfriends.
Fall 2024 Navalny's Effect on the Language * Teaching Lit in the New (Old) Russia * Two Villages in the North * Divorced but Not Separate * A Gulag Town Remembers * A Tale of One Family Persecuted * Social Influencer Wives of Priests * Books We Liked
Vets Face Prosthetic Delays, Uncertainty The independent publication Verstka reported on a Moscow rehab center for Russian military personnel.
Making a List The Ministry of Internal Affairs may be creating a database of LGBT persons to make future prosecutions easier.
Russians Unaffected by War Verstka uncovered a survey that showed Russians are both exhausted and accustomed to the war in Ukraine.
More Drones in Russian Schools Educational institutions spend millions on drones and military simulators.
The Politics of the Class of 2025 A student reflects on politics and Russia's future as high school graduation nears.
A Shortened Flight, a Shortened Sentence A Russian air defense officer will serve almost three years in a penal colony for a friendly fire incident.
"Rot Here for the Rest of Your Lives" Mediazona takes readers inside one of Russia's most-feared torture camps for Ukrainian captives.
Orthodox Church Rising The power of the ROC is growing in the government, according to independent publication Verstka.
Piter's Retro Photo Salon A St. Petersburg entrepreneur takes a shot at capturing images with an antiquated technology.
Twin Christmases In February 1582, the Catholic Church, in the person of Pope Gregory the thirteenth, decreed a new, more accurate calendar to replace the Julian calendar, which had been in use since 45 BC. The revision meant dropping 10 days off the year...
Paint the Coast Black Krasnodar Krai and Sevastopol declared a state of emergency after a Kerch Strait oil spill.
Belarus Bans Emigrant Connections The Belarusian government has listed a handful of Telegram chats used by Belarusian emigrants living in Warsaw as "extremist materials."
Global Warming Changing Russian Winters Researchers report Russia's winters are changing due to global warming.
An Argentine Christmas Present On Christmas morning, two Russian diplomats were stopped at a DUI control in Argentina.
Pensioners Recruited for Arsons, Again A new arsonist wave in Russian cities is traced to threats from online scammers.
Trauma or Personal Growth? Some Russian psychologists and ex-combatants claim war has had a positive effect on people's lives.
Power for Abkhazia Russian-occupied Abkhazia faces an energy crisis that Russia seems reluctant to solve.
His Yacht, America's Problem A Russian oligarch's yacht has become a costly problem for U.S. authorities.
Cleaning up Kerch Strait Oil Spill A massive oil spill in the Kerch Strait has polluted miles of shoreline in Russia’s Krasnodar Oblast, killing birds and dolphins.
White Nights Resurges One hundred and sixty-seven years on, a Dostoyevsky novella is seeing a resurgence in popularity.
A Memory Battle, Won A statue to the founder of the Soviet secret police has been erected in Khabarovsk.
Paris-Zheleznogorsk Relations Worsen The mayor of a small city has called for a local landmark to be dismantled.
Where Are All the Planes? Russia has built just seven passenger planes out of a planned 108 in two years.
"Too Pro-War" Library Closes A pro-war bookshop in St. Petersburg closes, saying, "the end of the world is near."
Ghost of Economy Future Russian analysts give their forecasts for what the economy might look like in early 2025.
Fewer Russians Willing to Join the Front As losses mount, the influx of new contract soldiers into the Russian army has sharply decreased.
An Agent for All, an Agent for None? A Russian woman has been arrested in New York after working with both FBI and FSB agents.
Leave Georgia or Be Sent to Russia A Belarussian man fled Georgia after being arrested in recent anti-government protests.
What's Up with the Ruble? Over the past week, the Russian ruble has collapsed. Why is this happening?
Pyrates Beware! Russian internet users are switching to legal means for streaming media — a consequence of the war in Ukraine.
Crackdowns on Queer Nightlife Continue In Voronezh, police raided a bar that featured drag performers.
Trans Russians: "How Long Can We Last?" Trans people in Russia are more vulnerable than ever. How are they surviving?
35: Gypsies In Russia, Gypsies were admired precisely because they lived by their own code of honor, their own customs and traditions, and were always ready to give in to their natural passions. They were a great contrast to the Russians – or, rather, they exemplified what the Russians secretly wanted to be.
25: Storied Moscow We devote our pages to Moscow, with stories, memoirs, poetry and song that focus on the city itself. From lyrical tributes to some of the oldest traveler's memoirs, to stories of murder, childhood, NEP and thievery, this is one of our most eclectic, exciting issues ever.
23: Women Writing Sampling the diverse styles and subjects of modern Russian women writers, underscoring their supreme relevance to American readers.
22: Spies and Imposters History is filled with tales of spies, infiltrators, informers and imposters. We mine Russian and Soviet literature to present a collection that is must-reading for devotees of the genre and lovers of all things Russian.
21: Dark and Scary Everyone loves a good scary story told in the dark... So we have collected some of the great ones from Russian literature past and present, including some that purport to be true (let's hope not!).
15: Summer A look at Russian summer featuring an eclectic collection of stories by writers both classic and modern, including two Fyodors, one Afanasy and one Maximilian, as well as one Irina, one Marina, and a Tamara and a Nikolai thrown in for good measure...
06: Gogol Mogul This collection focuses on heirs to Nikolai Gogol, an agonizing and painful love for Russia, from which there is no deliverance... Gogol formed us, educated us, made us, and we can now read and view Gogol with pleasure... and laugh...
Neformatushki*: The Wives of Russian Priests have an Instagram Side Hustle Posts on Alina Babkina’s Tik-Tok account (alinababkina.family) can generate up to a million views. Priests' wives take to the socials to proselytize and develop a side hustle.
The Road to Nowhere It was a "dumping ground" for kulaks and other "undersirables," but many stayed on. This is their story.
Groundhog Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich: The perils of teaching Russian literature in today's Russia How the New Authoritarianism is impacting literature and education.
The Beautiful Russia of the Future: Survival Russian in Wartime A look back at what Alexei Navalny bequeathed to the Russian Language.
Watch Your Mother Tongue Students chanting in Azerbaijani inside a Russian university are being investigated for terrorism.
Aid in the Wake of a Counterattack Four billion rubles have been allocated for those who have lost property from the Ukrainian counterattack in Kursk Oblast.
Data Leaks Reach Record High in Russia Personal data of about 90% of adult Russians is now publicly available due to data leaks.
Your Baby, Your Lottery Ticket With your precious new bundle could come a set of household appliances, or more.
Punk in Russia, Prisoner in Kazakhstan A punk musician fled persecution in Russia. Then he was detained in Kazakhstan.
What Does the Kremlin Think of Donald Trump? Members of Russia's administration react to Trump's reelection.
From immigrant to emigrant Russian immigration authorities recently deported some 20,000 immigrants, part of an ongoing immigration crackdown.
Prison Time for a Charitable Donation A Rostov-on-Don resident was sentenced to 12 years in prison over a $71 donation.
Russian Life Takes a Pause As the world reels from the horrific, criminal events being perpetrated in Ukraine by Vladimir Putin, the Russian state, and the Russian military, all of us who nurture a love for Russian people, their culture and history, have been heartbroken. It is not easy to remain a Russophile when suddenly, all across the globe, the adjective “Russian” has become toxic.
You Call That Inflation? Russians are enduring huge inflation – just how much, however, is unclear...
A Swiped Sword Returns Moscow police solved the case of a missing antique German dagger, stolen from an antique store.
A Pro-War Childhood? Russian children are being instilled with militant patriotism through plays, stories, cartoons, and toys.
An Old Tape Comes Back to Haunt Meduza resurfaced a 2004 tape in which President Vladimir Putin recognized Kyiv's sovereignty.
Digital Fingerprint, a New ID Soon, foreigners in Moscow will bear electronic passports that use biometric data.
Russian Roads Become More Treacherous The number of accidents in Russia has increased, with roads becoming more congested and cars less safe.
Population Problems According to a UN report, Russian population numbers may have already passed their peak.
The Patriarch's Abortion Prevention Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill will send letters to pregnant women in 16 regions to dissuade them from receiving abortion care.
Even More Reason to Move to Rural Russia A program paying mortgages in small towns has been unexpectedly successful.
A Singer Diversifies The notoriously pr-Kremlin rock star Shaman has filed trademarks for alcoholic beverages, household goods, and sex toys.
The Fate of Having the Same Last Name A woman with the same last name as Alexey Navalny was arrested in Mariupol for "terrorism."
Cryptocrime and Punishment A Moscow investigator has been sentenced for receiving the largest bribe in modern Russian history.
Member of State Media Poses as BBC Journalist A journalist for a pro-Kremlin news site attempted to pose as a BBC journalist in Germany.
No Kids? You'll Pay for That The Russian State Duma is proposing extra taxes for people without children.
More Money for Penal Colonies Russian authorities have sharply increased the budget for the Federal Penitentiary Service, despite previous plans to cut it.
Military Budget Soars in 2025 A draft budget revealed a dramatic increase planned for Russian military spending.
Give Your Daughter Away, Defend the Motherland A teenager's single father is fighting to stop his draft after his wife was murdered.
Another Year, No Signs of Their Husbands Wives of men mobilized in September 2022 protested for their loved ones in front of the Ministry of Defense.
Bringing Russian Literature to a Higher Standard? A State Duma member is proposing a professional standard for writers.
From the Ukrainian Front Back to India Forty-five Indian citizens who were deceived into enrolling in the Russian army have been returned to India.
Rubles for Rubble? The Russian state has given more than five billion rubles, or $56 million, to some 35,000 residents in Kursk who have lost property due to Ukraine's counterattack on Russian soil.
From Catcher in the Rye to Harvesting Rye Russian school curricula this year is less international and more militaristic.
A Record Not Worth Bragging About 2024 set a record for most people listed as "terrorists and extremists."
Fewer Want to Be Russians In 2023, persons seeking Russian citizenship is at its lowest rate in 10 years.
Gluten-full An investigation by Russian regulators finds that nearly a quarter of all "gluten-free" foods contain gluten.
A "Veteran" Killer and a Father's Tears Another ex-con who fought in Ukraine to get out of jail brought his criminal behavior home.
Where the Russians Are (Going) A recent article showed that Germany, Spain, and Cyprus lead the EU in issuing residency permits for Russians.
Americans in Tampa Tried for Treason Four American activists face charges of acting as Russian agents.
Curtain Call for the Ticket Mafia An organized crime ring specializing in ticket fraud was convicted in Moscow.
Your Thumbprint for a Visa? Russian airports will begin collecting biometric data from foreign visitors.
Another Russian Teenager Sentenced A 15-year-old with tuberculosis has received a 4.5-year sentence for terrorism.
Fabricating a Terrorist A Ukrainian refugee in Russia received threatening messages from a Telegram account. Then she was arrested for terrorism.
Russian Anxiety on the Rise Russian anxieties about the war are increasing in response to Ukraine's offensive into the Kursk region.
A Gift from Elon? The Head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, claims Elon Muck gifted him a Tesla Cybertruck.
Russian Teenagers Head to the Front Lines More Russian teenagers are going to fight in Ukraine as soon as they turn 18.
Putinites for Putin The village of Putino always turns out to vote for Putin. But now even this town has started to call for an end to war.
Immortal or No? Russia's Immortal Regiment demonstrations have petered out, reflecting a distaste for grassroots patriotism.
"We're all neighbors now. No, not neighbors. FAMILY." How a disastrous flood is helping to knit a community back together and taking leader to task.
Bury Me With My Rod And Reel Teach a woman to fish, and, it is said, she will feed the whole community, not just herself.
OPERATION RE-EMIGRATION: Why Russians Who Fled The War Are Returning Home What it is like for those who left Russia after the 2022 mobilization, but who have now chosen to return.
No Anti-Wagner Words on the Bus An 87-year-old was attacked on a bus after saying "killers of women and children" while the bus passed by a monument to the Wagner Group.
Prison for a $51 Donation A Russian-American citizen faces 15 years in prison for treason over a donation to a Ukrainian charity two years ago.
Fine Then, We'll Host Our Own Olympics Russia hosted the BRICs games back in June, and they didn't hold a candle to the Paris games.
Atlas of the Invisible They died in the War on Ukraine, and now they are being remembered with a street or plaza.
Time is Fleeting We are now (2024) as distant in time from Russians' last serious demonstrations (2011-2012) against Kremlin autocracy as those demonstrations were from when Vladimir Putin took power (1999).
Is "Putin's Architect" Back? The Italian architect behind "Putin's Palace," brought to light by Alexey Navalny, is resuming business ties with Russia.
And a Cat For Good Luck: Sasha Skochilenko is Free Sasha Skochilenko shared details of her life in detention.
Resilience: Life Stories of Centenarians Born in the Year of Revolution Call it resilience, grit, or just perseverance – it takes a special sort of person to have survived the last 100 years of Russian and Soviet history.
A Turn to the East, at Least in Name The renaming of a Moscow square is the latest sign of Russia's break with the West.
Just Two Buddies, Hanging Out Putin's recent trip to North Korea signifies a continued, but not surprising, turn from the West.
(Not) Russian Olympians Arrive in Paris Russian flags are nowhere to be seen in the Paris Olympics, but its athletes are competing. How is that possible?
A New Russian Culture? The Russian presidential administration is trying to align culture with the war effort.
At Camp "Country of Heroes," Kids Learn War Kids learn military tactics at the summer camp "Country of Heroes."
Paddleboarding Down to Russia A Latvian pro-Kremlin activist and his five-year-old illegally crossed the border with Russia on a small recreational watercraft.
Lord of War's Fandom Russian teenagers continue to idolize PMC Wagner’s Yevgeny Prigozhin, even after his death.
U.S. Journalist Sentenced American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been sentenced to 16 years in a penal colony.
A Fairytale Trip around Russia Intrepid travelers can now visit the fabled sites of Russian folklore.
Adopting the Enemy's Tactic Ukraine has now begun recruiting from prisons — a practice which, until now, has been uniquely Russian.
A Regional Disparity Authorities spent ten times more money on barrage shelters in Moscow and the Moscow Oblast than in regions bordering Ukraine.
Roskomnadzor Casts Vanishing Spell on Fanfics Roskomnadzor has blocked the largest Russian-language fanfiction site.
Playwright and Director Sentenced The theater director and playwright have been in pre-trial detention for over a year on charges of "justifying terrorism." Now they've been sentenced.
Out of Time(s)? The Moscow Times has been declared an "undesirable" organization, throttling its distribution in Russia.
Sewing Images Over the past few years, Petersburgers have been noticing small pieces of fabric with skillfully made embroidery on the streets of the city.
Baikal, not Bali The State Duma has banned Russian deputies and senators from traveling abroad without permission.
Have Children, or Else Russian authorities are preparing bills to ban the "extremist ideology" about being child-free.
Roskmomnadzor Strikes At VPNs, Again Roskomnadzor ordered the App Store to ban four VPN services. So how will Russians evade internet restrictions?
Letters vs. the Hydra Russia is locking up political prisoners at an astonishing rate. Mail is helping them survive.
Is the Grass Always Greener Abroad? Posts by Russian emigres are used in state media to show the downsides of life outside of Russia.
Small-Town Russia and the War Sociologists spent a month living in small-town Russia to understand how Russians feel about the war in Ukraine.
The Roof Will Be Yellow and Blue Again A man painted "No to War" on his car and his roof in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, but was investigated for "terrorism."
Schoolchildren in Pro-War Volunteering Russian teenagers become military volunteers for an idea, and to enter universities.
Brothers by Blood, if Nothing Else The Independent journal People of Baikal profiled the Batrakov brothers: one who's stateside, the other on the front lines of Ukraine.
Russia Readies for More War Russian president Vladimir Putin says that the armed forces need to shore up in case of some explosive international developments.
An Everyday Emergency Sirens and warnings of shelling are daily occurrences in regions that border Ukraine.
Emigré Diaries We inaugurate a series in which we ask those who fled Russia in the wake of Russia’s War on Ukraine to offer telling short stories or vignettes about their new life abroad.
Fulbright Foreign Agents? Now that Fulbright has been declared an "undesirable organization," what will happen with its current and former Russian researchers?
A New Record of Complaints Russians affected by “natural changes” wrote a record number of complaints to the president.
Ten Years of Russian Crimea Russian state media outlet Izvestia is celebrating ten years since the Crimean annexation with a special feature that's pure propaganda.
Checkmate for the Russian Chess Federation The Russian Chess Federation has been banned from international competition until 2026.
Where Did The Blankets Go? Nearly 200 tons of old blankets were sent to Ukraine via the Russian Post. But many have disappeared, and their recipient is elusive.
All Hail the Centenarians of Moscow The deputy mayor of Moscow claims that Moscow is home to over 1000 centenarians.
Good Riddance, McDonald's The head of a Russian consumer protections ministry expressed glee at the exit of McDonald's from Russia.
Forced to Go Back to War Hundreds of Russian soldiers who left their service without permission are being held in military units, beaten, and then forcibly sent back to the front.
Around the USSR in 1,109 Days Nearly 100 years ago, an impassioned adventurer undertook a seemingly impossible trek.
Make Fairy Tales, not War Russian authorities are spending more on the production of fantasy films than on war films, according to a recent study.
The Post that Angered a City The wife of a Novosibirsk legislator mocked the city on Instagram, leading to questions about her lifestyle.
63-Year-Old Political Prisoner Rejects Putin's Pardon Faced with three years in prison or accepting a pardon from Putin, an elderly Siberian political protester chose prison.
Deportations Double The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported dramatic increases in deportations and entry refusals.
Steppe, by Anton Chekhov What could be more appropriate than to take a trip with Chekhov across the Ukrainian steppe?
Novels and Soviet Children A few books we’ve been reading lately, and that we felt we should review and share.
The Story of a Friendship Tender and natural bonds can develop between strangers brought together by misfortune.
Great, Powerful, Truthful, and Free Where we explore the very particular relationship that Russians have with their language.
With Mouths Sewn Shut Art is a powerful realm for protest. The Ukraine War has inspired a new wave of brave works.
The Tankman and the Sailor A tank driver and a navy man are united in their feelings about war, but perhaps not as you think.
Fighting for the Light Russians are again informing on one another. Tatyana Savinkina, a retiree in Karelia, is one victim. This is her story.
Patching the Holes Russian lawmakers have been vigorously adding new laws in response to political and cultural developments and public protests, rather than due to pressure from the public or practical necessity.
Why They Stayed In the wake of Russia’s launching of its Ukraine War, an estimated 150,000+ young Russians have fled the country. We talked to a few who have stayed.
Moscow-Kharkiv: Russia On An Express Train to Hell As a famous Russian writer recounts, many Russians are pretending that nothing is happening. They’re trying not to discuss what’s going on just a four-hour train ride to Hell away.
Injustice The outcomes of political trials in Russia are mostly preordained, but activists have learned to use them as a way to speak out.
The Horror We are resuming publication of Russian Life, aiming to once again tell stories about Russia that are not being told elsewhere, but now with a new sense of purpose.
Spring 2024 Alexei Navalny * Writing Letters to Political Prisoners * Siberians Protecting Prehistoric Art * Wives Trying to Bring their Men Home * Teachers Trying to Teach * The Orwellian Russian Language of War * Emigré Diaries
"I Don't Want To Be A Mouthpiece" One teacher's case offers a look at how education is being altered by propaganda and fear.
Alexei Navalny A historian and activist puts the death of Alexei Navalny in personal and historical perspective.
Notes at the Front A journalist is convicted for telling the truth, and emigrés offer some poignant vignettes.
The Path to Foreign Agenthood A grassroots organization fighting for the rights of mobilized soldiers has been declared a foreign agent.
Victory (Kinda) on Display Russian diplomats recently perused a display of captured Western equipment brought from Ukraine to Moscow.
Support Journalists Help us build a fund to support Russian journalists' reporting in this very difficult times.
The Foreign Agents List The popular NPR podcast This American Life offers an excellent piece by Masha Gessen on what it feels like to be added to the Foreign Agents list.
Playing With Fire Maria Yudina was a profoundly gifted pianist and teacher. And there is a certain lingering myth about her...
"Limonov" Biopic Premieres at Cannes Kirill Serebrennikov has brought It's Me, Eddie to the silver screen.
Disability Numbers Soar Disability numbers have seen a drastic increase since the beginning of the war.
A Psychiatric Punishment Individuals involved in political cases are now five times more likely to be sent to psychiatric hospitals for compulsory treatment.
The End of the Bachelor's Degree Russian universities are restructuring higher education, creating more distance between Russian and international academia.
New Leonardos at the Hermitage? An exhibit backed by a close associate of the Kremlin claims, erroneously, to show paintings newly attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
Cutting the Commute A major study finds that more than 80% of Russians want to work from home this summer.
Fall 2022 A visit to Odesa * The animals that would not be left behind * A village woman grapples with a history of war * The Russian economy * Pianist Marina Yudina * Grappling with one's Russian ancestry * The Dissilusioned * Tatar roots of Russian * Anti-war poems [SOLD OUT] We no longer sell back issues older than 1 year. You can order a digital subscription which allows you to read ALL issues dating back to July 1995. To order, click HERE.
One Flower For Every Month In Prison Kevin Lik, an outstanding high schooler from Adygea, was convicted of espionage. His mother tells his story.
Everyone Understands What's Going On Speaking Russian in this time of war is as much about the words you cannot say as those you can.
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 Pigeons Are Coming Too Anya, a Russian influencer, took her more than 10 pets, including multiple pigeons, from Russia to Montenegro.
Theater Directors Face More Detention The trial of Zhenya Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk has been postponed yet again.
The Power of the Zine Artist Anna Dial uses updated samizdat methods to publish her "zines" and avoid censorship.
A New Wave of Emigration to Europe Almost 19,000 Russians sought asylum in EU countries in 2023, marking a record high for the past seven years.
Russia Goes After Kharkiv, Again Russia attempted to break the Ukrainian line of defense in Kharkiv. Five villages were captured and over 1,700 were evacuated.
Vlad the Long-Lived? "God forbid that the end of the century means the end of your stay in power," said Patriarch Kirill during Putin's May 7 inauguration.
Snowing on Your Parade A few things were notably absent (and present) from this year's Victory Day parade.
A Village Teacher Under Fire A teacher of high-school language and literature has resigned after being denounced by a colleague.
Teach Not Fear, But Self-Esteem A trans woman from St. Petersburg was forced to pull her child from school because of her gender.
Small Things Can Fix Everything From looking for a lost cat to gathering signatures for Boris Nadezhdin, Russians find hope in their communities.
How War Has Affected Chernobyl Zone Russian occupation of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has set back the progress of the last few decades in the area.
Russians Forced to Become Arsonists Dozens of Russian pensioners have ignited fires at military offices and banks due to telephone scams.
Bankruptcies Hit Record High Bankruptcies skyrocket in Russia, with pensioners making up half the filings.
Returning Home to Kill More than 100 persons have been killed by returning Russian soldiers since the beginning of Russia's War on Ukraine.
If You Prick Kadyrov, Does He Not Bleed? Reports reveal that Chechnya's president has a terminal pancreatic condition. Or does he?
Espionage Convictions Soar The rate of convictions for treason in Russia has more than doubled in the past two years.
"Texas" Killed in Donbas The American pro-war blogger known by the alias "Texas" was killed by Russian soldiers in occupied territory.
The Registration Lady Can't be Stopped Despite fines and threats, a Kaluga activist continues to help migrants access benefits in Russia.
No Victory for Russian Regions The leaders of a handful of Russian regions have canceled Victory Day parades, citing security concerns.
A Brick in AWOL In March 2024, Russian military courts began handing down about 34 sentences a day for unauthorized abandonment of military service.
From the Club to Ukraine? A Tatarstan deputy proposed drafting nightclub attendees throughout Russia every Friday.
Putting the "Coup" in "Cool Statue" A surprising statue immortalizes two unlikely figures: the erstwhile Wagner Group's cofounders.
Black Market for Weapons Growing Russian military courts saw a surge in weapons trafficking cases in 2023, marking the highest level in a decade.
A Team of "Foreign Agents" at the Paris Olympics The President of the Russian Olympic Committee has labeled Russian athletes competing at the Paris games as "foreign agents."
The Mural Stronger than Buenos Aires Police Russian artists painting a Navalny mural in Buenos Aires were interrupted by police after multiple complaints.
A Life of Protest: Soviet Dissident Arrested in St. Petersburg Lifelong dissident Alexander Skobov was arrested in St. Petersburg, again.
Cross with Care, without Bluetooth Student researchers in Russia are working to create technology that would disrupt Bluetooth devices at train crossings.
Children with Child From pressuring teens to abort to denying requested abortions, orphanages in Russia often mishandle pregnancy cases.
A Year in the Life of Evan Gershkovich A year after his arrest, American journalist Evan Gershkovich is no closer to trial, or freedom.
Russian Prosperity is Good News for Putin A ranking of Russian regions by prosperity could reveal why Putin's support remains high.
Russian Artists Crash the Pompidou Russian artists brought unauthorized performance art to Paris's biggest contemporary art museum.
A Theater Director's Letter from Prison While Zhenya Berkovich's trial keeps getting postponed, her two adopted daughters wait for her at home.
After Elections, Is It Time For Mobilizations? The Ministry of Defense plans to draft 300,000 soldiers to encircle Kharkiv, Ukraine, according to independent news outlet Vyorstka.
Chekhov Goes Solar In honor of the full solar eclipse visiting us in 2 weeks, we offer a few things Anton Chekhov had to say about eclipses that passed through his life.
Facing Up "Faces of the Russian Resistance" is a traveling art project that humanizes dissent in Russia.
Moscow Hit by Deadly Terrorist Attack On Friday evening, four gunmen opened fire in a Moscow concert hall, killing over 115 people and injuring many others.
Progress and Regression How have Russian women's lives changed in the two years since the beginning of Russia's War on Ukraine?
Election Rebellion: Paint It Green! Russia's 2024 presidential elections kicked off with voters pouring green dye and ink into ballot boxes.
"Bandit Greetings" to the Oppositionist In Lithuania, an unidentified assailant attacked Alexei Navalny's ally with a hammer.
"I Breathed a Sigh of Relief" The war has increased cases of domestic abuse, yet in one instance things went in an entirely different direction.
The War on Environmentalists Even those fighting to save Russia's environment and ecology are being harassed and arrested.
An Open Letter to Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Her pen pal was purportedly the daughter of the Last Tsarevich, who of course lived in Queens.
Nationalize It Over the past two years, 180 private companies have been taken over by the Russian state.
Centennial Celebration of Avant-Garde Art A century after it first opened, the Jewish Museum in Moscow recreated an exhibit of Jewish avant-garde artists from Chagall to Shterenberg.
Lessons Unlearned from Russian Literature A primary school literature teacher was forced to resign after using Russian classics to teach students about war.
Russia Tricks Foreigners into Fighting in Ukraine, Again Indian authorities uncovered a human trafficking network that tricked its citizens into fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
Higher than the Angels “Roofing”?in St. Petersburg has become a mass phenomenon. Join us on an exploration of the Northern Capital from above.
A Rooftop Renegade A St. Petersburg tour guide has been punished for breaking locks on rooftop excursions.
Former Prisoner, War Participant Commits Murder, Again An ex-convict who fought in Ukraine and received a pardon for his participation in the war murdered two, including a woman who had won the "Best Teacher of Russia" competition
"Healer" Clairvoyant Arrested for Fraud A psychic from Kotelnikovo defrauded a client out of R67 million.
Thousands Turn Out for Navalny's Funeral Thousands of Russians took to the streets for the funeral services of Alexei Navalny.
Words from Behind the Glass Box A playwright and a theater director were arrested for a play criticizing ISIS. After months in jail, they spoke from their defendants' glass box.
A Mathematician in Prison. Again Political prisoner Azat Miftakhov was arrested on charges of "justifying terrorism" immediately after being freed.
Migrant Flow Slows to Trickle Immigration into Russia from Central Asian countries has slowed since the start of Russia's War on Ukraine.
"Small" Acts of Protest Keep Anti-War Effort Alive One website showcases the creativity anti-war protesters are using to express dissent while avoiding arrest.
Fighting for the Matriarchy, in Name Women discuss their decisions to adopt a "matronymic," honoring their mothers, rather than the traditional Russian patronymic.
Dostoyevsky, The New LGBT Propaganda An online retailer removed books by Dostoyevsky, Murakami, Wilde, Sorokin, and others under the "LGBT Propaganda" law.
Flowers and Handcuffs for Navalny As Russia and the world laid flowers to commemorate Alexey Navalny, mourners were arrested at home and abroad.
A Photographer's Empathy Documentary photographer Dmitry Markov, renowned for his heartfelt portrayal of authentic Russia, has passed away.
Russia Faces Banana Deficit A pro-Ukrainian arms exchange between Ecuador and the United States has led to a steep decrease in banana imports to Russia.
Win Big Voting in the Presidential Election Russian voters are eligible to win prizes for voting in the upcoming presidential election.
Vetting Russians in Georgia Georgians welcome Russians fleeing their country, but only if they don't support the war in Ukraine.
Drones in the Classroom, in the Name of the Motherland Russian schoolchildren will learn to operate drones in courses designed to teach "life-safety."
Putin's Agents in Sheep's Clothing Russian intelligence officers reportedly masquerade as human rights activists and filmmakers.
Congress of "Foreign Agents" Held in Berlin Journalists and activists labeled "foreign agents" by the Kremlin gathered in Berlin.
A Criminal Doll An artist was arrested while fleeing to Kazakhstan for the use of prison tattoos in his artwork.
Winter 2024 Miltaristic camp for youth * Survival Russian * War on Environmentalists * The Legacy of Panel Buildings * Unlikely Pen Pals * Teaching for Russia * Socks for Troops * War Widows * New Books Worth Reading
In Violation of Several HR Policies A pair of Muscovites were caught trying to sell a fake government job.
Bi-2 Members Released from Thai Detention The anti-war music group Bi-2 was held in Thailand, and Russian officials were not too hasty to bail them out.
Arrested for Rainbow Earrings A young woman in Nizhny Novgorod faces extremism charges for wearing rainbow earrings.
"I'm Alive" a Harrowing Escape A gay Chechen man forced to out himself on camera vanished after the video went viral in 2022. Now, he tells his story.
What Russians Want Independent sociologists have sussed out what Russians really want from their government.
Aiding Vegan Detainees A nonprofit is assisting vegan political detainees by offering animal-product-free provisions.
Schoolchildren Forced into Youth Movement Teachers are compelling schoolchildren across Russia to join a state-sanctioned youth movement.
Radioactive Capsule Lost and Found A capsule of the radioactive isotope cesium-137 was found on January 19 after having been lost for nearly a week in the countryside of Irkutsk district.
Bashkiris Protest Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Republic of Bashkortostan to support a convicted activist.
Tinder Breaks Up with Belarus Tinder and other dating apps will exit the Belarussian market after Valentine's Day. How will Belarus find love?
Hoping to Find a Furry Friend Kirov locals hope to recover a cat erroneously thrown off a train to St. Petersburg.
Under the All-Seeing Eye The extent of Russia's surveillance may surprise you — and it's only getting more invasive.
Buryat Strays Hit the Road Local volunteers are sending dogs to other Russian cities to avoid a new euthanasia law in Buryatia.
Fishermen on Thin Ice Fishermen near Kaliningrad were marooned on an ice floe and rescued by emergency services.
Wildberries: Where There's Smoke, There's Fire A mysterious fire erupted at one of Wildberries's largest warehouses, costing billions of rubles in damages.
They Are Listening to You The Moscow Health Department is putting listening devices in doctors' offices.
New Year, New Trips The data say that, unsurprisingly, many Russians flock to warmer climes to celebrate the New Year.
The Women with the White Scarves Family members of drafted soldiers picketed solo in Moscow demanding the return of their loved ones from the war in Ukraine.
Hitting the Spot, Sponsored by Moscow Visitors to many Moscow parks can now enjoy free hot drinks as they enjoy the frosty outdoors.
Eat. Bake. Protest. How a woman from Moscow turned a cake business into an anti-war protest and helped charities.
Object Lessons How students and teachers are reacting to new patriotism injections in school curricula.
Born in 2005, Killed At The Front The BBC recorded the name of the first Russian soldier born in 2005 to be killed in Ukraine.
Student Sentenced for Spying For the first time, Russia has sentenced a student for spying. The 18-year-old was a high-achieving student.
My Fair Snow Maiden A school's New Years party causes a stir when a male teacher dresses up as Snow Maiden.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Reclusive, frank, astoundingly industrious and uncompromising, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was the most influential writer of his age, and he did more to topple the Soviet Union than any other individual in the 20th century. We spoke with his wife just a few months before his death.
A Prophet and His Country Thirty-five years ago this month, a little book was published that changed Russia forever. On the anniversary of the publication of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, we asked two esteemed observers to offer their views on the great writer's legacy.
Closing Curtains for a Cancelled Show A theater canceled a show after the playwright was convicted for "spreading fake news about the Russian army."
Put On Some Clothes, The Party Is Over An almost-naked party drew backlash from conservative groups, prompting an investigation and the arrest of three attendees.
A Very Famous Terrorist Popular writer Boris Akunin has been added to the Kremlin's list of terrorists and extremists.
See Siberia by Train, Virtually A new video game takes players across Siberia amidst the Russian Civil War.
A Snowy Protest After a week of heavy snow, Voronezh locals painted snowdrifts with calls for the local government to finally remove them.
Pacifist Violist: Life with an Ankle Bracelet A viola player and music teacher's life changed forever after posting anti-war messages on social media.
An Anti-War Art Awakening Anonymous artist Zless creates anti-war art that juxtaposes traditional Russian symbols and the horrors of the invasion of Ukraine.
Piter's People – Natalia Kapiturova A project in which readers meet regular St. Petersburgers, to learn about their lives and their favorite places in the Northern Palmyra. First up: coffee!
Christopher Plummer's Last Station In memory of actor Christopher Plummer, who died last week at age 91, we look back at his role as a dying Leo Tolstoy in the 2009 film, The Last Station.
How a Village Dies Are people leaving villages because of their embarrassing names, or because there are no services?
School Shooting Shakes Bryansk A 14-year-old girl from Bryansk entered her biology class and shot at her classmates, killing one and injuring 5.
An Unexpected Expected Announcement President Putin announced he would seek a fifth term in office in a way that surprised some.
What Russians Actually Think 1420 by Daniil Orain is a YouTube channel that puts everyday Russians on the spot.
Emerging HIV Epidemic? One-fourth of Russian regions are experiencing a critical HIV situation alongside a shortage of medicine.
Digital Editor Interns Sought Russian Life seeks Digital Editor Interns to contribute to its online publication, The Russia File.
Another One Bites the Dust Yeliseyevsky Food Emporium in Moscow closes its doors after 120 years selling groceries in a completely incongruent physical space.
The Last Romantic Widely hailed ast the greatest Russian poet of the 20th century, Alexander Blok was more than an enigma--his life and work are a reflection of the Russian soul.
Moskvarium: Making a Splash at VDNKh One of the newest VDNKh pavilions is Russia's most dramatic oceanarium, embracing captive orcas even as other countries begin to abandon the practice.
I Know Why Dostoyevsky Is Emotionally Overwhelming Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novels may be so psychologically complex for a reason you might not expect.
The Best Dostoyevsky Artwork at the Russian Museum For one month only, the Russian Museum is celebrating the life of Fyodor Dostoyevsky with a 200th birthday exhibit.
Faster Than a Speeding Sapsan The journey between Moscow and St. Petersburg is about to get a lot faster.
Worthy of Aivazovsky's Brush If you love the sea, Ivan Aivazovsky is your man. Everyone should know about this Armenian-Russian painter.
Four Russian Treasures in North America Remnants of the Imperial Russian past are all over Alaska – and California, too.
New Life Breathed into the Museum of Hockey Moscow's stunning Museum of Hockey and Hockey Hall of Fame is a hidden gem with new investors ready to keep it going – hopefully for a long time to come.
Don't Know Russian Jack? One of the earliest residents of Anchorage, Alaska, was a Russian guy with a larger-than-life personality.
The One Where "Friends" Is Big in Russia Russian fans of Friends can have the ultimate immersive experience at four themed cafes.
Sleigh Revival The brisk December wind whistles past your ears as you glide across the freshly fallen snow. Step back in time and see how sleighs are making a comeback in Russia.
Olympic Dreams The Sydney Olympics held both happy surprises and amazing upsets for Russia's athletes. Here are some of the best stories.
A Tsar is Born Twenty-year-old Marat Safin is taking the tennis world by storm, not only because of the strength of his game, but also because of the strength of his character.
Looking After the Treasure Last year's controversial exhibitions at St. Petersburg's Hermitage museum gave attendance a new boost, and fueld hope for expansion and upgrade plans. Lisa Dickey takes a look at what's in store for Russia's greatest art museum.
A Nation of Plotters Dachas (summer houses) are a concept held dear by most Russians--80% of the population has a dacha, and Russians put them third on their list of material priorities, behind apartments and cars. Yelena Utenkova takes a detailed look at the history and role of the dacha in Russian society.
Estonia's Security Threat Estonia's Prime Minister warned residents seeking Russian citizenship that they could face deportation as a security risk.
$10,000 for a Fake Injury Russian soldiers use bribes to buy vacations and the opportunity not to participate in assaults.
No Pictures with Lukashenko, Please The presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland refused to be photographed with Alexander Lukashenko at the COP28 in Dubai.
Occupation Is Expensive An independent Russian news outlet reported that Russia is worse off economically because of its actions in Ukraine since 2013.
The King of Easter Cuisine Kulich is more than just a tradition at Eastertime, it is the king of the feast. Here is a recipe and some discussion of the dish's history.
An Ear of Dough: The dish that tamed Siberia Russian pelmeni have a storied history and are most often associated with Siberia. Here's our recipe.
Beware the Wives and Mothers Russian regional officials have been called upon to cope with the discontent of the wives and mothers of the mobilized.
Shaman in Prison, Evil Spirit at Large Alexander Gabyshev, a shaman who intended to walk 8,000 kilometers to exorcise Putin, celebrated his birthday behind bars once again.
Russia's Unrealistic Peace Offer A new report revealed that, in 2022, Russia proposed ending its attack on Ukraine, under one important condition...
From Prime Minister to Foreign Agent A former Russian prime minister has been declared a foreign agent.
Wide Horizons for Russian Students Russian schools have begun a new nationwide career guidance program for grades 6-11.
Russian Doctors: Let Sasha Go Russian doctors signed an open letter to President Putin demanding Sasha Skochilenko's release for reasons of health.
Seven Years for Five Slips of Paper Today in St. Petersburg, Sasha Skochilenko became Russia's newest political prisoner, for a silent protest against war.
Ministry of Justice: LGBT Russians Are Next Russia's Ministry of Justice has filed a lawsuit to label LGBT Russians and their advocacy groups "extremists."
What's in a Fame? An internet metric names the most famous historical person from Russia. They aren't Russian.
Do Not Talk to Foreigners The Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education is collecting personal data of students and teachers who have been in contact with foreigners.
Evacuations of Russians from Gaza The Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that Russian nationals have begun evacuating Gaza through Egypt.
"Undesirable" Books, Undesired Problems Police drew up protocols at the European University at St. Petersburg after finding books from "undesirable organizations."
He Was Sentenced to 17 Years. Now He Is Free. Vladimir Putin pardons a convicted killer involved in the Russian war in Ukraine.
Polar Youth Work in the mines, play on the slopes. This is the life of some sun-starved youth in the Arctic. Oh, and they also ski/snowboard off buildings.
Fall 2023 Men who fled the draft * New Russian language memes * How school is changing * A bike ride around the Soviet Union * A newspaper that struggles to remain free * An old man and his dog * Books we liked * Monuments being taken down
Free Press A community-created and local-focused newspaper that takes the notion of a free press very seriously.
Domestic Disputes of a Different Kind A recent study finds that 56% of Russian apartment-renters have had a conflict with their landlord.
A New Farewell to a Million Scarlet Roses Alla Pugacheva briefly returned to Russia after evacuating from Israel, only to leave again for Latvia.
The George Orwell Library A library in Ivanovo promotes intellectual growth and independent thought, offering literature from "foreign agents."
"Accursed" Questions of Russia's New Reality Memes generated by Russia's stark new reality are affecting language and usage.
Books We Liked Some books our reviewer liked, and their significance for lovers of all things Russian.
An Old Man and his Dog When everyone wants you to focus on the now, but you are still reckoning with what is missing
Peace Signs: The Troubled State of Russian Education How are teachers and students coping with the new Russian reality of war and dictatorship?
Notes from the Front Navalny's last word, history's continued revision, and a foreign correspondent's perspective
Snow Penises Everywhere Yekaterinburg students are decorating the city with giant phallic snow sculptures, angering authorities and residents alike.
Readers Respond: What We Miss about Russia We asked, "What do you miss about traveling in Russia?" We got pure poetry.
No Telegram Today Telegram users across Russia reported outages following an attack in Dagestan on a flight from Israel.
The Disillusioned Consideration of five recent books that help us grapple with Russia, Ukraine, and history.
An Unwelcome Arrival Protesters in Russia's Dagestan surrounded and attempted to storm a flight arriving from Tel Aviv, Israel.
Want to Buy a Boulevard? Russian classifieds website Avito listed a St. Petersburg green space for sale.
A Killer Gets Promoted? The man suspected of organizing the murder of Russian oppositionist Boris Nemtsov has become the commander of a new Chechen battalion.
US Reroutes Aid Thousands of artillery shells meant for Ukraine will be sent to Israel to replenish depleted U.S. stocks.
Tell Us What You Miss about Visiting Russia We want to hear from you: What do you miss about visiting Russia?
From Saboteurs to Bureaucrats Russian saboteurs who organized explosions in Europe have reportedly transitioned into official roles within Russian regions.
Mosque Raid Leads to Star's Enlistment The Russian National Guard raided a mosque, forcing worshipers to enlist in the army. A finalist in a musical reality show was among the draftees.
Escaping the Draft – in Israel Russian-Israelis want to return to Russia to avoid being drafted into Israel's military. But Russia is also conscripting.
VDNKh Gets More Russified VDNKh is set to open a "Russia" exhibition-forum inside its seventieth pavilion.
Not My Cab of Tea The Netherlands is investigating whether Yandex's ride-sharing app is sharing data with Russia's FSB.
NATO and Ukraine Grow Closer NATO and Ukraine are planning to launch an analytical center to revise soldier training based on the Russian invasion.
Armenia Joins ICC against Putin's Wishes Armenia joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh offensive, straining its relationship with Russia.
Russia Reacts to Gaza War 400 Russians asked to be evacuated from Gaza as Israel ordered the evacuation of 1.1 million people.
Repression Impacts Lawyers A court in Moscow has ordered the arrest of lawyers representing Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, charging them with participation in an "extremist community."
Unlike My Father, Putin is a Coward Alexei Navalny's daughter Daria gives a TED Talk on the occasion of her father's 1000th day in prison.
Birth Rate Lowest in Century The Russian government has predicted that the country's birth rate will collapse to levels not seen since the early nineteenth century
Russia Remembers Anna Politovskaya on Putin's Birthday On Vladimir Putin's birthday, citizens across Russia commemorated the seventeenth anniversary of independent journalist Anna Politkovskaya's murder.
A Quantum Leap A Russian and American contingent was unveiled as this year's Nobel chemistry laureates.
The Cost of Being Foreign Agent An "extremist" Russian rapper is fined for not reporting on his activities as a "foreign agent."
Kadyrov: A Medal for My Son The Head of the Chechen State awarded his son a medal after he extrajudicially beat a prisoner accused of burning a Qu'ran.
"Our Men Are Not Slaves; Bring Them Home" Relatives of mobilized Russians are demanding the return of loved ones who have been at war for an extended period. Russian authorities are censoring their messages.
Integration through Education? Russian President Putin stressed the importance of education in regions newly annexed from Ukraine. But is there a more sinister motive at play?
Beware the Partisans Russia has witnessed nearly 310 cases of arson, explosions, and sabotage in the past 19 months.
Where Is Polina Gagarina? A pro-war concert promised great stars on the stage, but instead had only ultranationalist poets.
Prisoner Returns from War With Fatal Consequences A murder convict sent to Ukraine in exchange for a pardon committed a gruesome crime after returning from the war.
Another Reason to Cover Your Mouth When You Cough Russia is suffering through an especially bad flu and respiratory infection season.
There Is Only Death There New statistics reveal that one in five mobilized Russians did not survive even two months in the Russian war in Ukraine.
Descending from Roskosmos, Crashing in Zaporizhzhia The former head of Roskosmos, Russia's state space corporation, was appointed senator for the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia oblast.
March/April 2022 Russia's Mother Theresa * An Unusual Street Musician * A Siberian Hermit * A Trip to the Edge of Russia * Peter the Great vs. Foppishness * How Not to Step in It * Finlandization of Russian * A Forgotten Food Classic * Animals in Opposition
Spring 2023 The Evolving Language of War * A Defiant Teacher * A Hopeful Priest * A Village Stand-Off * A Trip to Ukraine * Books We Liked * Last Words of Convicted Dissenters
Masking Required Here As COVID-19 cases rise, the Russian White House is implementing a mask mandate.
Pilgrimage Under Shelling: "Shana Tova" From Uman Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 35,000 Hassidic Jews went on a pilgrimage to Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Stop My Flight If You Can Despite sanctions, Russia imported Boeing and Airbus spare parts worth at least R18 billion in 2022.
President Bush and Putin's Chef Former President George W. Bush reveals that he met the infamous mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin two decades ago.
From Trenches to Schools Russian soldiers returned from the war in Ukraine will give new practical courses on security and defense for schoolchildren.
Cubans Trafficked To Fight in Ukraine Seventeen people were arrested in Cuba for tricking and trafficking men into fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
Thumbs Up! A Russian court acknowledged that a thumbs-up emoji carries the same legal weight as a signature.
Not Even Russia Is Immune from "Barbenheimer" "Barbenheimer" fever has arrived in Russia. Cinemas are ready to bypass the government's restrictions and Hollywood copyright in creative ways.
Setting a Course for "Statehood" Russian education authorities are working on a new course for students on the "fundamentals of Russian statehood." But what does that mean?
Protection From Propaganda: a Back-to-School Essential On September 1, children returned to school in Russia. How are parents dealing with propaganda in schools' curricula?
Roskomnadzor: No More Evading Internet Restrictions Roskomnadzor will begin blocking websites that explain how to skirt government restrictions on the internet.
Navalny, Lexiconvict The Russian Supreme Court upholds a Kafkaesque ban on Navalny using prison slang.
They Took His Cross and Icons A former priest of the Russian Orthodox Church was sentenced to three years in prison for "fakes" about the Russian army.
Nobel Flip Flop The Nobel Foundation canceled Russia’s invitation to the annual awards ceremony in Stockholm.
Laying Low The tale of René Coignard, who changed his name and spent six months hiding in a wooden hut to escape the draft.
Poisoned Russian Journalist: "I Want To Live" German authorities are investigating the poisoning of former Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Kostyuchenko.
Putin's Palace Saved from Wildfire A wildfire outside the resort town of Gelendzhik, home to Putin's infamous seaside getaway, has been extinguished by Russia's emergency services.
Wanted in Ukraine, Arrested in Finland A Russian far-right militant was arrested at Helsinki airport and faces extradition to Ukraine for war crimes committed in 2014 and 2015.
Of War and Yachts Despite Russia's War on Ukraine and ongoing sanctions, the Russian state spent $32 million on a yacht linked to Vladimir Putin.
The FSB Takes a "Journalistic" Approach An undercover FSB agent, disguised as Meduza journalist, interrogated an activist.
It's (Maybe) the Economy, Stupid According to the Russian state, produce prices are currently at "normal" levels.
No Entry to the Cemetery Pro-Kremlin activists blocked the entrance of Polish diplomats to a cemetery in St. Petersburg.
"The Killers" Kill the Mood in Georgia "The Killers" was booed at a concert in Georgia for inviting a Russian fan onstage and implying that Russians and Georgians were brothers.
A Shortage of Drugs Nearly 200 medications could vanish from the Russian market due to sanctions and isolation.
Get Another Search Engine Google has been fined by Russia; now, Russians report issues when using the site.
From Battle to Business Thousands of businesses have opened in Russia's "southwestern region": land that was, until recently, part of Ukraine.
Street Musicians Killed by Missile Two musicians were performing on the streets of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. An hour later, a Russian missile strike killed them.
A Video Song-Apology Three waterpark employees in Crimea were fined and forced to sing "Vladimir Putin is Great" after dancing to a Ukrainian song.
A Crackdown of Another Kind The State Historical Museum is getting stricter about the use of Russia's most iconic building.
One Podcast to Rule Them All Economist journalist Arkady Ostrovsky has created what is easily the most compelling and valuable podcast on Russia.
Summer 2023 More Last Words * Escaping from Russia to Avoid the Draft * Wartime Linguistic Touchpoints * Russia's War on LGBTQ+ * Talking with Russians on the Train * Life in a Remote Siberian City * The Ukrainian Student Who Became a Symbol of Emancipation for Her Generation * Books We Liked * Telling Statistics
Kremlin Rewrites History A new Russian school textbook rewrites history from the 1970s to the present.
Message in the Guestbook: Arina's Story One Russian exile left her story — and a cry for help — in a museum guestbook.
Lords of War New report details how Russian oligarchs are recruiting "volunteers" for Russia's War on Ukraine.
Young Chechens Face Passport Hurdle Chechnya restricts passports for under 30s for “Russia's interests.”
Apple Removes Meduza Podcast Apple Podcasts has removed Meduza's signature news show after pressure from Russian courts.
Cruel and Unusual The regime is hell-bent on silencing and slowly murdering Alexei Navalny. Here is his Last Word after his trumped up conviction last week.
To Stay and Survive A filmmaker Elizaveta spent months riding Russia’s rails and discussing the war with fellow travelers.
Russia's Anti LGBT+ War Taking stock, ten years on from Russia's passage of its first post-Soviet anti-gay law.
Leave or Die In which we visit a "typical" Siberian town and dig into the issues and people who live there.
Notes at the Front More poignant and brave “last words” of dissenters, and a look at one popular place (again) of exile.
Final Thoughts Considering some telling facts and figures from Russia, the war, and where things are now.
A Flood. And Support. Expressing our thanks and optimism amid war, floods, and publishing challenges.
Alexei Shishkin [INVALID] Alexei Shishkin is a journalist and historian who lives and works in St. Petersburg.
Sem na Sem (7x7) An independent online journal focused on social issues and society as it plays out in Russia's regions. It's a network of anonymous bloggers and contributors who are working hard to protect, educate, and inspire change for the better, through the work of volunteers, social entrepreneurs, NGO workers, activists and other concerned citizens. They believe that the future of Russia lies in the decentralization of places of power, in true federalization.
The Lady with the Tote Bag A woman was fined for "tarnishing the Russian army” through anti-war imagery and a "provocative" tattoo.
Antidepressants on the Rise Antidepressant use in Russia has skyrocketed over the last year, especially in St. Petersburg.
Street Artist Detained at Moscow Airport Street artist Philippenzo, known for his anti-war murals, was detained at a Moscow airport when reentering Russia.
Retiree Tortured for Anti-War Comments A retiree took to social media after hearing about his daughter's experience in Kyiv. Authorities harassed and tortured him.
Forced to Work for the War Industry A new report reveals that Russian students are being forced to assemble Iranian combat drones.
Shielded from Soviet Symbols Work is underway to replace a Soviet symbol on a Kyiv monument with something more Ukrainian.
What's in a Name? Stalin. Every September 3, and on nine other days of the year, the city of Volgograd will change its name back to Stalingrad.
Repression Targets Pro-War "Patriots" Igor Strelkov, former defense minister of the Russian-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, was arrested in Moscow.
A Woman's Choice, or a Vicious Practice? Russia's Minister of Health advocates teaching children to prioritize childbirth before a career.
Taken from Home to Belarus Children from Russian-annexed Ukraine are being sent to camps in Belarus. Many don't return.
Russian Life Flood Update Montpelier, Vermont, where Russian Life has its offices, was inundated with a 100-year flood.
No to a Preventive Nuclear Strike Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy opposes a preventative nuclear strike.
War Criminal's Event Interrupted by Police Police evacuated a library where Igor Strelkov, a war criminal and Kremlin Ukraine War strategy critic, was to speak.
Russian Fake Syrians Five Russian athletes with altered identities have been announced as part of the Syrian team in the Arab Games.
The Palace and Its Thousand Prigozhins The FSB raided Yevgeny Prigozhin's St.Petersburg mansion, finding gold, guns, and wigs, triggering a meme machine of his disguises.
Strangers on a Train A Russian journalist recounts a very telling encounter in a train from Tula to Moscow.
Rolling in Rubles St. Petersburg introduces a resort fee for tourists, with penalties for non-payment.
Sought to Visit Sick Father, Arrested as Spy A Ukrainian woman was on her way to visit her dying father in Crimea. Russian authorities detained her and accused her of espionage.
Rockstar Declared Foreign Agent The Ministry of Justice released a list of new "foreign agents." Among them is Boris Grebenshchikov, a respected founder of Russian Rock.
Scared and Suspicious Nearly half of Russians distrust official information regarding the war in Ukraine.
Prigozhin's Uprising Russia's home-grown mercenaries have taken over Rostov-on-Don and threaten to march on the capital.
Undesirable News The Russian Prosecutor General's has declared Novaya Gazeta Europe "undesirable" due to its independent reporting.
iPhones Banned Members of the government have been forbidden from bringing iPhones to cabinet meetings.
Wagner Group Still Allowed After Wagner Group's uprising, the State Duma announced new regulations, but did not ban the organization.
A Day To Remember in Rostov-on-Don The Wagner Group occupied Rostov-on-Don on June 24. What was it like in the city?
Navalny Launches Antiwar Campaign Politician and political prisoner Alexei Navaly is launching a "big propaganda machine" to counter Putin and pro-war propaganda.
"Sieva," The Boy Who Lived, Dead at 97 Esteban "Sieva" Volkov, Trotsky's grandson and last surviving witness of his murder, died at age 97.
He Warned Police Would Kill Him. He is Dead A dissident in Rostov-on-Don reported torture and death threats while in prison. He was found dead a day before his trial.
Military Against War The Russian military has created a secret anti-Putin organization that is fighting against the dictatorship and opposes the war with Ukraine.
Mother of All Denunciations The mother of a Russian conscript who died as a result of shelling in the Belgorod Oblast has been charged with “discrediting” the army.
Ecocide, Russia's Latest Weapon of War Ukraine's Kakhovka Dam exploded, killing at least 13 people and thousands of animals and causing irreparable damage.
ROC: Pacifism is Heresy A Russian Orthodox priest called for peace. In response, the church said pacifism is "incompatible" with Orthodox teachings.
"Go Defend Your Homeland" In Chechnya, law enforcement uses threats and blackmail to send LGBT persons, drug users, and "disloyal" citizens to war.
Medieval Musings A medieval guide to life and ethics may be integrated into the Russian education system.
Shooting up Deeres Russian military claims anti-tank successes, but pro-Kremlin analysts beg to differ.
Sanctioning Iran Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for sanctioning Iran for 50 years for supplying Russia with drones.
Unwelcome Guests Students at two universities in Belgorod were being evicted from their dormitories to make space for refugees.
Blowing Out Candles for Navalny On June 4, Alexei Navalny's birthday, demonstrators took to the streets to demand his release.
No One is Going Anywhere The Kremlin has banned high-ranking officials from resigning during the war.
Russia To Ban Gender Reassignment? A bill was introduced to the State Duma that would ban gender-affirming surgery and gender changes in official documents.
Handshake Havoc A Ukrainian tennis player's handshake snub sparks controversy at the 2023 French Open.
A Very Scary 77-year-old The regime feels threatened by the work of a 77-year-old St. Petersburg artist.
Georgians: "Stop The Wedding!" Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's daughter was at a wedding in Georgia. Protesters interrupted the event.
FSB To Seize Passports The State Duma is going to give the FSB the right to take away passports at the border.
Greenpeace Declared "Undesirable" The Russian General Procurator announced Greenpeace has been declared an "undesirable organization," banning it in Russia.
Evading Sanctions Western sanctions are not preventing Russia from supplying its military from abroad.
We're In Charge. Now Leave. The puppets overseeing Russia's occupation of Kharkiv Oblast have urged residents to evacuate.
No More Golden Passports? Malta and Cyprus revoked "golden passports" for dozens of EU-sanctioned Russians and their families.
Where's the Ammunition? The Ministry of Defense has said Wagner will get all the ammunition it needs.
Imagine Dragons Shows Reality in Ukraine The band Imagine Dragons released a short film shot in Ukraine, telling the story of a teenager who survived Russian shelling.
DNA Doesn't Lie. Wagner Does. Wagner said it was her son, killed in battle. She forced DNA testing and proved they were lying.
Russia is Officially "Ruscist" The Ukrainian Parliament has adopted a resolution that describes Russia’s current regime as "ruscism."
Pro-war Journalist Targeted, Again Pro-war journalist and politician Zakhar Prilepin's car exploded near Nizhny Novgorod.
Detained for Criticising ISIS A director and a playwright were arrested for "promoting terrorism," for a play that criticizes how the Islamic State recruited Russian women.
Snapshots from Small-Town Russia A courageous teacher, fired for anti-war views, shares the words that many are thinking but few dare say.
The VIP Tour of Ukraine In which our correspondent visits Irpin and Bucha, offering thoughts on publicity and redemption.
To Serve is to Struggle What does it take to rebuild a church and a community, in the back of nowhere?
Komar and Melamid A new exhibit in New Jersey plumbs the ability of humor and art to fracture a totaliitarian society.
Taking Names and Telling Tales As Faulkner put it, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” A truth experienced in this remote village.
Endless February One year on, the Russian language is changing, imbued with Newspeak and Aesopian diversions.
Last Words Some poignant and brave “last words” of dissenters, and some notes about the resurgence of denunciations.
While Ukraine Slept, Russia Bombed Russian forces bombed a residential building in Uman, Ukraine. Back in Russia, police told mourners to "blame Ukraine."
The Jokes That Flew Under The Radar A comedy competition on the most influential state propaganda channel aired sketches criticizing Russia.
EU and Japan Say "Nyet" to the US The EU and Japan reject a US proposal for a total export ban to Russia.
The Risk of Treason The Russian State Duma has approved Criminal Code amendments that introduce life imprisonment for treason. And not just spies are at risk.
Low Batteries, High Hidden Imports The battery company Duracell has announced its withdrawal from Russia, but it may not be able to meaningfully leave.
Violence Comes Home, Too A man from Nizhny Novgorod fought in Ukraine. When he returned to Russia, he killed his wife.
Not Your Mother's Herring Three professional recipes to spice up the traditional dish, herring under a fur coat.
A Dead Man Is Sending Bones The French embassy in Moscow received a package from Crimea with bones inside. The sender was a dead Italian producer.
More War, More Debts, More Money The microfinance company tied to President Vladimir Putin’s ex-wife increased its profits by 66% in 2022.
Kara-Murza Sentenced to 25 Years Journalist and democratic activist Vladimir Kara-Murza has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for telling the truth.
Financial Paradise Lost? The second-largest bank in the UAE will block investment accounts from Russians, citing pressure from EU depositories.
This Musk Smells Hateful Elon Musk responds to criticism regarding recent changes in Twitter policies.
Screws are Tightening March has seen a serious tightening of the screws of repression by the Russian regime.
Goodbye, Pushkin! The Ukrainian city of Poltava will remove statues of Pushkin and two Soviet generals following residents' protests.
A Sanctioned Flight Journalists discovered a scheme in which a Russian entrepreneur bought planes in the EU, bypassing sanctions.
Is Wikipedia Next? The Russian government ordered Wikipedia to delete 133 pages about its war on Ukraine. Now the online encyclopedia may be banned in Russia altogether.
Wimbledon Opens Its Doors Wimbledon lifted a ban on Russian and Belarusian tennis players in time for its 2023 tournament.
Defector Reveals Kremlin Paranoia A defector offers insights into the daily life and paranoia of Russia's president.
Wanted for a Lullaby Moscow police have threatened a known comedian with arrest after he released an anti-war song about murdered Russian soldiers.
Too Free for Russia The Russian Prosecutor General's office has declared the Free University "undesirable."
Anything to Stop The Show Moscow police attempted to interrupt an anti-war pianist's concert, going so far as to call in a bomb threat.
No Money, Only War Russian authorities blame the "special military operation" for the disruption of infrastructural and social projects.
The Hygiene Hindrance As a strange form of punishment, Alexei Navalny was reportedly placed in a cell with a prisoner who has bad hygiene.
Moldova Speaks Romanian Moldova has passed a law labeling Romanian its national language amid suspected Moscow-fueled protests.
All's Not Fair in Advertisement Ukraine's legislative body is considering banning war-themed products after companies began naming foods and drinks after wartime events and massacres.
Most Unstudious Sanctions Estonia has placed limitations on Russians seeking residency permits for education.
Don't Wear a White Coat An art group in St. Petersburg put up a sculpture criticizing Russian society's blind-sightedness on the war.
The Moscow-City Laundromat Crypto exchanges in the main commercial district of Moscow transfer money to the UK anonymously.
Masha, The War Criminal The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova. Who is she?
20 Years for Rehearsing a Play? A young playwright in Tolyatti is threatened with 20 years in jail for rehearsing a play with his students.
Russia Wrapped: A Year of Music in Review 2021 is drawing to a close, which means that we have fascinating data on popular streaming trends in Russian-language music.
A Victory for Navalny The Navalny film won the Oscar for Best Documentary at the 95th Academy Awards.
En Garde, Russia and Belarus The International Fencing Federation greenlit the return of Russian and Belarussian fencers to tournaments — and the Olympics.
Airwaves Hacked, Again A new hack into Russian radio and television stations reveals a vulnerable spot in the nation's airwaves.
"Transparency" Is Undesirable The Russian Prosecutor General’s office declared the anti-corruption NGO Transparency International an "undesirable" organization.
A Painter's Protest A Crimean artist who painted a political message was beaten and forced to publicly apologize to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
War, Made Nuclear Russia is developing a new type of military strategy to account for the use of nuclear weapons.
The Wizard and His Little Wagners The Wagner Group's new youth club sponsors pro-militaristic activities and suggests it undertakes recruitment by hypnosis.
Tourists from China Return To Russia Russia reactivates tourism from China for strategic reasons: to buy weapons from Beijing for the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainians Hack the Airwaves Hackers intercepted radio stations in Crimea and played the Ukrainian national anthem, followed by the words, "Crimea will return home."
A Wall of Resistance A Russian shopkeeper's picture went viral after using the walls of his shop to express opposition to the invasion of Ukraine.
Not That Way Vladimir Putin revoked a 2012 decree aimed at economic integration with the EU and supporting Moldovan sovereignty.
Russia's Year of Horror After a year of horrific war, why does a magazine like Russian Life continue? Why not simply wash our hands of it and walk away?
An Appalling, Illegal Act We are appalled by the Russian government’s illegal aggression against Ukraine.
Another Activist Goes M.I.A. Activist Rita Flores' whereabouts are unknown after Moscow police detained her.
Riding through Russia A female Russian motorcyclist has set a world record for riding from Magadan to Mirny across permafrost.
Bye-Bye, YouTube? The news outlet Meduza has suggested that it is likely the Russian government will block YouTube in the near future.
Another Political Prisoner A court in Barnaul sentenced an independent Russian journalist for "fake news" about the Russian army.
Cry for Me, Argentina Six pregnant Russians were detained while entering Argentina, prompting a criminal investigation into birth tourism agencies.
Russia's Predicted Gambit The Chess Federation of Russia is leaving the European Chess Union, seeking "higher" competition.
Russia Cuts Ties with a Rock Star The Ministry of Justice has declared Zemfira a foreign agent, due to her opposition to Russia's War on Ukraine.
AI Will Watch You Russian authorities plan to use artificial intelligence to scour the interwebs for undesirable political information.
Show Me Your Face Russia will install face-recognition systems at its borders, violating a law against the forced collection of biometric data.
The Wages of Conscience The editors of the religious website Holy Fire have called for the defrocking of 293 priests who last year signed a petition demanding an end to hostilities in Ukraine.
"Glory to Siberia," A Desecration to the Anthem? The Kontinental Hockey League told Team Siberia to stop fans from singing "Glory to Siberia" during Russia's national anthem.
Gérard Depardieu Bids Adieu French actor Gérard Depardieu has distanced himself from his previous anti-war statements.
Censorship, Hack Attacks, and Mass Emigration 2022 was a year of new anti-records for internet freedom in Russia.
What Is Fair in Love and War? The International Olympic Committee is advocating for Russian and Belarusian involvement in the 2024 Olympic Games.
Stalin Returns to Volgograd A new bust of Stalin has been erected in Volgograd, raising questions about the identity of the city.
Tolstoy and Pushkin, the New Foreign Agents A well-known Russian bookstore has listed classic national authors such as Alexander Pushkin, Lev Tolstoy, and Samuil Marshak as foreign agents.
Never the Twain Shall Meet? How, in the late nineteenth century Russia flipped from being a valued ally to a loathed regime.
Standing the Test of Time A conservative State Duma deputy called for the removal of The Gulag Archipelago from the Russian school curriculum.
In Search of "Cultural Sovereignty" By decree, Russia is no longer uniting "East and West" or modernizing, but protecting its "traditional values" and "cultural sovereignty."
Game Over The Russian government has asked the prosecutor's office to create a list of banned video games.
Keep Your Taxes to Yourself The Russian parliament passed a bill that allows legislators to not disclose their tax returns to the public.
Where Are the Actors? The Ministry of Culture began inspecting Moscow theaters after a famous actor made an obliquely anti-war statement in an interview.
Meduza Declared Undesirable On January 26, Russia’s Prosecutor General declared the popular publication Meduza an “undesirable” organization.
Winter 2023 Protest by cake * Healing through fish * Propaganda in schools * Sisters in sorrow * Memes of war * Chekhov Becomes Chekhov * Books we love of late * Music as protest * Yashin's last words * Resistance is Fertile
Memes For Our Times We explain ten recent memes that best capture the current sociopolitical mood across a large subset of Russian society.
Notes at the Front Musicians have not been spared from the criminalization of protest and expression. We also share Ilya Yashin's final words.
We Have Land Enough How the situation in Russia looks from a village in the very remote and very Far East.
Resistance is Fertile As Russia continues its criminal war on Ukraine, so too do some inside Russia refuse to be silenced. Against the odds, they resist.
No Money, No AI Russia has reduced its funding of AI technologies and IT professionals are fleeing the country in droves.
Flowers for Dnipro Russians across the country spontaneously mourned the victims of their country's January 14 missile attack on Dnipro, Ukraine, which crushed an apartment building.
Mobilization Lists Aren't on Telegram A massive phishing attack on Telegram targeted Russian users with links to check mobilization lists.
So Long to Kate The Ukrainian city of Odesa has taken down its statues of Catherine the Great, marking a break from its Russian past.
"Stop Bullying" Navalny Over 600 medical workers signed an open letter demanding to provide medical care to the opposition politician and stop sending him to punitive confinement.
Dubai is the New Vologda A United Russia legislator pretended to be in Vologda but was actually in Dubai. A picture with Ksenia Shoigu gave him away.
From Hero to Zero A Russian “hero” of the war in Ukraine was convicted for not showing up for military service.
It's My Church Now The Primate of Ukraine conducted Christmas Liturgy in a Kyivan cathedral formerly used by the Moscow Patriarchate.
Made in Russia, Born in Argentina Since the war in Ukraine began, Argentina has become a birth tourism hub for pregnant Russians.
Keep Calm and Be Polite The United Russia party has developed a code of conduct for deputies when they are interacting with media.
War or Celebration? Ukraine, parts of Russia, and cities in Latvia banned fireworks for New Year's celebrations over concerns about the war.
Why No 2023 Calendar? Customers keep asking if we are publishing a Russian Life calendar for 2023. We are not. This is why.
A Different Kind of UFO The Russian Air Defense system shot down an "unidentified object," likely from Ukraine, in Engels, far from the border.
A Year of Decline Russia’s War on Ukraine is exacting deep and enduring economic and social costs on the country.
Soviet Union Founded Treaty on the Creation of the USSR and the Declaration of the Creation of the USSR, were signed and confirmed by the first Congress of Soviets of the USSR, forming the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Let it Go, Let it Go Russian men mobilized to fight in Russia's War on Ukraine will be able to freeze and store their sperm for free.
Fields of Poison Thousands of endangered birds and other animals have been poisoned with an illegal pesticide in Stavropol Krai.
The Threat from Abroad Putin has issued a call to hunt down spies and saboteurs. The State Duma has prepared new “anti-sabotage” laws.
A Word is Not a Sparrow Russian graffiti artist Ffchw uses stenciled words to make his point. "No one has a right to be silent now," he says.
Mark My Words A St. Petersburg legislator initiated legal action against Putin for calling the war in Ukraine "war," violating his own laws.
Support Ukrainian Charities Some useful resources where you can easily, and safely, help those suffering from Russia's War on Ukraine.
Summer 2022 Russians informing on Russians * Amending the Law to Catch More Dissenters * Why Young Russians Stayed * Russia’s War is an Express Train to Hell * The Tankman and the Sailor * Artists Speaking Out * The Story of One Friendship * The Mightiness of the Russian Language * Chekhov’s Steppe (Bilingual) * Novels and Soviet Children
War, Not Fish A Tyumen resident at first convinced a court she was objecting to dried fish, not war. But the police were not having it...
Hold Your Tongue The State Duma began reviewing a new law that would restrict the use of foreign loan words in official Russian communications.
While Supplies Last Prices for Moscow real estate, usually a hot market, are down a record 35 percent.
Art and Punishment Unearthed archival documents show that Vladimir Putin investigated a dissident artist as a junior KGB agent in Leningrad.
10 Putinisms to Share Some 1392 journalists sat and listened to President Putin for 3 hours. It was filled with numerous Putinisms that threaten to become "winged phrases" (крылатые фразы). Here are some of the best, compiled by LifeNews and translated by Russian Life.
Spelling Reform: Who Gets the Credit? In Soviet times the Bolsheviks got all the credit for simplifying Russian spelling in 1918. Who really pushed that simplification through - and what did the Bolsheviks actually do to help?
Celebrating Summer in Russia's Pagan Tradition Ivan Kupala is technically St. John the Baptist Day. But the bonfires and skinny-dipping that celebrate the Summer Solstice have deep roots in Russia's pagan past.
Flagging Relations, Funny Money, and Floating Laundromats What goes up must come down: tales of flags, currencies, and seaworthy laundromats.
The Teas of Russia Russian tea isn't always what you might picture it to be... neither is it always really tea. Let's have a taste of some of the unique varieties of herbal tea found in Russia.
Which Russian Metropolis is Right for You? Are you a Moscow Maniac or a Petersburg Patrician? It's time to take a side!
The Water is Fine: Water Sports in Russia Russia isn't known for being a warm-water country, but during the summer months there are more than enough accessible rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans within and around the country to have a little fun.
First Love On the importance of coffee, academicians, a museum, a rooster, the harvesting of turf, and collectivization. Oh, and Novosibirsk.
Woe is a Good Thing! We are excited to announce the eighth book in our popular Bilingual series: Alexander Griboyedov's classic Woe from Wit.
Anne Applebaum The American journalist and historian with Belarusian roots learned Russian after being assigned to the region in the 1990s. She spent a semester in Leningrad during college, and has said that shaped her views significantly.
Reflecting on Russian: Tips from a Seven-Year Veteran A few insights to help you make it through Russian 101, from someone who's got a little experience.
Studying Russian Outside the Capitals Some reasons to consider studying Russian outside Moscow and St. Petersburg, with a listing of schools and their programs in provincial cities.
Publishing Green RIS Publications, the publisher of Russian Life magazine, was founded in 1990 on the principle that paying attention to international issues matters. While U.S.-Russian relations and the history and society of the world’s largest country are important, there is no larger international issue than the health of this planet.
Emancipation Edict of Alexander II English text of Tsar Alexander II's Emancipation Edict (March 3, 1861).
Why I Will Demonstrate Victor is a 21-year-old student in Moscow. In this guest post, he explains why he, and so many of his generation, is fed up with Russia's electoral system, and why he will be going out to protest on December 10.
Christmastide Tradition St. Nicholas, Babouschka, Christmas Eve festivities . . .Ded Moroz leading to Christmas on January 7th.
Butina, Babies, and Baby-making This week, depressing news about divisions and birth rates can only really be counteracted with a smile over the Orthodox church’s new take on sex.
Russian Genealogy If you have family roots in Russia, you are in good company. Between 1820 and 1992, according to INS data, some 3,512,332 individuals immigrated to the United States from Russia, most of them around the turn of the century (2.5 mn between 1897 and WWI).
Battle of Stalingrad One million Russia lives were lost, but, Hitler was turned back and Russia can be credited with changing the tide of WWII in Europe.
Russia's Military Today Today's Russian military and the status of the ABM and START II treaties. Written in October, 1999.
The Walls Came Tumbling Down! Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of Russia's transformation to democracy.
Digging up your Russian Roots An article on some of the most useful links for digging up your Russian roots on the web.
New Face at Russia's Helm This article was written in early January, 2000, about Russia's new acting president and a man not well know outside Russia.
All that Glitters . . . Or Something More? Why are we so fascinated with the lavish and expensive creations of the House of Faberge?
Who Killed Kirov? The circumstances and mystery surrounding the murder of revolutionary and Soviet leader, Sergei Kirov. On January 15, 1935, Grigori Zinoviev and 18 members of the "Moscow Centre" were tried in Leningrad for their part in the Dec. 1, 1934, assassination of Sergei Kirov.
Tea Time in Russia Tea was brought to Russia in the 1600s from China. Since then, the brew and its implements have become an enduring tradition of Russian society. The tea ceremony itself bonds families and communities
Shawls of Pavlovsky Posad From a land not known for high fashion and which many Westerners think is filled with gray clad babushkas, the Pavlovsky Posad shawls come as quite a surprise.
Yeltsin's Surprise Resignation On New Year's Eve, 1999, while many braced for a possible Y2K disaster, Boris Yeltsin resigned as president of the Russian Federation leaving a little known prime minister in charge.
Portraits of St. Petersburg Thirty years ago, Valentin Baranovsky began to take pictures of both everyday life and major events in his home town. This became a unique one-man artistic project to document three decades of St.Petersburg life. The photographs, to be presented in book form and through exhibitions, date from 1970 to 2000.
Maxim Gorky The turbulent life of this Russian author {1868-1936}, his experience with oppression and involvement in the Russian revolution make him one of his country's most loved and important writers. Gorky was born March 28, 1868.
String of Pearls Russia and Japan have yet to sign a WWII peace treaty. At the center of the dispute are four ancient volcanic islands, part of the Kuril Islands help by Russia and known to Japan as the Northern Territory.
Russia's Troubled Times Russia's turbulent Time of Trouble, period between the Rurik and Romanov Dynasties.
The Plight of Russia's Orphans The statistics regarding Russia's orphaned and/or abandoned children are quite disturbing with Americans making up the majority of foreign adoptive parents. Reforms have been implemented but do little to improve living conditions in Russia's orphanages. What does the future hold for these children?
St. Grand Duchess Elizabeth How did the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria and sister to the Tsarina end up a martyred nun?
Role of Women in Russian Cooking Today, the wonderful, hearty and traditional recipes and meals of the Russian table can be attributed to the efforts of Russian women to provide sustenance and nurturing to their families.
Women Combat Aviators of the Patriotic War Told that the Rodina was not in so bad a shape that she needed girls to protect her, these future heroes were sent home to their mothers. Soon, they were called back and became a crucial element in the protection of their homeland and victory over Nazi Germany.
Nina Novikova, St. Petersburg Artist The life and works of this thirty-eight year old, single mother and wonderful artist.
Shaman and Native Mysticism The term Shaman is both a noun and a verb. It is from the Tungus language and is seen as saman or haman. The actions of the Shaman are, what western explorers referred to as, Shamanism. It is the oldest known demonstration of human spirituality.
U.S. Withdrawal from the ABM Treaty Russia's stance on the issue of the ABM Treaty vs. the U.S. NMD program has well understood and consistant for some time. On December 13, 2001, President Bush officially announced his nation's withdrawal from the treaty. The short and long term consequences are heavily debated and yet to be seen.
Day of Accord and Reconciliation Celebrated on November 7, this Russian holiday used to be called Revolution Day and was the most important holiday during the Soviet Era.
Alexander Nevsky Controversial actions of the Russian leader during the Mongol domination of the 13th century.
Readings for Feast Day of St. Nicholas Scriptures and prayers for the Orthodox Feast Day of St. Nicholas of Myra.
The Real Santa Find out how a Bishop from Turkey became the patron saint of Moscow and Santa Claus to the world.
Russian Ladies of the Avant-garde Set against the backdrop of revolution and civil war the Avant-garde period in Russia was very dynamic. In honor of International Women's Day (March 8), we take a look at the lives and works of six very special Avant-garde artists.
Russian Ladies in Space Soviet cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Svitskaya made history when they were the first woman in space and first woman to walk in space, respectfully. Elena V. Kondakova represents the new age of Russian Federation cosmonauts as a member of the US/Russian STS-84 crew.
Old Hymn, New Words The 'old' Soviet Hymn is now the official anthem of the Russian Federation, minus the original lyrics. New lyrics have been approved by Pres. Putin; read them and listen to the Anthem here.
Russian Pascha Easter is the most important celebration of the Russian Orthodox Church. Find out what constitutes a traditional Pascha meal and read the Patriarch's message.
Doukhobors of Russia The origins, persecution and emigration to Canada of the Russian religious sect known as the Doukhobors. A direct result of Nikon's reforms and resulting Church schism, learn about their beliefs and culture.
Emperor of all Russia The dramatic life and times of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia who reigned from 1826 to 1855. Nicholas I believed that he was accountable directly to God for all of his actions and answered to no man. This has become known as the <I>Nicholas System</I>.
ABM, NMD - Alphabet Soup of Defense Do you think the Cold War was over? Existing tensions between Russia and the U.S. regarding missile defense and NATO expansion are increasing. Is it possible for both to protect their interests against perceived threats without becoming a threat to each other?(originally published Feb. 2001)
End of an Era The presidency and life of former President Boris Yeltsin who resigned on December 31, 1999.
The Calendar Issue A brief look at the often time confusing issue of the 'old' and 'new' calendars used by Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church. This article contains links to indepth and more technical material on the subject.
Century of Rebellion; Years of Tsar Alexi After the Time of Troubles and the beginning of the Romanov Dynasty (1613), Russia saw a century characterized by rebellion and war.
Book Picks - Former Soviet States Editor's suggestions of books about the transition of the former Soviet States.
After Stalingrad By 1942, Stalin figured the strength of the Nazi army was beginning to wane and that he, finally, would have a strategic advantage. Stalin planned to liberate Leningrad and establish strongholds at Sevastopol and Kharkov.
Ancient Warrior Women Amazons, Sarmations, warrior princesses . . . just characters of Greek mythology or a reality of ancient Russian history?
Tunguska Event What fell from the sky ninety years ago in a remote region of Siberia? Was it the beginning of a pattern of events leading to the doomsday prediction of the future?
Amber Room This gift from Germany to Peter I, taken away by Nazi Germany and feared to be lost forever to history has been partially reconstructed.
Christ the Savior Cathedral & Romanov Canonization The Russian Orthodox Church Council of Bishops voted in favor of canonization of Tsar Nicholas II and family on August 14, 2000. The ceremony was held in the newly concecrated Christ the Savior Cathedral on Aug. 20. The cornerstone of the cathedral was placed on Christmas, January 7, 1995.
Music During the Soviet Regime Great composers of 20th century Russia. This feature includes four MIDI sound files of well-known works.
Soviet Foreign Policy A series of articles which deal with Soviet foreign policy. In Part One, we make our way through a series of treaties, pacts and secret alliances during the years leading up to WWII and Germany's attack on Russia.
Book Picks - Russian Orthodox Christianity Editor's choice of books about Russian Orthodox Christianity.
Origins of the Slavic Cross The Cross is the universal symbol of Christianity, thanks to Constantine. The Slavic Cross is unique in that it has three, not one, crossbars. Learn the rich symbology of this symbol.
Orthodox Christian Canonization Canonization, in the Orthodox Church, is different from sainthood in the Catholic Church. Learn how and why individuals are added to the canon and the role this plays in Orthodox spirituality.
Russian Imperial Easter Eggs Skilled craftsman, Carl Fabergé, and his unsurpassed eggs which were presented to the Tsar's family each Easter.
Creation of the Comintern In 1919, after two failed Socialist Internationals, Lenin decided that there was a need for a new organization to bring solidarity among the working class; the Communist International was born.
Fyodor Dostoevsky The tormented and, often, tragic life of Russia's great 19th century author of masterpieces such as The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment.
Political Trade Offs Russia deserves concessions from the US in return for its support regarding Afghanistan and other issues. Should Putin have secured this political payments up front? What, if anything, will he take home from the November summit?
Russia and the Olympics Russia and the politics of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Also, list of Russian 2002 Olympic hopefuls by sport.
Sino - Russian Relations Historic border accords signed between Russia and China on December 9, 1999. This one of the last major official acts of then President Boris Yeltsin prior to his surprise resignation on December 31.
Photo Favorites A gallery of my favorite photographs from St. Petersburg Times photographers Alexander Belenky and Sergey Grachev. These gentlemen have not published a picture I did not like. My favorites are those that I feel best showcase their talents and portray Russian life and culture.
Nazi-Soviet Pact and Barbarossa Germany's efforts to occupy the Soviet Union during WWII and executions of thousands of Jews on Russian soil.
Pres. Putin's Response to US ABM Withdrawal Complete English text of President Putin's official response to the December 13, 2001, announcement of the withdrawal from the ABM Treaty by the US.
Dagestan - Islamic Center and War Zone Dagestan Republic, the war with Chechyna and the battle for ancient Islamic homeland.
Russia and Belarus Background and current information regarding the Russia - Belarus merger and why the former Soviet state is of importance to Russia.
Russian Serfs and Nikolai Gogol The serf system in early 19th century Russia and writer, Nikolai Gogol.
Winner Take All From rather inauspicious origins in the Ural mountains, Konstantin Tszyu has gone on to become the world's greatest boxer in his weight class. But he has never lost his perspective.
Putinlovefest Russia's March presidential election was exciting for about 5 minutes, when there was talk amongst "opposition" candidates of boycotting elections, to deny Putin an electoral minimum, bringing a constitutionally mandated end to his presidency. But, by minute 6, a prominent democrat had defected and enough wacko candidates were popping up in the wings to guarantee the required 50% voter turnout. Now we are ensured a Putinlovefest of unprecedented proportions. Stay tuned...
Putin Boots Kasyanov The probable has become inexorable. March 14, the date of Russia's Presidential Reelection, will now assuredly cement in place the most significant depluralization of Russian politics since 1989. Putin is expected to get between 70 and 80% of the vote that day -- a number reminiscent of when Brezhnev teetered to the polls.Meanwhile, there are no checks on executive power. Russia no longer enjoys a Free Press. There is no independent judiciary. The recently elected Duma is a Rubber St
Book Picks - Literature The quantity of great Russian literature titles and translations is virtually endless. Here are a few favorites from the editor.
Where the Russians Are A color-coded map of the US, showing which states have the highest percentage of Russian immigrants.
Russian Email Habits Why is it that Russians don't answer email? We explore this conundrum, and whether it has some roots in Russian business or personal culture.
Taste of Summer Ok, it has been a long summer, and time we got back to ramping up this blogject. Taste of Russia is just over and we are coming down from a high because we didn't get walloped by a hurricane, the way we did last year. Ophelia gave us a pass and we had sun, fun and kvas.Meanwhile, we are entering the home stretch on our November/December 05 issue. Some great stories in this issue, including a fascinating look back at what really happened
Fradkov Looking for One Good Man Oh, the perils of leadership. As reported in the recent issue of Argumenti i Fakty, Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov recently took a trip to the little town of Sharya, in Kostroma oblast. There, he visited a forestry enterprise set up and run by Swiss masters. Looking over the uncommonly clean and efficient operation, Fradkov exclaimed, “And why can’t we do this? After all, our specialists are the best in the world.” The quest
Khodortaystvo Last evening, the Khodorkovsky case was brought to a hurried close when the imprisoned oligarch's appeal was summarily rejected just as K's sentence (and that of his codefendant) were reduced to eight years. "I won't live that long," K commented on leaving the court. "What we are dealing with here is not the prosecutors or the judges, it is the full weight of the state machine. The political authorities are dictating what is going on here," the Moscow Times reported K's l
Anniversary This Sunday is the 20th anniversary of Gorbachev's creation of the Anti Alcohol League. Na zdorovye! As if in fitting tribute, it was revealed today that the French liquor giant, Pernod Ricard, may be in talks to purchase the Russian brand... drumroll please... Stolichnaya. Is nothing sacred?
What a difference a friend makes Today, Roman Abramovich is $13 billion richer, thanks to a lucrative sell-off of his oil company, Sibneft. The very fine linked Bloomberg article contrasts Abramovich's fate nicely with that of Mikhail Khodorokovsky, a similarly enriched oil magnate and oligarch, but one who did not play by "the rules." Moral of the story: it pays to have friends in high places in Russia. Well, only if, instead of sitting in a Moscow prison cell, you would rather be governor of a ma
Judgement Day Curioser and curiouser...Apparently President Bush, with his appointment of Harriet Miers, is striving to imitate President Putin. To whit, this was reported by Kommersant, reported by RFE/RL in early October:"The Federation Council confirmed on 5 October Yelena Valyavina for the post of first deputy chairman of the Higher Arbitration Court..."According to Kommersant, Valyavina graduated from President Putin's alma mater, the law school at Leningra
Alexander I In the summer of 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, and his army marched into Moscow. This resulted in one of the turning points in Tsar Alexander I's reign. Napoleon began his retreat from Moscow on November 12, 1812.
Jarkov Mammoth Finding the remains of the prehistoric giant mammoth in the far reaches of northern Siberia is not an unusual occurrence. Bones and tusks reveal themselves when the permafrost thaws. However, the discovery of an intact mammoth is something for scientists to get excited about.
What Price a Free Press? Three interesting, related, but separate news items came across the electronic transom today: #1: The Russian Duma's Information Policy Committee yesterday adopted a resolution that states, among other things: "The ideological slant of media has been replaced by a commercial one, while pornography and violence in media have become a national threat." On the whole, members of the committee said, the media is too negative, it is only out to "tease and entertain." The solution? Why, st
Byzantine Catholic Church in Russia Examination of the history of this Christian tradition, which is in full communion with the Church of Rome.
Cell Phone Mania A look at the astonishing rise in cell phone use in Russia. One report indicates that over 60% of Russians now have cell phones, versus just 25% two years ago.
White Ribbon Victory Do recent nationwide demonstrations in Russia signal a new faith in public action to foment political change?
Wine Embargo Russia puts a cork in wine imports from Georgia and Moldova. Are the reasons political or otherwise?
Space Race II? On the 45th anniversary of the first manned space flight, Russia lays out an ambitious space plan.
Easter Reborn Easter survived by stealth and cunning through the Soviet era. Now it is making a triumphant comeback in Russia as the country grasps religion anew.
The Saami's Story The Saami people (Russian population: 1,800) struggle to survive as a small national group in Russia.
Demographic Woes Russia's population is in steady decline. So you would think it natural that the country would welcome immigrant workers. You'd think...
Sex and the Future of Russian Society Abortion, HIV/AIDS and Russia's infant mortality rates are on the increase. At the same time, the nation's birthrate and population growth are dramatically decreasing with many children being adopted abroad.
St. Basil the Blessed St. Basil the Blessed is both a well known Moscow landmark and cherished saint. Learn about the ten pillars of the cathedral and what it means to be a 'fool for Christ.'
Matryoshka - Soul of Russia The history and traditions surrounding matryoshka; Russian nesting dolls; Russia's most sought after folkart souvenir.
Tiger by the tail In the November/December 2006 issue of Russian Life, we have an interesting article about recent events in Kondopoga, by Russian security expert Marina Latysheva. In the article, Latysheva asserts that certain persons of influence may have sought to exploit the events in Kondopoga. The conflict was not an ethnic backlash at all, Latysheva said, but all about local residents' battling against a t
Notes from Underground [Editor's Letter for the Nov/Dec 2006 issue. By Paul E. Richardson]The day after Russian reporter Anna Politkovskaya was assassinated (see page 9), I was editing this issueâ??s story on Dostoyevsky (page 50) and happened to read Vissarion Belinskyâ??s infamous 1847 letter to Nikolai Gogol. The public reading of this letter (to a handful of friends) was a main reason for Dostoyevskyâ??s conviction for subversion. This famous excerpt attracted my attention:
The Russians are Not Coming In re the theme of our post, Tiger by the Tail, Russia's rightist parties may be playing into present Powers That Be designs, seeking a showdown with local and federal authorities and giving them a pre-electoral rallying cry. This from RFE/RL report (citing Nezavisimaya Gazeta) of November 3, about a planned nationwide "Russia March" for November 4 ("People's Unity Day," the holiday which replaced November 7, th
Doctor Zhivago and Khrushchev Find out what this son of peasants turned Premier of the Soviet Union had to do with an upper class writer and his epic novel.
What exactly is going in on Russia? [WIGOR?] Is a new Evil Empire brewing? Are we on the verge of a New Cold War?Who is pulling the levers of power in Russia?What is the Kremlin engineering for a post-Putin Russia?There are plenty of questions circulating in the media about Russia these days. But often too little of what is published takes a long-term, balanced and critical view. Time for a reality check.Russia is not perched on the aby
The Beginning [WIGOR, part 1] Several million years ago (ask a geologist for an exact figure), the landmass that would one day become Russia was gifted huge oil, gas and mineral deposits. In fact, they were such rich and deep deposits that even 70 years of communist ineptitude could not entirely wipe them out. Some boring, but telling facts:OIL: By one estimate, 20% of the world's known oil reserves are in Russia. Russia currently supplies the US with 4% of its oil.
40 and Counting: Four Decades of Russian Life A look at the magazine's beginnings in 1956 (as USSR) and of its partner publication, Amerika Illustrated.
Supersonic Flight Meet the TU-144, Russia's achievement, albeit short lived, in supersonic flight. On Dec. 31, 1968, Russia's TU-144 supersonic airliner made its first flight, several months ahead of the Anglo-French Concorde.
Zero in Russia In the May/June 2007 issue of Russian Life, Mikhail Ivanov's column on the use of "zero," "null," etc. in Russian slang got us wondering: just when and how was the concept and notation of zero introduced into Russian. We could find nothing in our printed references or anywhere online. So we polled some experts. Below we reprint two excellent replies we received.
Going Green We are not a large publishing company. We don't influence how the USPS sets postal rates (apparently, that is left up to Time-Warner; witness the July periodical rate increase), and while we like to think we have some effect on how people perceive Russia, that is something you really cannot measure.But we know we have an impact on the environment. Every publisher does. And so it is our goal to continue doing the good we do (providing information an insights into the world's largest c
Leo Tolstoy Learn about the varied life of this Russian writer, born to nobility and author of "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina".
The Kremlin's Third Path Things had quieted down a bit in the Russian 2008 presidential race. And then, at the end of this week, there was this:"We have two active individuals who work as first deputy prime ministers with various responsibilities and who are rather liberal in their views," said Kremlin aide Igor Shuvalov at a June 14 political conference in Washington, DC. "People are talking about these two candidates, potential candidates, but my president could yet offer one more surprise and, perhaps lat
Green Update Sometimes, if you study something long enough, and get a little bit lucky, what seems hard is actually very easy.We have decided to change printers for Russian Life. Starting with our next issue (September 2007), we will be printing the magazine in Missouri instead of Ohio, at Ovid Bell Press (founded 1924). A number of factors came into play, but not the least of them was the fact that we are able to shift the pr
Ded Moroz Ded Moroz; Grandfather Frost; is the Russian counterpart to the Western Santa Claus and other Gift Givers worldwide. He and his assistant, Snegurochka, continue to delight children and adults alike. In 2000, Santa Claus traveled to Russia to meet Ded Moroz for the first time!
Two Films So last night I watched two films. The first was The Color of Pomegranates, by director Sergei Paradjanov. I picked it up from Netflix, intrigued by the blurb:Paradjanov's acclaimed poetic masterpiece was banned by Soviet censors who feared it was a nationalist parable.The story depicts the life and spiritual odyssey of the medieval Armenian poet and troubadour Sayat Nova, and his rise from carpet weaver to archbish
Russian Corporatism This ran in the Wall Street Journal yesterday and was circulated on the esteemed Johnson's List. It is so intriguing, I felt it deserved quoting in its entirety.The Board Members of Russia, Inc.By Garry KasparovIt has been both amusing and disturbing to watch the Western media chase its tail after the appointment of Viktor Zubkov to the post of Russian prime minister.Amusing because these are the same experts and pundits who wr
Ancient Peoples of the Russian Steppes Scythians, Sarmatians, Amazons; all ancient inhabitants of Russia's southern steppes. These Mesopotamic, nomadic tribes were feared warriors and accomplished horsemen who warded off the mightiest rulers including Darius and Alexander.
Putinâ??s Plan I saw this coming. Really, I did...For months, I have been privately sharing a prediction about Putin's succession plan. Unfortunately, I really cannot prove it, since I never committed the prediction to print. So you're going to have to trust me on this. Same thing happened back in the 1980s, when I correctly predicted the Andropov-Chernenko-Gorbachev succession before each slogging step. But of course I did not put that in print either. There were no blogs back then.
Avast, there be pirates! To quote Dave Barry, I am not making this up... Visit this top level site for a very proud and propagandistic video of Putin accepting the nomination to head the Unified Russia party in the upcoming Duma elections. Very nicely and professionally done, even if a bit, well, over the top. But the fun part is this. Listen very closely to the soundtrack (much easier if you don't understand Russian). The music which is playing just a
Women's Day? A look at the origins of International Womens Day (March 8), how it was celebrated in Soviet times, and how it is changing today.
Putin, Stalin and Teheran When news broke that Putin was traveling to Teheran despite death threats from terrorists, I was reminded that the last Russian leader who traveled to Teheran - Josef Stalin - also went there despite a death threat against him (and Roosevelt and Churchill, as the Big Three were traveling there in 1943 for the Teheran Conference). The plot against the Big Three was first uncovered by Soviet spy Nikolai Kuznetsov. Parachuted behind enemy lines at Rovno, Ukraine, Kuznetsov posed as Germa
Living Through the Cuban Missile Crisis [This aired as a Commentary on Vermont Public Radio on October 19, 2007. Streaming audio can be found here.]Forty five years ago, I had barely just arrived. I was trying to put a little weight on, getting used to the sights and smells. Then suddenly this new world I had fallen into was teetering on the brink of nuclear annihilation. It's hard not to be affected by that sort of thing.On
Prianiki for the Holidays Brief history of Russian prianiki (gingerbread) and a traditional recipe to enjoy during the holidays or anytime throughout the year; especially with a nice hot pot of tea!
Putin Lite or False Dmitry? And so the choice has been made.Dmitry Medvedev will be the next president of Russia, having gotten the nod from Putin, United Russia and all the other powers that matter.Now the chatter will begin discussing whether Medvedev is more liberal, how he is the "softer" choice than would have been the candidate of the siloviki, Sergei Ivanov.Don't believe a word of it.Medvedev and Putin have worked hand in glove for the past 17 years. Medvedev, in his m
Solzhenitsyn's Birthday For 18 years, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn - writer, Nobel laureate and political dissident - lived with his family in Cavendish, Vermont. Exiled from the Soviet Union in 1974 for cataloguing the crimes of the Gulag, he spent long days at the family's Vermont home, writing and researching...
Russian Orthodox Christmas The Church's celebration of the Nativity is on January 7th; information about the Feasts of Christ's coming into the world and Scripture readings for the services and Liturgies.
Putin Selected as Person of the Year In a previous post and VPR commentary, I related how my friend Boris in Moscow speculated that, after the December Duma election, Russia would hold a national referendum and appoint Putin Tsar. Apparently TIME magazine beat Russia to the punch.
Stalin: The Red Tsar Joseph Stalin was born December 21, 1879, in Gori, which is now in the Republic of Georgia. His birth name was Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili. Around 1910, he took on the name Stalin which means man of steel. Iosif is a common Eastern European and Russian spelling for Joseph. Stalin's parents were peasants who, hoping for a better life for their son, sent him to the Gori church run school {1888-1894}.
The Yeltsin Legacy As Russia readies for its first, post-Yeltsin presidential election, Yeltsin biographer Leon Aron offers thoughts on the Russian leader's legacy.
We're Just Crazy about Dima So what exactly do we know about Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev, other than that he is a loyal Putinista going back nearly two decades?
The Case Against Brodsky The secret transcript (in Russian) of Joseph Brodsky's show trial in a St. Petersburg court, at which he was sentenced to 5 years (later reduced to 18 months) of hard labor in the North. Short portions of the transcript are often cited, but this full transcript offers a vivid look at the Kafkaesque Soviet system of justice.
Dima Talks On February 18, Dmitry Medvedev gave an extended interview with Itogi magazine. Here are some of the highlights,
Hillary-ous Hilary Clinton stumbles over the name of the next president of Russia, and a Ukrainian TV host offers a pronunciation lesson.
Medvedev Emerges from His Den In the 2002 film Oligarch, by Russian director Pavel Lungin, the main character predicts his own downfall, saying, "Russia is a bear. You think you are playing with it and it devours you."
Dima's recruitment This hilarious YouTube satire video by the Perm KVN group gives a bit of background on the recent Russian election, and how Medevedev was recruited for his role. The dubbing is superbly done. (All in Russian)...
Statistics and Damn Lies Robert Coalson (RFE/RL) has just published a superb summary of some of the brazen election abuses during last December's Duma elections in Russia. It would be funny if it were not so sad.
Voloshin Poems Translator Constantine Rusanov has crafted these wonderful English versions of 11 of Maximilian Voloshin's poems. They are reprinted here with permission. The copyright to the English versions remains with Mr. Rusanov. To see the English translations alongside the original Russian, download <a href="http://www.russianlife.net/pdf/voloshin.pdf">this PDF file</a>.
A Metaphorical Net Game Russia has truly regained its prowess as a sports superpower, and it may rise further yet. It will surely be giving the U.S. a run for its money in the overall medals race at the Beijing Olympics in August... this rise in sports achievement takes place against the backdrop of a Russia that, without putting too fine a point on it, has bumbled from failure to failure in foreign policy in recent months
Solzhenitsyn This morning, Vermont Public Radio called to interview me about Solzhenitsyn's legacy and his life in Vermont. I had just interviewed his wife, Natalya Dmitrievna, while in Moscow in May. We had planned to run that interview in our Nov/Dec issue, to coincide with what would have been the author's 90th birthday. But now we will push it up and run it in our Sep/Oct issue, which goes to press this week.
Caucasian Stalemate Last Thursday, after several days of skirmishes and confrontation in the breakaway region of Ossetia, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced a unilateral cessation of hostilities. Hours later, however, Saakashvili ordered his armed forces to undertake a full-scale assault on Ossetia...
080808 With time, we are finding out more and more about the events that led to the recent Russo-Georgian War in the Caucausus. Two very good recent accounts have been published...
Sarah Palin's Secret Past Revealed! Many have scoffed at Cindy McCain's defense of Alaska Governor (and GOP Veep candidate) Sarah Palin's foreign policy chops with the assertion that "Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia." Scoff not. The truth is so more startling still.
Marriage Customs A Modern Russian Wedding: The Art of Getting Married. A look at Russian wedding traditions, past and present.
Our Cartoonist on CNN! I just stumbled across this nice interview (July 07) of Victor Bogorad, who does the cartoons for our Survival Russian feature. Too bad the video is not archived online...
How to Fail at Business While Remaining Truly Russian Saw an entry from Stanislav Mishin's Mat Rodina Blog, when it was posted to Johnson's List. A superb and well-argued summary of several things Russian business people need to attent to if they want to do business with the West.
Found Email I get so much spam trash, that today I decided to harvest a line or two from each spam I got (well, the PG or less ones) and shuffle them together into a found poem. Trash into art? Not quite. But something...
Gas Tussle Sometimes it can be hard to get at the facts. And given that the western media went way down the wrong road on the recent Georgian crisis, one is inclined to be skeptical of coverage on the current Russia-Ukraine gas spat.
Independence Day In most countries, Independence Day conjures up images of grand celebration, fireworks, family get-togethers, parades and so on. These celebrations commemorate the declaration and establishment of sovereignty by a colony or nation occupied and governed by another nation. This is not exactly the case with Russia's Independence Day.
US News & World Report: Learn Russian! US News and World Report recommends: "Why not get ahead of the geopolitical curve and study Russian?"
Afghanistan: A Second Chance? Thirty years ago, in 1979, the Persian Gulf was a tinderbox. On January 16, following months of uprisings, the Shah of Iran was overthrown. One month later, it looked like Afghanistan’s turn. The Soviet-backed thugs running the country had imposed radical social reforms, sparking a civil war and threatening pro-Soviet rule...
Happy Birthday Nikosha Gogol! Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol is one of Russia's greatest and yet least appreciated writers. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, author of Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov and other classics, said that "we all came out of Gogol's Overcoat." What he meant is that Gogol was completely unlike any Russian writer who preceded him, and that all Russian literature that followed was indebted to him.
Must See Films, Must Read Fiction In our 100th issue, we have a long feature, "100 Things Everyone Should Know About Russia," with loads of factoids, notes, lists and essays. We figured our list of the "must read" fiction and "must see" movies would be a bit contentious (and certainly foreshortened). So we are posting the lists here for reader comment and supplementation...
Obama's Speech in Moscow President Obama gave a nice tribute to Russian culture in his speech to Moscow college students.
ICBM Launch Agreement Background information and text of the 1988 treaty between the U.S. and Soviet Union regarding ICBM and SLBM launches.
From Mikhail to Michael Four years ago, in August 2005, then Senator Barack Obama was detained for three hours at a Siberian airport. Obama, with Senator Dick Lugar, was on a US delegation touring nuclear warhead storage and disposal sites. Russian border guards insisted on searching the delegation's plane. The senators refused...
BAM Veteran Verbatim text of an online interview with Rashit Yahin. Mr. Yahin was born in 1936, was educated in Moscow as an engineer and worked from 1978 to 1990 on construction of BAM. From 1990 to 1994 he worked as head of the tourism department in the Severobaikalsk Railway Department of BAM. In December 1994, he suffered a stroke that paralyzed his right side. He now is largely confined to a wheelchair, but that has not stopped him working. He actively works to promote tourism to the Baikal region and arranges private and independent travel there (see end of article for contact info). The interview is presented in its entirely, without any redactions or corrections.
The Bogeyman When it comes to bogeymen, China, Cuba, even North Korea can't hold a candle to old Mother Russia. This week, as tempers flared and theatrical protests abounded around health care, a woman offered this irrational take on proposed reforms at a town hall meeting ...
Vermont Public Radio Interview Neil Charnoff of Vermont Public Radio just did a long interview with publisher Paul Richardson about Life Stories. You can listen to it here.
Freedom Fries I will forever associate the fall of the Berlin Wall with french fries. In 1989, my wife and I were living and working in Moscow. Our friend Bob was apartment-sitting in the American embassy complex; and on November 9 he invited us over for dinner...
Annual Holiday Gift Guide Our annual consideration of some great gift ideas for Russophiles. Now available online as well!
Translators Just Need to be Loved A response to another publisher's blog post about our comparative analysis of two competing translations of Ilf and Petrov's Zolotoy Telyonok...
A "very bouncy" translation of The Little Golden Calf The Louisville Courier-Journal has a nice feature this morning on Anne Fisher, the translator and driving force behind our new translation of The Little Golden Calf. It talks about how the book went in and out of favor with the Soviet regime, and how Anne was inspired to bring the work out in English because it had been so instrumental in forging her own understanding of all things Russian.
Putin and Medvedev as Na'Vi Avatar has become the largest grossing movie in Russian history. But, more interestingly, a spin-off photo morfing site (which seemed to be connected to McDonald's Finland) allowed visitors to turn pictures of famous people into the blue Na'Vi. A Russian newspaper tried it with Medvedev and Putin. Here are the tinted results. First Putin:
Keep Reading, Dima President Dmitry Medvedev says he likes the classics, but that,just recently he made a request for buying about 50 books authored by contemporary Russian writers over the past 5-7 years. "I have read some of them and I cannot say I have been excited," he said. "By and large I have to read all sorts of dull papers the presidents normally read. Draft documents, draft decrees, draft instructions, laws, reports...
Now THAT'S a Reset Button! Life is always stranger than fiction, or, in this case, it may have been imitating [bad] fiction. Or at least so it seems from the transcripts of the case against Anna Chapman.
Facts are Sticky Things A very nice blog posting by Anatoly Karlin on the facts versus the talking heads (including Obama advisor McFaul) when it comes to interpreting Russian politics and public opinion. The facts don't lie, right? Meanwhile, a film festival in San Francisco in August has a couple of nice documentaries on offer, one on growing up in Russia, another on
Notable New Film: The Concert A new movie opens July 30 starring Melanie Laurent and Alexei Guskov and it sounds like a fun summer diversion for Russophiles. We're waiting for our review copy to deliver a judgement, but here is a synopsis...
A Russian Under Every Bed Ok, I might be biased, given that at Russian Life we're focused 24/7 on things Russian. But lately it seems like Russians are popping up everywhere, even in the most unlikely of places.
The Kremlinologist Catechism There is a Catechism that dominates American discourse on Russia today. Just flip through The Washington Post’s editorials, peruse American political science journals or listen (cringe) to a Joe Biden interview. It goes something like this:
Fish Anyone? HOT OFF THE PRESSES! Our new novel, Fish: A History of One Migration, written by Peter Aleshkovsky and translated by Nina Shevchuk-Murray, has just arrived from the printer. They did a wonderful job and Fish will start shipping tomorrow morning.
Etcetera Russians are wearing less and will have to do with fewer mushrooms this year. President Medvedev is Russia's Internet President (while PM Putin apparently does not even have a cellphone)...
Thoroughbred Post-Horses Alexander Pushkin famously called translators "the post-horses of literature." Well, two thoroughbreds who have worked with us on Russian Life and Chtenia have just been awarded grants from the National Endowment of the Arts to bring some important works to English. First, Anne Fisher, translator of our book, The Little Golden Calf:
Flying Free... Too often the news we gather from the mainstream media about Russia is bad news, and the humor is rather acerbic and based on dark stereotypes. So it is refreshing when we receive a bit of unqualified good news, about average people doing the hard work it takes to keep a society, and our world, spinning on its axis.
Raise a Glass to Jerome This week I came across two excellent articles on the Art of Translation, one in the NY Times, the other in the National Post. The NY Times article, written by Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours, raises some fascinating ideas about how writing itself is an act of translation, from the writer's ideas and perception of what his perfect work might be...
Moscow, Winter of 1908 Now that winter has officially arrived, it is appropriate to send along this link to an AMAZING video of Moscow in 1908, over 100 years ago.
The Little Golden Calf Named Best Translation of 2010 We are EXCITED to announce that Anne O. Fisher's translation of Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov's classic novel, The Little Golden Calf, which we published in 2009, has received the 2010 AATSEEL Book Award for Best Translation into English.
Post WWII Years The Allied nations of WWII made for a tenuous union at best. The main thing that held Britain, the U.S. and the Soviet Union together was their common enemy, Hitler. Not long after the end of WWII, the Western allies parted company with the Soviet Union and its leader, Joseph Stalin.
Review: The Road & More This amazing collection of fiction and non-fiction by one of the 20th century's most talented and most overlooked writers re-demonstrates that Grossman was a meticulous documentarian of the Russian soul.
Review: The Trinity Six I love a good thriller, and so was excited to get this review copy in the mail last month. The premise is interesting, the characters mainly believable, and the well-layered plot drives you along, just not as intensely as I would have liked.
On PBS next week: Desert of Forbidden Art Igor Savitsky single-handedly saved over 40,000 works of avant-garde Soviet art by hiding them in plain sight. Well, in plain sight in a completely out of the way museum in Nukus, Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan).
On PBS this Month: The Great Famine Today, Herbert Hoover – the 31st president of the United States (1929-1933) – is probably most associated with the onset and deepening of the Great Depression. Few know that prior to his presidency he was a successful international mining engineer (and had some lucrative investments in Russia before the Revolution), and later headed up the ARA (American Relief Administration), designed to deliver needed foreign aid to Belgium in the aftermath of World War I.
Coming Russian Events For a Russophile, it can be frustrating to find out about an interesting event related to Russia after it has just happened. On the flip side, it can also be rather difficult to find out about new events far enough in advance before they happen, especially events in your area, so that one can attend.
Dima, Volodya and Alice What exactly is a Russian liberal? Has this species ever been seen in the wild (by which I mean the Kremlin)? In her spot-on analysis of Russia's ruling tandem in today's Washington Post, Liliya Shevtsova highlights this question brilliantly...
Summer Chtenia: Sneak peek at Voloshin The summer issue of Chtenia is about to go to print, and, yet again, it has shaped up into an eclectic and yet harmonious collection of excellent writing. One of the poets we're including in this issue is Maximilian Voloshin, the free spirit extraordinaire, a painter and a mythologue.
Russian Authors at Book Expo America Listen to the Book Expo America podcast episode with 4 Russian writers who were finalists for the Debut Prize, the prestigious independent literary award for authors under the age of 25 writing in Russian. I am very pleased to point out that Iryna Bogatyreva, one of the writers featured on this panel, is represented in the
Chtenia 15 and Summer Movies In her introduction to the next issue of Chtenia (coming in July to a mailbox near you!), Tamara Edelman writes several Russian films set in summer, including a Mosfilm classic I Step through Moscow. "Summer," she writes, "is a time for growing up, a time for educating the senses, for better understanding one's self. It is a time for transformation."
Review: Three World War Two Histories It is the great, cruel paradox of World War II in Russia that heinous, unanswered crimes coexisted with truly heroic, astonishing human achievement. That – be it out of fear or love of the Motherland or self-defense – Soviets fought so bravely to defend a system that treated them like cattle, confiscating from them the land, the bread and the peace that the Revolution had allegedly been all about, shipping them and their relatives off to Siberian labor camps, sentencing soldiers unfortunate enough to have been captured in war into “penal battalions.”
Review: New Fiction for Russophiles It should come as no surprise,” writes Vyacheslav Pyetsukh at the beginning of The New Moscow Philosophy, “that where literature goes life follows, that Russians not only write what they live but in part live what they write…”
Antiquities from Ukraine Starting October 1 and running through February 19 of next year, The Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis will be hosting an exhibit devoted to gold and ceramic relics dating from the Neolithic age to the Byzantine era, and unearthed in present-day Ukraine.
Contest Anyone? To celebrate our 55th anniversary, we're holding a subscription contest. Appropriately, there will be 55 prizes, which means some pretty good odds of winning for everyone.
What Would Steve Do? How to explain the feeling of sadness and loss that overcame me, as it did many others at hearing the new of Steve Job's death? I think it is simply that we have lost a visionary, a modern prophet, someone who changed the way we see the world. And when the world loses someone like that, especially when they are so young, it feels like the world has lost a bit of its future...
Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky and a Few Spies Reviews of some recent books on Tolstoy, Spying and the end of the USSR. And a new translation of an often overlooked work by Dostoyevsky. As published in the November/December 2011 issue of Russian Life.
Contest Winners Announced The results are in for our 55th Anniversary Subscriber Contest. One in 14 entries were winners, and over $1200 in prizes are mailing out to lucky subscribers this week!
Chtenia 17 preview The next issue of Chtenia, #17, is being laid out this weekend, and as always, there's a deep satisfaction in seeing the whole team's work come to fruition. The theme of the issue is Sport, which at the moment strikes me as a great counterpoint to the winter season, when holidays and cold weather compromise one's fitness routine with such gleeful impunity.
Moscow Spring? Quite often, Russian reality is best illuminated with a joke. A couple of journalists are quizzing a candidate: “Why do you want to get elected?” “Just look what is going on in the corridors of power: officials are awash in debauchery, theft, corruption!”
At the Demonstration "The crowds gathered from three different directions. Every route to the square was controlled by police and troops. I had never seen such numbers of armed forces before; it was like a movie about civil war." Victor is a 21-year-old student in Moscow. In this guest post, he gives us a participant's account of the December 10 demonstration.
6 Things Russian Babushkas Disapprove Of What comes to mind when you think of a Russian national icon? Vodka, matryoshkas, bears? Fyodor Dostoyevsky? Alla Pugacheva? Cheburashka? Surprisingly few people, including Russians themselves, mention babushkas, the omnipresent grandmothers in head scarves. Yet their influence is huge. Red Square huge. Katyusha rocket huge. So it pays to know how to please them...
Lyubov Orlova Lyubov Petrova Orlova was born January 29, 1902 and became the first Soviet movie star and sex symbol. She was also Stalin’s favorite film actress and a highly gifted singer. This is an extended biography of the artist (an abridged version ran in the JanFeb 2012 issue of Russian Life).
1972 ABM Treaty English text of the 1972 Antilballistic Missile Treaty between the U.S. and Soviet Union.
Interview with Author William Ryan William Ryan’s second book featuring MVD Detective Alexei Korolev, The Darkening Field, was released on January 3, 2012. Russian Life Publisher Paul E. Richardson interviewed Ryan about the genesis for his character and the challenges of situating a novel in Soviet Russia.
Election Journal: Moscow's White Ring The first installment in History Editor Tamara Eidelman's Election Journal, which she is writing for us in the buildup to the March 4 presidential election.
Putin's Counterattack It seems like those in power are starting to get very worried, and therefore have gone over onto the counterattack. All across the country, they are herding people to pro-Putin rallies, handing out stenciled posters, then declaring what huge support he has.
Bliny In honor of Maslenitsa, we offer this great story/essay by Chekhov on bliny: "Did you know that bliny have been around for over a thousand years, since what is known as the old Slavonic ab ovo...? They appeared on earth before Russian history began and have lived through it all from the beginning to the last page, without any doubt, invented, like the samovar, by Russian minds...."
Poor Chulpan Putin is doing everything in his power to guarantee his victory in the first round. Everyone everywhere is mumbling “stability, stability, this is what Putin has given us.”
Becoming Observers I have slept very little the past two weeks, and I have done very little to prepare for my classes. My students have tired of asking when I will correct their papers, and piles of their notebooks are gradually filling up my room. There is nothing to eat in the house; I have no had any time to get to the store. I am completely overcome by my work in “Citizen Observer"...
Alexander Ivanovich Herzen The Russian writer Alexander Ivanovich Herzen was born in Moscow on March 25, 1812 (April 6, New Style). Thanks to a famous phrase from Lenin’s “In Memory of Herzen” – “The Decembrists awakened Herzen. Herzen began the task of revolutionary agitation.” – everyone who grew up in the Soviet Union knew Herzen’s name, whether or not they had ever read a line of his work.
The White Ring Last Sunday morning I was ashamed of my children. We had sort of planned that we would all go together to take part in the Garden Ring demonstration, but one-by-one they deserted me...
Tsoy Lives! There is not a single other figure in Russian rock – living or dead – who has attained the same sort of cult status as Victor Tsoy, who would have been 50 on June 21. And while Tsoy’s biography is well-known, it hardly explains how it is that the person and legacy of Victor Tsoy continues to this day to play such an important role in Russian culture - even in Russian mass culture.
Publishing... Flipped! It is conventional wisdom that old-fashioned, ink and pulp publishing is in its death throes. But what if there were a way to "flip" the publishing model in a manner that preserves what is good, adopts what is new and useful, and filters out what is harmful and useless? I think we have found a way...
The New Dissidents The three women - Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich & Nadezhda Tolokonnikova - on trial in Russia for "hooliganism" for their punk rock performance in Savior's Cathedral, made long closing statements last week. While people can debate the women's tactics, it is excruciatingly difficult after reading their statements to doubt that the women are serious, thoughtful and extremely articulate critics of authoritarianism in Russia. #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Aristocrats, Churches and Noir Reviews of five interesting new books for Russophiles: Former People, Nevsky, St. Petersburg Noir, Wooden Churches and Russian Film Posters. #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Romney = Russian for "Cold Warrior" By launching the flabby Cold War trope that Russia is our "geopolitical adversary," Mitt Romney has exhibited yet another symptom of foot-in-mouth disease on foreign policy... #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Moscow's Last Great Fire Moscow's last Great Fire was 200 years ago, on September 14, 1812, in the wake of the Russian army's abandonment of Moscow. Debate continues to rage if the fire was accidental or set intentionally by retreating troops. And a misunderstanding of the scope of the fire's destruction hampers preservation efforts to this day. #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Vodka: The Miracle Drug? Culled from vodkaphiles.com: a listing of 20 things you can do with vodka you may have never considered (and may or may not want to try).
The Nature of Dissent How should we understand current political dissent in Russia? Russian Life publisher Paul Richardson met with long-time Soviet/Russian political dissident Alexander Skobov to get his views on what is going on in Russia and where things are headed.
It Takes Guts A recent letter that the editors of Russian Life received from one of its respected readers was directed at Mikhail Ivanov and one of his “Survival Russian” columns. We felt it deserved a longer response than space in the magazine allowed.
Omens, Blacklists and Vampires, Oh My! While the U.S. was being battered by Superstorm Sandy and the Election of Nattering Negativity this week, a steady stream of odd stories out of Russia caught my eye. Worried they might otherwise get overlooked, I decided to corral them here.
Anna Karenina Every Day Lev Tolstoy's Anna Karenina has been called the greatest novel of all time. But can one really appreciate it as much in English translation versus the Russian original?
Anna Karenina The First Time In this, the second of two posts on Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, the author recounts his discovery of the greatest novel of all time: "I had never lived a book as I lived Anna Karenina."
Plagiarism, Perevody and Propaganda Two stories out of Russia this weekend reinforced the stereotype that Russian entities (a) don't respect copyrights, yet (b) do value propaganda.
Anna Karenina: The Puppet Version The movie is almost too silly to discuss, as if Saturday Night Live decided to do a parody, but nobody but the costume-director and scene-making crew were ready. A puppet resembling Keira Knightley plays Anna; although thin, even scrawny, the animators make her look almost human.
Masha Tattered Rags One hundred and fifty years ago, Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin offered a humorous critique of the state of Russian literature in the 1860s. He also wrote some parody "dreadful stories," one of which is translated and reproduced here.
1983: The Scariest Year Ambassador Jack Matlock had a front row seat for the final days of the US-Soviet Cold War and the collapse of the USSR. While working on his article, 1983: The Scariest Year (Mar/Apr 2013), Russian Life Publisher Paul Richardson conducted an email interview with Matlock, which is produced here in its entirety.
Russia to Purchase Cyprus In a move that has taken even seasoned Kremlin watchers by surprise, Russia today agreed to purchase Cyprus in a bold stroke to save the troubled archipelagic country and the Eurozone.
Snail's Pace Has your postmaster chased you down the street with a broom lately? Clearly you don't live in Russia... The Russian Post continues to stoke the fury of millions. But Russian videographers are striking back, documenting abuses by RP workers.
Spies Like Us The Americans, on FX, is a brilliant episodic drama that recreates the 1980s with only minimal anachronisms but plenty of tension, plot twists, double-dealing and moral relativism.
Dina from Parallel Russia In my capacity as a journalist, I usually tell unhappy stories about people’s lives that are almost inevitably destroyed by the government. Happy endings and happy people, on the contrary, are usually discovered by chance. The story I am about to tell you was brought to me by just one such chance.
Fiction Contest: Summer 2013 We're holding a fiction contest, asking for short stories based on the intriguing cover of our July/August issue. Click thru for full contest rules and instructions.
Vodka, Snowden and Boycotts Say what you will about the various gay bars in North America that are boycotting Stolichnaya vodka and (horror of horrors), pouring it into the gutter. But the fact is, as reported elsewhere, they didn't do their research. These days, Stolichnaya vodka is about as Russian as Edward Snowden...
Watch out for that bear! Today I stumbled across an interesting article online. At first I thought it should be filed in the "someone is trying to stir the Cold War pot again" but then I read on...
Useful Resources for Tourists Visiting Russia A compendium of 13 useful websites for persons interested in traveling to Russia, covering everything from the latest visa information to cruises, to what not to do when in Russia (etiquette).
Reset, Shmeeset It would be an understatement to say US-Russian relations have hit a low point. Not a Cuban Missile Crisis or even a 1980 Olympic Boycott sort of low point. More like a US bombing of Belgrade or Russian sleeper spies discovered in America sort of low point.
9 Ways to Brush up Your Russian It's back to school time! Has your college Russian gotten a bit rusty? Looking for some fun, useful, but most important effective ways to brush up on your Russian? The internet is here to help!
Russian Political Prisoners Ignored by Everyone Sergey Udaltsov, a leftist protest leader currently under house arrest pending investigation of his alleged planning of the May 6, 2012 Bolotnaya Square riots exemplifies the popular saying: “out of sight, out of mind.” Yet he is not alone in his plight...
The Politics of Moscow's Migrant Crime Statistics In addition to highlighting local issues, Moscow's mayoral race has generated lively discussions of various national topics. Front and center among these is Russia's immigration and migrant worker policy.
Why Did Soviet Houses All Look the Same? Ever wonder why Soviet houses looked so drab, colorless, and interchangeable? It all started with Nikita Khrushchev's battle against architectural excess, and continues to plague Russia to this day.
Patriotism: A USSR Story Being patriotic in the Soviet Union was a duty, a challenge, and a potential pitfall, all rolled into one. The story of one Soviet singer, Joseph Kobzon, shows how one cultural idol walked that dangerous line.
Why is This Cab Glowing? After a deadly tsunami hit Japan in 2011, followed by the nuclear tragedy in Fukushima, the port of Vladivostok received a number of radioactive cars. Two years later, radioactive car parts are still arriving in Russia. Outrageously, Russian customs authorities have had to detain and send back to Japan over 930 radioactive cars since 2011.
The Dangers of Cold War Air Travel Remember the days when a superpower could shoot down a plane full of civilians just for wandering into its airspace? We called those days the Cold War – and the plane was KAL Flight 007, shot down by a Soviet fighter pilot on September 1st, 1983.
Checking in with Russian Bloggers What has the Russian side of the internet been up to lately? Enjoying nature, getting a new angle on familiar things, and going at everything with a healthy sense of humor.
Trending on RuNet: Teleportation Russian cats, Russian dash cams, Russian flashmobs... get ready for the next big thing on RuNet: teleportation videos.
Bukharin: Rise and Fall Nikolai Bukharin, the Moscow revolutionary, was on the rise throughout the early twentieth century – but as we all know, what goes up must come down. Turns out you come down especially fast if you meet Stalin at the top.
Happy Translation Day In honor of International Translation Day (September 30), we demonstrate rather graphically the value of having a good, human translator.
The Middle East Crisis and Our New Novel This editorial, by author (of The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas) Dmitry Chen, appeared last month on Bloomberg.com, and considers how the current crisis in Syria has its roots 13 centuries ago.
Who “Discovered” Sakhalin? You think planting a flag on a piece of land makes you own it? Think again! With Sakhalin, it was just one step in the long back-and-forth between Russia and Japan.
Spelling Reform: Who Gets the Credit? Soviet sources praise the Bolsheviks for simplifying Russian spelling in 1918. Who was the real author of the spelling reform, and what was the Bolsheviks' actual role in making it work?
RuNet: The Silly and the Serious Scenery, stereotypes, satire, and politics – all in a day's work for RuNet! Join us to learn about Russians arrested for riding bears, all manner of vodka infractions, and a tiny bit of election talk.
Reds, Whites, Greens, and... Blacks? The Russian Civil War was a messy affair, as civil wars so often are. Think you can identify all the colors? (Hint: Black is the color of anarchism.)
Halloween Week: Get your Putin (and Brezhnev and Lenin) Masks here! We're all about public service. We just want to help you get through Halloween... You decide if the mask is scary or distinguished, awful or awesome.
Dmitry Pozharsky: Russian Hero It's 1612. There's no tsar on the throne and the Poles have entered Moscow. Some may have despaired – but one man took the opportunity to save the country and earn his place in history books.
It's Nutcracker Season! It's that time of year again: dancing toys, mice, and candy, waltzing flowers, presents coming to life... But was this time of year always so closely tied to the Nutcracker?
Perks and Perils of Being the Tsar's Favorite How do you get from pie-seller to tsar’s favorite? Mostly by being a brilliant strategist – but having a tsar willing to turn a blind eye to your corruption helps, too.
RuNet Tackles History What does the rating of RuNet’s most popular blogs have to do with history textbooks? Join us on an excursion into conspiracy theories, falsified history, and government ideology – RuNet’s standard fare!
Boris Grebenshikov, a Founding Father of Soviet Rock When the music you sing is banned, when the entire genre is identified with the enemy, how do you find the courage to keep singing? Just ask Boris Grebenshikov!
Constructing a Constitution Happy birthday, Russian Constitution! Let's take a quick look at where you came from: the political struggles, reform efforts, and occasional street fighting of a newborn country.
9 Crazy Things Russian Lawmakers Have Tried to Ban Some Russian legislators have an unwavering faith in the ability of laws to rid society of all its evils. Noise? Bad news? The stench of garlic? The end of the world? No problem - just ban 'em all!
Happy New Year! The New Year is Russia’s biggest holiday. But where does it come from – and why does it look so suspiciously like Western Christmas?
U.S.-Soviet Grain Trade: 5 Stages of Grief As the United States struggled with the trauma of seeing a fellow state succumb to Communism, a pattern of familiar stages started to emerge in - of all places - its agricultural exports.
The Many Homelands of Sergei Parajanov Start with an Armenian base, drop in some Tbilisi, some Moscow, some Kiev, stir in amazing cinematography and strong political convictions, season with a Siberian labor camp – and voila! You're getting close to the legendary filmmaker Sergei Parajanov.
Why Don't Russians Smile? It is a common trope that Russians never smile. Which of course is interpreted to mean they are unfriendly, gloomy, sullen – positively Dostoyevskian. This, of course, is a complete misreading of body language and cultural norms.
The One and Only Chapayev When battling the White Army in 1919, Vasily Ivanovich Chapayev had no idea he would one day become the hero of one of Soviet film's greatest works.
9 Myths About Travel to Russia Is Russia a dangerous, expensive, complicated place to travel to? Is it full of mafia, alcoholics, communists and poverty? Sounds like it's time to debunk some myths about travel to modern Russia.
7 Myths About Russian Cuisine There are many myths surrounding Russian food. Darra Goldstein, author of the cookbook, A Taste of Russia, addresses seven common ones.
7 Things We're Loving About the Sochi Olympics It’s now just 7 days until the start of the Sochi Olympics and here at Russian Life we are getting pretty excited. Sure, it’s our thing to get excited about all things Russian. But it’s more than that. Here are 7 reasons we’re particularly amped.
7 Russian Dishes for Olympic Viewing OK, so you are recovering from the Super Bowl and starting to look ahead to next weekend’s opening of the Sochi games. Which of course means a viewing party, which means food, which means Russian food!
Our Sports Editor Arrives in Sochi Sometimes the life of a sports editor is trying: back of the bus treatment, spotty food, rough accommodations. But Sochi, as Russian Life sports editor Mikhail Ivanov reports, is a breath of fresh air for this seasoned sports reporter.
A Baker's Dozen of Invaluable Translation (and Language Learning) Resources Whether you are a budding translator of Russian-English texts, are reading Russian literature in the original, or just want to improve your Russian, there are countless resources waiting for you on the internet. Here's our list of the best...
1980 Olympics: Songs and Cartoons With the Winter Olympics set to kick off in Sochi tomorrow, we take a look back at the rich cultural legacy of the last Games Russia hosted.
What the Bleep is Going on in Sochi? Why is it that the Twitter hashtag #sochiproblems has more followers than the Twitter feed for the games? How is it that all we hear from the Western press is negativism, while from the athletes and local observers there are only raves for the fantastic facilities? Why do pictures of double toilets and unfinished hotels continue to flood the inter-tubes? And what idiot gave the order to kill puppies in Sochi?
Take Plenty of Vitamin D to Sochi So you, dear readers, think that the Olympics is all about sports? Nay! It is of course all about the souvenirs! And about how a miserly correspondent is supposed to buy them in sufficient quantity for the many friends and family left behind on the "mainland" while he is "roughing it" in Sochi...
Because Curling is Not Funny Enough! #SochiFunny Life without humor is dull. And that is even true when it comes to sports. Here at the Olympics, one cannot be exclusively focused on “ochki, goly, sekundy” (points, goals,seconds). So, time to look at the lighter side of things in Sochi.
Parlez Sochi? Russian Life Sports Editor Mikhail Ivanov was interviewed by Radio Canada (in French) in the aftermath of the US-Russia hockey match on February 15. Listen to the audio here.
The Puck Stops Here There is nothing like a good old Russian ochered (line) to get close to the narod (people) and get some inside info. Standing in line, Russians tend to show solidarity, to open up and loosen their tongues. The perfect environment for a journalist...
Russian Genealogy A comprehensive listing of resources, online and off, for researching your Russian roots, courtesy of Ginny Audet.
No More Olympics… What Now? The Sochi Olympic Games are now officially over. Suffering withdrawals? Here are five ideas for how to fill up all your viewing time.
Kremlin Words Versus Deeds, A Gaping Chasm? Russia's occupation of Crimea, part of the sovereign nation of Ukraine, is wrong. It is wrong under international law, it is in violation of several treaties Russia has with Ukraine and the West, and it is even wrong according to Russia's own foreign policy "principles." So why did it happen?
7 Ways Not to Protest the Occupation of Crimea Russia’s occupation cum annexation of Crimea is a tragedy no matter how you slice the salami tactics. One just wants to protest, boycott, DO something. But what? Well, like President Obama and the EU, we’re coming up a bit short on the list of feasible and effective sanctions. But here are a few things we recommend NOT doing.
In Defense Our definition of a Russophile is not someone who blindly embraces all things Russian as superior, but someone who is innately fascinated by Russia because it is different, because it is interesting, because it is important.
The Solution to Crimea Lies Through Finland You have to hand it to History. She has a very well developed sense of irony. Exactly 160 years ago today the Crimean War began... While it is useful for the current crisis over Crimea and Ukraine to understand history, solving the crisis is more likely through analogy.
Subbotniks: Soviet "Days of Service" Once, a group of factory workers decided to work without pay for the war effort. Somehow their voluntary sacrifice became the entire Soviet Union's mandatory labor - all "for the greater good."
Nabokov: What to Read Today is Vladimir Nabokov's birthday, so we asked Russian Life contributor and Nabokov expert Diana Bruk where to start when reading the master. She offers with five annotated recommendations.
Peace, Land, Bread Peace! Land! Bread! This was the battle cry of the 1917 October Revolution (old calendar) that changed the history of Russia and indeed the entire world. Since the time of Ivan the Terrible, the tsars concentrated on centralization of their power and control. The most common way of doing this was to take power away from the nobility, appeasing them by giving them dominion over their land and workers. This soon developed into the oppressive, slave-style condition known as serfdom.
This Just in From Ukraine... Today is the 401st anniversary of the crowning of the first Romanov Tsar, Mikhail, in 1613, and the end of the "Time of Troubles." This of course has nothing to do with current events. Just thought I'd mention it in passing.
Measuring Like a Russian Ever wonder how many arshins tall you are? Or how many verst to the nearest grocery store? Get a sense from this list of old Slavic measurements.
Yuri Vizbor: Soviet Renaissance Man Think you know Yuri Vizbor? Think again! Sure, you may have heard his songs, but did you know he was also a teacher? An alpinist? A journalist? A radio operator?
Russia's World Cup Record Russia is not known as a soccer powerhouse. But it does have a devoted fan base and will host the 2018 World Cup. We look back at 1994, the first time Russia qualified for the World Cup and a Russian player made history.
The Great Moscow Fire June 21, 1547 is remembered as the day of the Great Moscow Fire. The wooden city was devastated, and the destruction was later taken as an omen portending the horrors of Ivan IV's reign.
Isaac Babel and Russian Jews Ever wonder why so many Russian Jews ended up in the US? Perhaps it was the educational quotas, or the restrictions on travel and residence, or maybe the rampant anti-Semitism and violence – and all the other miseries chronicled by Jewish writer Isaac Babel.
Stranger on a Train Sample Alexei Bayer's myster novel Murder at the Dacha with this gripping incident on board a Moscow commuter train.
The First Russian Automobile July 14, 1896, is celebrated as the birthday of the Russian automobile – on this day, the first Russian-built motorcar with an internal combustion engine was introduced to the public at the Arts Exhibition in Nizhni Novgorod.
Parley with a Gangster A second sample from Alexei Bayer's mystery novel Murder at the Dacha. Here, inspector Pavel Matushkin redeems a favor to get some information from a gangster.
Tsarevich Alexei and the Worst 10th Birthday Ever Late July and early August were busy times in 1914: not only was Russia's own heir apparent celebrating his 10th birthday, the world was devolving into the military chaos of World War I.
Enhanced Interrogation, Soviet Style A third excerpt from Alexei Bayer's mystery novel Murder at the Dacha. Inspector Matushkin visits a suburban police station and witnesses some "enhanced interrogation techniques" gone wrong.
The Many Days of September 1 Did you know September 1 is more than just Labor Day? Read on to find out how Russians celebrate September 1, the Day of Knowledge, the first day of school.
For Better or Worse What with downed passenger airlines, war in Ukraine, trade embargos and rapidly worsening US-Russian relations, why in the world is there a picture of a giraffe on the cover of Russian Life magazine?
A Soviet Leader in the US? Preposterous! When you're a Soviet dictator, it's rare that you get the chance to tour the US, visiting movie sets, meat freezers, and steel mills, being featured on TV, and laughing at angry farmers. Nikita Khrushchev got that chance 55 years ago. And he made the most of it.
Returning to Putorana We asked Ivan Kobilyakov, whose story on filming wild wolves in Putorana appeared in the Sep/Oct 2014 issue of Russian Life, to give us an update on the project and how filming has gone this summer. He also supplied new photos.
Cookbook Contest So, one thing about publishing is that not all the books come out perfect. So, rather than toss a few "seconds" in the recycle bin, we decided to hold a contest. Winners got free, slightly irregular books. We had fun reading the responses.
Pasternak: A Great Translator Reflects on Translation In honor of the International Day of the Translator, a few words from Boris Pasternak, the Russian voice of Shakespeare, on translating and the power of English.
Russian Exceptionalism According to Boris Dubin A social state, a sense of community and shared decision making, an oddly distant government, home-grown values, and being split between Europe and Asia – according to Russians, this is what makes Russia special. But Boris Dubin's findings show that what really makes Russia special is Russia's ability to pretend no one else exists.
Idols and Anniversaries Twenty-five years ago, when the Berlin Wall came tumbling down, it was a time of hope and relief. Since the 1940s we had held our breath, limping from crisis to crisis, hoping that Dr. Strangelove was not hiding in a dark corner, waiting to make his play.
Unity Day: Whose Unity? November 4 is now the Day of People's Unity in Russia. But what unity? What people? A look at the holiday's history brings up more questions and confusion than it does answers – but Russians don't let that spoil their long weekend.
Grandfather Frost: More than Just Santa Claus Don't be fooled: the old man with a white beard and red coat is not Santa Claus. It's Grandfather Frost! Learn how to tell the two apart with this handy list.
The Mystery of the Kirov Assassination The assassination of Sergei Kirov on December 1, 1934, set off one of the bloodiest periods in Russian history. Was it a conspiracy involving the highest ranks of leadership? Or was it all planned and carried out by one "lone gunman"? We may never know.
The Winter War: More than a Prelude The Soviet war with Finland in 1939-1940 tends to get overshadowed by its notable neighbor, World War II. But in fact, the Winter War was a disaster all its own.
Ruble Rabble: The Kremlin's Grand Strategy World oil prices are plummeting, the ruble is in free fall, the Russian economy is on the brink of a recession, inflation is climbing, and the Russian Central Bank’s benchmark interest rate has jumped to 17 percent. Meanwhile, President Putin still has popularity ratings in the 80 percent range and there is, seemingly, no panic in the streets of Moscow. What is going on? What is Putin’s game?
Yolka As a special gift, we share a somewhat untypical holiday story, reprinted from the pages of Chtenia, by the master humorist and short story writer Mikhail Zoshchenko.
Our First Cold War When the Editors at Russian Life asked me to write about how my friends and I (“the younger generation”) view the current state of Russian-American relations, given the events of 2014, I honestly had to pause and think about it.
Ivan the Terrible, Tsar of All Russias Tsar Ivan IV had a bit of a temper. When you look at his record of dramatic self-exile, tyrannical persecution, domestic abuse, and abrupt changes of heart, you realize that the current meaning of "Terrible" fits him quite well.
Trotsky on Trotskyites How can you be accused of wanting to restore the bourgeoisie when all you've said is that the current policy isn't anti-bourgeoisie enough? Leon Trotsky responds to the nonsense dominating Soviet courtrooms in the 1930's.
An Amazing Ride! We have just finished our 45-day Kickstarter project for the book Red Star Tales, and we are speechless. Almost.
Who's Out to Get Russia? As oil prices drop, the Russian economy finds itself facing an ever bleaker future. Is someone targeting Russia? Russian bloggers weigh in.
The Sino-Soviet Love-Hate Relationship On Valentine's Day 65 years ago, the USSR and China signed their Treaty of Friendship. But their budding romance was not to last: just six years later the relationship went south, and nothing has been as rosy since.
Decoding Leviathan Leviathan is not, as virtually every mainstream critic has presumed, “anti-Russian.” I watched the movie resolutely prepared to intensely dislike it. I fully believed it would shamelessly pander to an American public eager to see a film that demonized Putin and made the country seem like a hellish landscape of unsalvageable bleakness. But that was not at all the case.
Boris Nemtsov On Friday night, just steps from St. Basil's Cathedral, one of the bravest and most vocal opponents of the Kremlin was gunned down by unknown assailants. How are Russians reacting?
Dizzy with "Success": The Horrors of Collectivization Collectivization in the Soviet Union was a time of hunger, suffering, and massive death tolls – even as the papers proclaimed phenomenal success. One former peasant's memoirs give us a window on that terrible time.
Celebrating Women on Women's Day International Womens' Day; Russia honors the role of all women in Russian culture.
Smoktunovsky: Portrait of an Actor A generation of Soviets grew up seeing the face of actor Innokenty Smoktunovsky in his varied roles, both on screen and on stage. But what was his actual life like? In this snippet, he gives a taste of the trials he underwent as a soldier fighting the Nazis.
How Well Do You Know Russian Fairy Tale Characters? Sure, everyone knows the name Baba Yaga. But do you know where she lives? Do you know Koschey the Immortal, or Zmey Gorynych? How well do you know the spirits of the forest? Read up on these key characters of Russian fairy tales!
The Most Useful Russian Inventions What do radio, television, the periodic table, and helicopters have in common? Russians were involved in developing all of them – and more!
The Controversial Composer The personal and professional have become increasingly intertwined in considerations of the life and work of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Music historian Richard Taruskin shows that this is nothing new – it all began shortly after the master composer's death.
70 Years After Victory, the Battle for Stalingrad Rages On The Battle for Stalingrad turned the tide of WWII in the Allies’ favor. Marked by the loss of nearly 2 million lives, it is one of the most devastating battles of human history. Yet it also continues to be embroiled in controversy, given the complex relationship Russians have toward Josef Stalin.
Faberge Documentary is a Jewel It is nice to come across a documentary about Russia that is not all Sturm and Drang, Stalin and Purges, mafia and Putin. The story of Peter Carl Fabergé and the jewelry empire he built is a truly remarkable story, and it is the focus of this new documentary from Arts Alliance.
What a Difference a Decade Makes We will send two photojournalists – one American, one Russian – on a month-long road trip down “The Spine of Russia,” to gather the story of modern Russia, to talk to Russians about what they think about America and Americans...
War and Peace: 7 Fun Facts How many characters are in Tolstoy's War and Peace? Could it have been any shorter? Did Tolstoy himself love it or hate it? Find out the answers to these – and more! – questions in this quick list of little-known War and Peace facts.
Join Us. Get a Book. Why can’t we get along with Russia long term, nor can Russia seem to long enjoy our company? Our Spine of Russia project aims to find out.
I'm Vysotsky: The Legend of Russian Songwriting Everyone in the Soviet Union knew his songs, despite constant censorship and troubles with the Soviet regime. To this day, any Russian will recognize his raspy singing voice and silly falsetto. But what was the great Vladimir Vysotsky like in person?
Caught in the Crossfire: The Annexation of Estonia After just 22 years of independence, in 1940 Estonia was overrun by Soviet troops. The Estonian Socialist Republic was set up in the wake of th Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, in violation of nearly all existing legislation. And Stalinism's evils had the Estonians, just a year later, greeting German invaders with open arms. But trading one totalitarian dictator for another didn't solve the problem.
Why Stalin Called Andrei Platonov "Scum" – with 8 Quirky Quotes Andrei Platonov spawned many an incongruous image and incomprehensible sentence. Compared by some scholars to James Joyce, he was critiqued by Stalin himself, yet he avoided prosecution. We dig into his challenging literary style.
Did Stakhanov Act Alone? Alexei Stakhanov mined 102 tons of coal in under 6 hours, sparking the Stakhanovite movement. But did he really do it all by himself, by his own initiative? The son of a miner from Blagoveshchensk recalls evidence of unnamed assistants and fishy bureaucratic orders.
City Under Siege The Siege of Leningrad started 74 years ago, September 8, 1941. Over 70 years after the defeat of the Axis powers, we look back at the deadliest siege in human history.
Translator's Note: Bulat Okudzhava It's one thing to become famous as a writer or poet in your own country. But what does it take to earn yourself a spot in world literature? By describing the promise of Soviet poet, songwriter, and classic Bulat Okudzhava, translators offer us some insight.
The Other Russian Revolution What do you know about the Russian Revolution of 1905? Are you surprised to hear that there was one in 1905, not just in 1917? Then this article is for you!
Venedikt Erofeev's Art of Alcoholism (and how to say nyet) Vodka gets its fair share of PR as far as Russia is concerned. But is it always for the right reasons? October 24 marks the birth of Venedikt Erofeev, at least as well known for his drinking and vagrancy as for his writing.
Stars and Purges Eighty years ago, the Kremlin towers acquired their first stars, gleaming with gold and diamonds. But meticulously collected records show that on those same days, people were being arrested and sentenced across the country. On this Day of Memory for Victims of Political Repression, we recall a few of their names.
Ten Years of Napoleon In 1805 Napoleon was crushing the Russian army. In 1815 victorious Russian troops were stationed in the French capital under the just-signed treaty of Paris. And in between there was a peace treaty and yet another war. How did they have time for all of that?
Poetry, The Russian Riddle, and What Both Have to Do with International Politics What can we learn about Russia, now and throughout history, from its poetry? This month we try to find out, with help from The Penguin Book of Russian Poetry, to be released later this month, as reviewed in the Nov/Dec issue of Russian Life.
The Course of Revolution Is Not Smooth With the temporary triumph of Russian workers in the 1905 revolution, every opposition party expects a piece of the pie. But not if it's the anarchist party! Just ten years after his own politically-motivated arrest and exile, Vladimir Lenin wrote a scathing critique of the anarchists' attempt to join the revolution and work toward a better society.
A Survey of Russian Humor (and it rhymes!) There's plenty of talk about how Russia is dark and dismal, its writers pathologically depressed, and the general mood among the populace about as cheery as a Siberian winter. These stereotypes give short shrift to Russian humor...
5 Reasons Silver is as Precious Poetically as Metallically As a metal, Silver means second place; as a period of poetic production in Russia, the Silver Age is unparalleled. The years 1890-1925 (give or take) stand out for the explosion of poetic voices, forms, and innovations. With help from the recently published Russian Silver Age Poetry, we explore what sets that period apart.
How to Celebrate the New Year Are you sure you know how to appease the Fire Monkey and get your New Year off to a good start? We have tips! Learn how to decorate your house, what food to serve, and what to wear to ensure good luck in 2016.
More Dangerous Than Gunpowder Under Stalin, a poem could mean life or death. For many poets, it was a one-way ticket to the Gulag. Today, poems can be a means to face cultural memories of arrests in the night, forced labor, and the silence demanded of people fearing those fates.
13 Crazes Proving Putinmania Is Here to Stay Join with us in a celebration of 13 inspired displays of Putinalia (not as nasty as it sounds) that Russia has gifted to the world.
Russian Life Book Receives National Award The classic work of Russian journalism, Moscow and Muscovites, by journalist Vladimir Gilyarovsky (translated by Brendan Kiernan), received the prestigious 2015 AATSEEL Award for Best Scholarly Translation into English.
War, Peace and Cable On Monday, January 18, a new BBC six-part miniseries of Lev Tolstoy's War and Peace comes to American television. Here's your crib sheet.
Krasnoyarsk Krai Elena Chernyshova, 34, lives in Norilsk. She sends us pictures of this mining town, as well as the Siberian city of Kodinsk.
On This Day Quite often, I am intrigued by the juxtaposition of events that show up in our "On This Day" listings. It is almost as if there were a thin thread across time, linking things together that one might never expect.
Blagoveshchensk Igor Ageyenko, 29, lives in Blagoveshchensk. This week he offers us a tour of his city, plus a few other places in the Amur oblast.
Salt and Loathing in St. Petersburg Why are St. Petersburg residents cheering the city's new approach to snow removal?
Best Destinations of 2015 The leading travel company shares with us their nine best Instagram photos from their fascinating destinations.
Happy Chekhov Day! Today is Chekhov's birthday (he's 156). We celebrate by kicking of several months of Daily Chekhov quotes, and share a few other things...
8 Sci-Fi Futures That Explain Russia Today In honor of Evgeny Zamyatin's birthday, here are eight Russian sci-fi novels that reveal something about Russia and the world beyond.
Petrozavodsk Igor Podgorny is a geology teacher in Petrozavodsk, but he is also an expert wildlife and landscape photographer.
Russophile's Bookshelf A few books we have received recently that we thought Russophiles should know about.
The Long Kiosk Goodbye The destruction of 97 kiosks around Moscow opens up the controversies of architectural preservation, the plight of small businesses, and the rebuilding of history itself.
Orthodox-Catholic Summit This week, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill met in Havana. Why was this such a big deal?
When Peace Came to Earth Thirty years ago tomorrow, the Mir Space Station was launched. It was a technological wonder of its time.
Irkutsk Oblast Elena Anosova takes us on a tour of Irkutsk and Irkutsk Oblast. Lake Baikal is only a part of it!
The Force is Strong There There are some fascinating hidden connections between Star Wars (the movie) and Russia. Let's explore them, shall we?
Bridge of Contention It has been a year since Boris Nemtsov was shot as he walked along a bridge near the Kremlin, yet Russians continue to gather at his assassination site.
Gorbachev Turns 85 A look back at the heady Gorbachev era, a time of rationing and glasnost, perestroika and cooperatives, when everything seemed possible.
Modigliani and Akhmatova in Paris We know comparatively little about the relationship between Akhmatova and Modigliani, but sometimes a few pictures can speak volumes. In honor of Anna Akhmatova's birthday (June 11, old style; June 23 new style), we reprint this essay, originally published in Russian Life, Jan/Feb 2011.
Great Lent The Great Lent is forty days when the Church is involved in repentance, fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
Leningrad Region Alexander Solo is documenting "monotowns" in Russia. He shows us a couple in Leningrad Region, where he lives.
Socialist Realism and Potatoes: The Dmitry Furmanov Story Writer and commissar Dmitry Furmanov died 90 years ago. If you don’t recognize his name, it may be because he’s better known for his character Vasily Ivanovich Chapayev, a Red Army commander who achieved victory via potatoes.
Happy Birthday, Gogol and Olesha! Two writers, two different centuries, one number in common. Actually, Yuri Olesha and Nikolai Gogol have more in common than you think!
Chuvashia Ivan Mikhailov takes us deep into the heart of Chuvashia and its capital city of Cheboksary.
Architecture and unexquisite corpses A church’s domes caving into the altar. A transgender couple finagles a wedding. A hospital patient shares a room with a corpse. Just another TWERF.
5 St. Petersburg Bands You Should Know St. Petersburg (or Leningrad) has always occupied a special place in the world of Russian music. Famous for its rich classical traditions, especially at the Mariinsky Theater, in the second part of the twentieth century St. Petersburg became the epicenter of underground and experimental music.
Moscow Ekaterina Klyueva takes us to the capital, the center of empire, a city everyone knows but no one every sees in full: Moscow!
A Tour to Nowhere (in pictures) What does it look like when a whole town empties out and there’s nothing but a few decaying buildings to prove anyone lived there at all?
Chess, Traffic and Briefcases In The Weekly Russia File for March 31: some terrible chess puns, and how to stop traffic.
Crimea Crisis Solved? In a surprising move that has shocked international pundits, Secretary of State John Kerry today announced he has arranged the de-annexation of Crimea by Russia.
Katya Everdeenova? No. YA Fiction Set in Russia? Yes. We're seeing a growth spurt in literature for kids and teens set in Russia. That means magic, time travel, and Stalinism all rolled up in one.
Salekhard Photographer Yevgenia Zhulanova takes us to Salekhard and the distant Nenets Autonomous Okrug during one of its most important holidays.
What the Panama Papers Mean for Russia The Panama Papers shocked the world this week with tales of corruption among the cream of the world's political crop. Here's what the allegations mean for Russian politics, economics, and society.
8 Perfect Pitstops Along the Trans-Siberian Railway In 1891, Russian Tsar Alexander III signed a document initiating the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. And not only is it the longest railway in the world; it's got some interesting stops along the line, too.
A kick in the face of public taste This week in Russia saw a whole lot of beatdowns: on international corruption, candy stores, and even Buddha.
Gagarin Lives! Yury Gagarin’s 108-minute space flight on April 12, 1961, propelled him to a level of celebrity never before known to any Soviet. His smiling face graced postal stamps, Palekh souvenir boxes, and fine porcelain, as he mingled with the beau monde of planet Earth.
Russia's Favorite Rebel and His Bloody Capture Turn 345 On April 14, 1671, Cossacks captured rebel leader Stenka Razin and ended his rebellion against the tsar. Here’s some background on Razin’s uprising, and what it meant for the fate of Russia.
Icebergs and tigers and starships, oh my! Which would you rather: be trapped in the Arctic or accused of treason? Okay, not a fun game. But a worthwhile read about the latest in Russian news.
A Photo Guide to Russia's Lesser-Known WWII Sites 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Revisit the history on this tour of St. Petersburg and Moscow's war sites – the ones you may not find in the guidebook.
Alexander Nevsky: Russia's Hero Who is Russia's greatest hero? According to Russians, it's Alexander Nevsky, a military commander and ruler from the thirteenth century. And what did Alexander do that made him worthy of that honor? He took part in Russians' favorite historical activity: repelling German invaders.
Chukotka Do you know what a karakurt is? Ever been to a Smelt Holiday? Know why some reindeer horns are trimmed? This week, travel with Timur Akhmetov to Chukotka, to find out this and more...
Piter's Five Must-Stroll Streets (that are not Nevsky) After you finish strolling St. Petersburg's Nevsky Prospect, you'll want to visit these five must-stroll streets in the Northern Palmyra, to get a feel for the rest of the city.
Prizes, spies, and kasha for all This week was full of wins for Russia: a famous photographer, everyone who watched Putin's call-in, and lawmakers making it harder to get foreign aid. So, a loss for Russians getting foreign aid.
New Foreign Agent Bill Hits Close to Home Russia’s law on foreign agents may be getting increasingly draconian. In its latest iteration, any charity could be deemed a political tool of international forces.
Chernobyl: The State Secret 30 years ago today, the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant had a meltdown: "Flames, sparks, and chunks of burning material went flying... These were red-hot pieces of nuclear fuel and graphite..."
Veliky Ustyug Yuli Lyubeznikov and Alexandra Ivanova show off their town, one of the oldest in the Russian North: Veliky Ustyug
A Very Russki Cinco de Mayo Or, whatever the Russian version of margaritas, mariachis, and misunderstood military history might involve.
Not to Be Forgotten For 45 years, the Cold War made it politically incorrect to recognize Soviet sacrifices and victories in defeating Hitler in World War II. This essay from 2010 is still relevant today.
Nizhny Novgorod Mikhail Solunin, 28, takes us on a tour of Nizhny Novgorod, at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers.
Questions of Life and Death On Victory Day, Russian photographers Mikhail Mordasov and Ignat Kozlov captured images of World War II veterans and young Russians who are the same age as the veterans were when they went off to fight in the war. They asked each of their subjects two questions: "What should one live for?" and "What should one be willing to die for?"
Baby bears, cats in debt, and other fuzzy victories Victory Day, marking the 71st anniversary of the end of WWII, was celebrated this Monday. Here are the ups, downs, and nonsequiturs of the occasion.
The Most Beautiful Village in Russia Last week tiny Kinerma was named as this year's "most beautiful Russian village." As it turns out, Kinerma was a stop on The Spine of Russia project...
Tver Olga Titova takes us to Tver, a main city located between Moscow and St. Petersburg, a land of candles and goats, bridges and rivers.
Catchy beats and milk-soaked scuffles Russia's physics-defying display at Eurovision. Bullying via dairy products. Plus some saucy presidential pecking – on the lips.
Mariy El Nikolai Gontar leads us on a trip to the Republic of Mariy El, home to layered pancakes and some very unusual architecture.
Two Miracles of Russian Love Poetry On the occasion of Pushkin's birthday, we offer a post on the challenge of translating his most famous love lyrics, "Я вас любил," with a bonus look at Innokenty Annensky's "Среди миров."
Dancing diplomats and dictators' cats Politicians are people just like us. They get millions of Instagram responses for a lost pet and do folkdances in front of world leaders. Just a day in the life.
Khakassia Constantine Gulyaev takes us on a tour of Khakassia, "warm Siberia," home to shamans, powerful mountains, petroglyphs and Russia's largest hydroelectric dam.
Elton John Crocodile Rocks the Kremlin Sir Elton John's much-vaunted visit with Putin, Eurovision for kids, setting doors on fire, and other great performances – all in one little week.
Quotable Pushkin for Six Everyday Occasions In honor of Alexander Pushkin's 217th birthday, here's a small sample of his poems to show that his writing isn't just pretty and witty – it can help you through almost any situation.
Rostov-on-Don Sveta Balashova-Kuzmina gives us a tour of her hometown, Rostov-on-Don, at the apex of five seas.
Russians don't need principles. Just submarines The British are out to get Russian values and Russian naval vessels alike this week. Scroll down enough and there's also a cat pic.
The Corpse of Lenin and the Rebirth of St. Petersburg St. Petersburg is now 25: citizens voted to rename Leningrad as St. Petersburg on June 12, 1991. Lenin’s legacy was at the center of the change, and remains a hot topic 25 years later.
Kursk Region Anastasiya Tsayder takes us inside village living rooms and kitchens, showing a rarely scene slice of Russian rural life.
Rudolf Nureyev's Great Leap to Freedom Ballet great Rudolf Nureyev leapt out of Soviet jurisdiction and into the wider world of Western ballet on June 16, 1961. His leap was as much a political move as a dance move.
Births: Modern Russia, baby LSDUZ, and lots of leopards Russia Day marks the birth of the post-Soviet Russian nation. This week saw some other births too, from literal leopard cubs to figurative names and games.
WWII in Russian Cultural Memory June 22nd, as any student of Soviet history knows, is the day remembered in the official histories as the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. Recent TV productions have sought to keep the state sanctioned view of the war alive in popular memory.
Scandals, lies, sci-fi, and other sporting events Fictional sportscasters, the all-too-real Olympic ban, and the possible reality of teleportation in Russia's future. And don't forget about mind control.
What Brexit means for Russian economic and territorial expansion Britain has voted to leave the European Union. Does that mean a boom for Russia? Or is that title a ploy to get you to read about how Russians go about sunbathing?
Astrakhan Let's go south with Liailia Gimadeeva, who acquaints us with the beauty and wonders of Astrakhan!
Get undressed and read the news till you sweat Presidential speeches urge disrobing, but it's not what you think. All while laws get passed, politicians play judo, and – wait, is that Leonardo diCaprio?
Fevronia's Day On July 8, Russia celebrates the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, a holiday aimed at promoting traditional family values, more commonly known as Fevronia's Day. What's it all about?
Happy Russian Mail Day In honor of the Day of Russian Mail (July 10 this year), we offer a crash course in the history of Russian mail delivery, from the yam stations of the Golden Horde to the Russian Post of modern Russia.
St. Petersburg Mikhail Mokryshin gives us a short trip around Russia's northern capital and some unusual photos.
Ballooning of strict laws, and ballooning of a hot air balloon Adventure takes many forms. There's regular travel, round-the-world travel, and navigating the Russian legal system. Also beards.
Sakhalin Alexander Gayvoron is a teacher and photographer who lives on Sakhalin. He gives us a quick tour.
Ivan the Terrible and Pokémon the Great Pokémon goes to Russia – and so do memories of fallen tsars, athletes, street cleaners, and of course, a kitty cat.
The First Canine Cosmonauts The Soviet Union’s first pair of pups launched into space on July 22, 1951, and their suborbital flight was a big pawprint in the Cold War Space Race.
Vasnetsov, Painter and Planet: An Art Gallery July 25 is the 155th birthday of Apollinary Vasnetsov, who is both a renowned painter of medieval Russia and a fixture in the night sky.
That's not cheese. It's a cyborg. A joke-telling Pushkin robot, an unimpressed Putin, and cheese that's as virtual a reality as Pokémon.
Pyatigorsk Anton Podgayko left Moscow for Pyatigorsk in order to shoot in the Caucusus. He takes us along.
5 Pearls of Wisdom from Fazil Iskander Fazil Iskander, a missile in the world of Soviet literature, passed away on July 31. Here are five of his pearls of wisdom on humor, science, politics, Stalin, and the Russian soul.
Fake elections, real Cossacks, and how to do yoga in prison Why some Russians would rather vote for a fictional candidate, the importance of a Cossack education, and some artsy graffiti along the way.
Michael Phelps, Russia's swimming champ The opening of the Kremlin, the mysterious ways of the nooscope, Hare Krishnas, and why Michael Phelps decided to defect to the Russian Olympic team.
Kolomna Tatiana Solovyova lives in Kolomna, in the southern part of Moscow Oblast. She invites us along for a visit.
August 1991 Coup Attempt Twenty-five years later, we take a look back at the August 19 coup attempt in Russia. Led by the Gang of Eight, men who owed their political careers to Mikhail Gorbachev, the coup plotters were attempting to restore dictatorship in the ailing Soviet Union.
Olympians, Titans, and cats dressed up as sailors The Olympics are under way! With them, new moves in Turkish-Russian relations, a Putin-voiced documentary, and the dangerous force of Russiaphobia. Also cats.
43 Russian Patriots On the Spine of Russia project, journalists Richardson and Mordasov asked over 40 Russians if they were patriots, and why. Here are some of their responses...
Kostroma Irina Yemets takes us north on the Golden Ring to visit the colorful town of Kostroma, hometown of the Romanovs and Snegurochka.
Magical Kefir Kefir is the most popular fermented milk in Russia. But it did not get there overnight. Kefir and Russia have a long history...
Faded Memories of 1991 It's been over two decades since the coup of August 1991, and only half of Russians remember it. But that's not all...
Kabardino-Balkaria Natalia Airiyan leads us on a short visit to Kabardino-Balkaria, in the Caucasus mountains, an area rich in ethnic diversity.
Tractors, smugglers, and the matryoshka from hell It's a tough week for transport in Russia, with a tractor parade, a smugglers' road, a bear on the loose, and an unwieldy matryoshka to top it all off.
Yes, We're a Sexagenarian Sixty years ago, bureaucrats and journalists on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain came to a remarkable agreement that led to the founding of Russian Life...
Corruption, Kalashnikovs, and cultured meats Performance art turned into meaty meals and politicians turned criminals or corpses. Oh, and Vladimir Putin gets arrested.
Krasnodar Olya Virich takes us to the Kuban, more specifically Krasnodar, the capital of Russia's breadbasket.
Nomads, salad stampedes, and serious swamp business Olympics featuring dead goats, world records with feta cheese, blood-red rivers, and how to set up your business in a pit of slime.
Kamchatka Alexander Gaivoron and his wife Anastasia took their pre-wedding honeymoon on Kamchatka, land of bears and volcanoes. And they invite us along!
Siberia's natural wonders meet the Duma elections This week brings you not just news, but also striking images of the latest discoveries in natural rock formations and mammoth hunting in Siberia. Also, election season.
Solvychegodsk Anton Unitsyn takes us to Solvychegodsk, where the Stroganovs got their start (thanks to salt) and where today sulfurous mud reigns supreme.
Bears, boycotts, and busting rhymes Election aftermath, polar bear attacks, why drivers are against Russia's version of Uber, and maybe even a state secret or two.
Listen and Learn: Shostakovich Turns 110 Dmitry Shostakovich created classical music that spoke to modern times. Read up on his life story and listen along to some of finest works along the way.
Voronezh Kristina Brazhnikova acquaints us with the southern city of Voronezh, which straddles its reservoir (once a river).
Tanker, toddler, marketer, spy Spy gadgets get culinary, Putin parks a tank, and a tyke takes on the wilderness. All that, and the spirit of adventure.
The Babi Yar Tragedy, Remembered in Poetry On September 29-30, 1941, Nazi troops shot over 33,000 Jews at the edge of the Babi Yar ravine near Kiev. Yevgeny Yevtushenko's poem memorializing the tragedy ensures it will never be forgotten.
Uglich Kristina Brazhnikova, who last week took us around her home city of Voronezh, this week takes us to Uglich.
Liquor machines and lullaby missiles Patriotic tectonic plates, the threat of airborne Internet, a possible return to the Gulag, and some problems without solutions.
Ufa Ramil Sitdikov gives us a tour of his home: Ufa, where the sky meets the water and surprising works of art were found in ancient caves.
Fall, Tolstoy, Mushrooms In honor of fall, and Russians' favorite autumnal pastime – mushroom picking – we offer these two short stories by Lev Tolstoy – in both English and Russian!
Solzhenitsyn, Alf, and raccoons all around A disturbing attack on a renowned author, and a lighthearted nod to an unlikely TV hero. Plus Russian military expansion, raccoons' domestic expansion, and more unlikely art.
Five Wild Facts about St. Basil's Cathedral On October 14, 1991, St. Basil’s Cathedral was reopened after six decades. Here are five fun facts in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Cathedral’s rebirth.
Bryansk Ekaterina Razina is a wedding photographer in Bryansk. She tells us how the g is pronounced there, and why you want to visit a certain church.
Can a Martian invasion fix Russia-Europe relations? It's a busy week for technology, what with a Mars lander, more secure Internet, electric cars (in unlikely places), and enough counterfeit money to fill an ATM.
How to name your baby (and not get arrested) Baby BOCh rVF 260602 may have to change his name. Plus, Russia's protest potential, the shrinking middle class, and dabbling with Shamanism.
Why Stalin's Corpse Was Exhumed on Halloween The body of Joseph Stalin was removed from the mausoleum on Red Square on October 31, 1961. It may not be as spooky as Halloween, but the former leader still haunts Russia today.
False history and forensic literature Fighting falsified Russian history, righting incorrect Bulgakovian history, and piecing together just what – and how unified – is the Russian nation.
Smolensk Irina Novikova explains the resilience of Smolensk, its legends, ghosts, churches and fortress. Oh, and why people stop by a city park to stroke the genitals of a bronze deer.
A new direction for US-Russia relations? The news in the U.S. is news for Russia, too. Here's how Russians are thinking about a Trump presidency – and it involves cats and burgers, as well as political ponderings.
Volgograd Sergei Karpov was born and raised in Volgograd, which he calls "the most depressing of Russia's million-resident cities."
Clowns, corruption, and overdue library books A group of humanitarian clowns is set to conquer sadness in Russia. Whether they can also combat corruption, questionable legal cases, and adorable baby foxes is another matter.
Famous Americans with Russian Roots America is a land built by immigrants. We researched famous Americans with Russian roots and offer this compilation.
Kaluga Photographer Svetlana Tarasova takes us to the heart of Russia: Kaluga. Here, along the Oka River, the Russian space program began.
Giving thanks: Russian beauty, culture, and cats We thank our readers for another year of living, loving, and learning about Russian life. With some extra pictures and cultural exploration to keep you grateful.
Beslan Photographer Oksana Yushko offers us a poignant look at Beslan, 12 years after the horrific tragedy there.
Art and politics on thin ice Should ice dancing with a Holocaust theme be totally taboo, or can it be done with respect? That and Fidel Castro, Siberian cats, and a few fish puns.
Peter Aleshkovsky: 2016 Russian Booker Laureate We were excited to learn that one of our authors, Peter Aleshkovsky, was awarded the 2016 Russian Booker Prize, arguably Russia's most prestigous literary prize.
Abstraction Turns 150: A Vasily Kandinsky Art Gallery Vasily Kandinsky was a renowned abstract artist whose shapes and colors revolutionized twentieth-century modernist art. Here are 11 of his paintings in honor of his 150th.
"We invented and changed the world": A Rodchenko Art Gallery Photographer, painter, designer, and more, Alexander Rodchenko (born December 5, 1891) worked at the intersection of innovative art and radical politics. Here are 14 of his works.
Cartoons, reality TV, and other art forms Masha and the Bear tops the charts, Ramzan Kadyrov picks Chechnya's next top admin, and the arts in general are a big bowl of kasha.
Tyumen Yulia Sulzhenko takes us to her hometown, Tyumen, Siberia's western capital, and the oil and gas capital of Russia.
Of mutts and men With puppies and provinces on the line, Russia-Japan relations are a bit ruff. Plus bobsledding bedlam, diplomatic dirt, and more holiday dogs.
Ra-ra-Rasputin Who was Rasputin? Why has his name become synonymous with the idea that the Russian monarchy was doomed? That is a mystery worth exploring today, on the 100th anniversary of his murder.
10 Things (And 5 Jokes) You Didn't Know About Brezhnev Soviet leader Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev would have been 110 on December 19. There are plenty of fun facts and surprising jokes behind the eyebrows.
We Fish You A Merry Christmas (and Hanukkah) Just in time for the holidays, Russians unearth (unsea?) some fish that look out of this world. Plus, anticipating the New Year, the U.S. view on Russia, and political jokes.
The End of the USSR Where we take you back in time to the collapse of the Soviet Union, through press and reportage as it unfolded at the time.
Yekaterinburg Photographer Daria Kozinova takes us on a tour of the capital of the Urals: Yekaterinburg.
The Good, the Bad, and the Middling A tour of ten distinctive Moscow monuments that goes a long way to summarizing the state of the art in Russia today.
Chelyabinsk Artist Anastasia Bogomolova takes us on a tour of Chelyabinsk, famous for its meteorite, tanks, and a very special forest.
Exercise! Frozen bikes, illegal yoga, and sturdy stolen statues The year's coldest ride, hottest statue, most scandalous yoga teacher, and best way to learn the names of all of Russia's federal subjects. And it's just the first TWERF of the year.
Samara Photographer Kristina Syrchikova explains what a goose has to do with Samara and the Volga River.
The spy who stayed out in the cold Some people see spies everywhere. Other people just see dumpsters, birds, snow, dogs, boars, or artists seeking political asylum. (That's at least 4 separate stories).
Tchaikovsky Maria Plotnikova acquaints us with Tchaikovsky. No, not the composer, the town named for him in Siberia's Perm Krai.
Titan of the Russian Forest: An Ivan Shishkin Art Gallery Today marks the 185th birthday of the artist Ivan Shishkin, whose paintings evoke Russia's beauty and vastness. With a nickname like "Forest Tsar," his trees must be good.
Bacon, comics, and fairy tales on ice Adapting to life in Russia? Comic books. Craving cuteness? Piglets getting saved from a fire. Not Russian enough for you? Ice swimming. And for good measure, zombies.
Novosibirsk Photographer Anton Karliner explains why trains, a metro bridge, and World War II have a place in Novosibirsk history.
Happy Birthday, Vodka! 10 Shots of Trivia In 1865, vodka joined bears and matryoshkas as an eternal symbol of Russia. Here's how it happened, plus nine trivia tidbits on Russia's most beloved, harmful, and historical libation.
Blogging Bears, Ivan the Terrible Rapper, and a Blob A polar bear travels the world, a historian serves up the Rhyme of Troubles, the Kremlin gets a new alien, and Presidents Putin and Trump get along by the skin of their teeth.
Buddha in a blizzard, tsar in the tropics A Buddhist monastery in the mountains fights one millionaire, and Kiribati's islands welcome another one. There's also exorcism, the Facebook of 1917, and general happiness.
Veliky Novgorod Journalist Irina Mordasova and photographer Konstantin Chalabov give us a tour of Veliky Novgorod, a history lover's paradise.
Kandalaksha Teacher Ilona Isayeva shares with us some of the charms of Kandalaksha, a small industrial town on the White Sea.
Spies Like Them As the FBI investigation deepens into Trump-Kremlin ties, we thought it would be useful – a public service, really – to provide some handy tips on spotting Russian spies.
The Kremlin on Ice Convicts carve up the Kremlin, an assassin wins a prize, and governors drop like flies. Actually, that all sounds a lot worse than what happened. Find out for yourself.
Our Next Big Thing We are excited to announce our next big project: Time Travel! And we'll document it with a book and a movie!
Revolution! On February 23, 1917 the Revolution came to Petrograd. The Tsar abdicated and a long year of turmoil and political upheaval lie ahead...
100 Years Ago, In a Monarchy Far, Far Away... Exactly 100 years ago, on February 23, 1917, the Russian Revolution began. And once you've learned about that, there's space, WWII reenactments, and a portal back to medieval times.
Cats, droids, and acrobatic rock & roll A friendly robot graces the metro and a politically charged (and financed) dance studio gets footloose thanks to the youngest Putin. Also, happy World Cat Day!
Who are you in 1917 Russia? Take the Political Compass of the Revolution test and find out who you would have been 100 years ago – an Anarchist, a Cadet, a Right SR, a Bolshevik or a member of the Black Hundreds.
Better Russia Bob Blaisdell reviews Other Russias, an album of images and impressions of ordinary, unconnected Russian citizens who have unexpectedly found themselves activists.
Saratov Elena Kotova takes us to the streets, beaches, yoga studios and parks of Saratov, a city on the Volga.
Say no to discrimination, ducks, and hugs International Women's Day was celebrated by marches, flowers, and flash mobs. In other news, Russia and China are BFFs, and Prime Minister Medvedev likes ducks.
Six Great Songs About St. Petersburg Many Russian cities have songs about about them. Here are six of the best ones about Russia's Northern Capital – three by American artists, three by Russians.
Who Invented the Ancient Slavic Gods, and Why? How it was that in the eighteenth century Russian mythology was trumped-up in the Western manner? Who wanted it? And where did we get Lel, Yarilo and Zimtserla? We explain everything you'd want to know about Russian fakelore.
Medical tourism, space tourism, imaginary tourism A Moon landing is on the horizon. Eurovision, with its typical set of scandals, is on an even closer horizon. And on your way, why not stop by Red Square for some dental work?
Meet Four Russian Centenarians One hundred years ago, in 1917, Russia was wracked by revolution, famine, foreign war, and domestic unrest. And yet, throughout 1917, babies were born, lives were started.
Grab a Guinness for Orthodoxy Does Russian St. Patrick's Day have leprechauns? After you ponder that, there's a reindeer herder fighting big oil, humans-turned-Twitter bots, and a mysterious murder.
March {Translation} Madness A random query led us down a rabbit hole to see how online translation engines are humming these days. Won't you join us?
1741: The Year Russia Discovered America You probably know that Alaska was bought from Russia well over 100 years ago. But do you know why Russia claimed the territory in the first place? Hint: who doesn't love a fur coat?
#Russiagate, Demos & Alaska Continuing scandal, new demonstrations, a sesquicentenial and a linguistic smackdown. Just another week here at TWERF.
Russia's Greatest Crime Novel When you set out to write a murder mystery in Russian – or even in another language, but set in Russia – you should be mindful that you are following in the footsteps the greatest Russian crime fiction writer of all times, Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
The bad, the sad, and the ice laser It's been a rough week in Russia, with the metro bombing in St. Petersburg, the disappearance of gay men, and the death of Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Luckily, lasers are kinda neat.
Revolution for Tiny Tots “It was a lot of fun during the Rivolushun. And I won’t never forget the Russian Rivolushun.” In which we look at the 1917 revolution through the eyes of schoolchildren at the time.
Cosmonautics Day and Fruit in Disguise Investigations: the state of Russian cosmonautics, what happens to prohibited fruit, and when mourners aren't really mourning. Plus, sneaking pickles into space.
Counterfeit TP and Commuting By Ball Some folks form an Arctic military base or withdraw from mayoral elections. Others counterfeit toilet paper and roll through traffic in a giant ball.
Floods of water, juice, and trendy ostrich photos A juice flood. A mud flood. A human rights drought. And for good measure, portraits with wild animals and haircuts with an axe.
Vegans, Frogs, and the Grandmas of Mortal Kombat Pop-star grandmas advertise action films, May Day doesn't go great for vegans, and a Russian frog smuggler's story gets even more unlikely.
Victory Day and cheeky chess pieces Victory Day meant full streets but empty skies. A hollow chess piece hides more than its next move. And a day in the life of an Arctic doctor.
The Other Catherine: 7 Facts About Russia's First Empress Catherine I held the title of Empress 40 years before her more famous, “Great” namesake. As the first woman to rule Russia, she had great qualities of her own.
Pop music, Pythons, and Kindergarten on the Run An anti-politics pop song, the drive against Hollywood, and education for deer herders. Plus, Putin, pianos, and pythons.
Teffi: The Best Russian Writer You May Not Have Heard Of Known as a female Chekhov and skilled at painting the human condition as hilarious and hideous in one stroke, Teffi is a little-known author you should get to know.
Saints Cyril and Methodius A few words about two brothers who rejected their family's wealth and became known as the Apostles of the Slavs. They never visited Russia, but they translated the Gospel into Slavonic.
Russian Youth, Then and Now We celebrate the anniversary of the Pioneers, explore Russia’s Generation Z, and for fun, admire a baby bear helping out in the garden.
How to Properly Accept Bribes This is a short extract from a satirical book published in 1837, from which we learn: what sorts of bribes there are; why it is better to take a bribe during lunch; why gaudy is better than a bullfinch; the language in which one should speak of bribes; and how to avoid punishment for receiving bribes.
Countdown to Departure So, what exactly have we been doing in the two months since the successful closure of our crowdfunding for this project?
Bananas, Ballerinas, and Bubble Bath Blackface and bananas raise racist concerns ahead of soccer match, a linguist links Siberian Ket and Navajo languages, and video bloggers bring bubbles and pets to parliament.
7 Banned Films from the 1960s Where we discuss seven outstanding Soviet movies from the 1960s dealing with rural Russia, humaneness, and the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution that, instead of contributing to the revolution’s legacy, gathered dust for decades.
Celebrating Russian Language Day with Poets, Filmmakers, Journalists, & Robots Celebrate the wealth of Russian culture with Pushkin's birthday, Russian Language Day, Sokurov's film award, Russian museums, and, um, Megyn Kelly's weird interview with Putin. Well, at least those first four.
"Tear Down This Wall!" Thirty years ago today, US President Ronald Reagan challenged Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. Two years later, the wall came down after a German bureaucrat misspoke.
The First Pancake is Always Lumpy The Children of 1917 Expedition is underway. We began in the most logical place: in St. Petersburg...
The Wooly Mammoth of the Past Is the Hotel of the Future Mammoth skulls, ancient lizards, intangible money, train-jumping, and the great knights of Slavic history. Russia Day really does bring out the best.
Contact With a Mystery Born on this day in 1882, Igor Stravinsky, one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, in many ways defined the music of his era. We look back at his Rite of Spring.
Meet the Team Since we will be asking lots of questions of our interview subjects, we thought it only fair to answering some questions about ourselves, so that readers can get to know us all a bit better.
Soccer, Sci-Fi, Snipers, and Tsoy Russia hosts the Confederations Cup, Strugatsky sci-fi gets a reboot (or just gets booted), and we honor the memories of WWII's female snipers and of the rock legend Viktor Tsoy.
The Full 100 On the eve of our visit, the ambulance came for Maria Nikolayevna Ryabtsova: there was something wrong with her neck. The doctor examined her, but found nothing serious. He did an EKG and was surprised: “if only everyone had a heart like yours,” he said.
Catherine Seizes Power On June 28, 1762, Catherine (born Sofia Frederika Augusta), the German wife of a weakened tsar, seized Russian throne. She soon earned the appellation "the Great."
On the Tragedy of One Family... and an Entire People As told in two letters, two certificates and the autobiography of one centenarian, who turned 100 on June 16 and is the oldest person in her village of 100.
Baller Ballerinas, Flying Taxis, & Gardens in the Sky Celebrate soccer with metro-station ballet, explore the galaxy with Yandex, and take a stroll through Moscow's rooftop gardens. Plus the Beatles, Stephen Colbert, and 29 Russian writers.
Toxic Waste, Putin Farms, & Crazy Seals Tractors for Putin, toxic waste for Kaliningrad, and Reagan and Gorbachev for their modern-day counterparts. Also sweet wine, state secrets, and salt.
Two Riverbanks* Our producer, Misha, wanted us to row across the Volga River to visit 100-year-old Tatyana Semyonovna. He felt it would be epic and symbolic. We disagreed...
Risqué Ballet and Putin's Grannies The scandal around the Bolshoi's latest ballet, remembering an Internet icon, and pro-Putin pensioners, with a dash of PhotoShop of daredevilry.
Know Your Country! The Children of 1917 expedition is far from over, yet we have uncovered the secret to long life and pinpointed the source of the Volga River.
Royal(ish) Weddings and Toys for the Opposition Getting flak for getting hitched, how fidget spinners foster political dissidence, and a new set of wheels around Russia. Plus dandy pigeons and the best totalitarian tourism.
Live Long and Prosper In which we accompany one of our heroines for her annual check up at the hospital.
Parties with Putin and the Ruins of Literature President Putin visits human rights activists and curious kids, and a famous author falls to pieces. Plus Ivan the Terrible, a terrible auction purchase, and 10 fantastic bridges.
Old Fears It was with mixed feelings of bitter guilt and disgust, overcome with shameful and cowardly thoughts, that I joined the Children of 1917 project.
Paratroopers, Pig Manure, & Plant Killers Pranksters solve energy security with pig manure, paratroopers get rowdy, and presidential grants yield surprise winners. Plus, Russia's deadliest plants and getting stuck in an elevator.
Stage 2: Siberia or Bust A second, more intensive phase of the Children of 1917 project has begun. Seatbelts fastened? Poyekhali!
Music Defeats War When Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony was performed from besieged Leningrad on August 9, 1942, music suspended the horrors of war.
A One Act Play in Nine Scenes Any good expedition has its lighter moments. We have collected nine such scenes from recent days into a one-act play for your enjoyment.
Taking Care Meet two more of our heroes whose long lives have surely been made possible by the care of their family and community.
Zenly Down the Road For all the romanticism commonly associated with world travel, the brutal reality is that it is often a very un-romantic undertaking to move the meat that is our bodies around in the world.
Zombies, a Swampy Lake, and a New Shirtless Challenge A not-quite lake makes a splash, zombies on public transit, and problems memorializing history's tragedies. But on the bright side, shirtless men and hippos.
The Orphan Given the historical and personal realities she faced, Maria Konyayeva was very unlikely to live to 100 when she was born in 1917. And yet here she is.
Scenes from the Road Photographic proof that all we have done on this trip is work, work, work... and nap.
Rap battles, Moscow's move, and mixing dating and politics Elections are the new dinner and a movie. Plus, Moscow's heading east, rap battles get a bad rap, and pickles and melons galore.
Two Samara Stories In which we move east to Samara, on the Volga River, and meet two centenarians living alone in very different ways.
The Last Hero A train ride, a war hero, sunflower fields, and the Loch Ness monster - just another day on the road for the Children of 1917 team.
Burger Bucks, Dyeing of Shame, and Flying Ballerinas Burger King makes money (its own), broke taxi passengers turn green, and summertime snow. Plus, a ballerina with a backup plan, Borodino, and the Museum of Death.
First Love On the importance of coffee, academicians, a museum, a rooster, the harvesting of turf, and collectivization.
Marfa's Three Lives Krasnoyarsk: knocking down stereotypes about Siberia and meeting a centenarian who will not be stopped.
Fake Countries, Sausages, and Mystery Highways How to be patriotic to a nonexistent country, get a proper education, and deal with a highway through your house. Plus buildings, bridges, and bratwursts to die for.
Of Rivers, Mines, and a Lake Two days in Irkutsk and one on Baikal, where we meet a soft-spoken mechanic and visit two very different tourist destinations.
Evil Clowns, Ballerinas, and Other Movie Monsters Clown horror is horrid for clowns, a ballet scandal on the silver screen, and a pack of protesting porkers.
What a Difference a Border Makes On borders, learning Polish, the influence of culture, and the importance of a sense of humor.
A Good Butcher In which a retired Polish butcher explains how to live to be 100 and serenades us on his trumpet.
Guns, Gents, and Stalin Heroes who caused deaths, heroes who saved lives, questionable movie heroes, and the heroes who make art and cheese. Which is your favorite?
Minsk – City for Giants Minsk is a city built for giants. And it is where we met a great soul, Maria Fyodorovna Rylik, who dedicated her life to teaching and her family.
The Biggest Cheesecake, The Artsiest Robot, and The Spaciest Station A record-breaking cake, a robot breaking (conceptions of) art, and a space station breaking international boundaries. Plus, flying cars and how to live on Mars.
A Finnish Finish Our last stop on the Children of 1917 expedition was Finland, namely Tampere, the country's second largest city, where we met our final two heroes.
Spying for Russia and Flying for Russia The glorious deeds of a famous spy, the smaller deeds of everyday spies, and a whole new horizon for female fighter pilots.
Putin in Birthdayland and Alice in Wonderland For Putin's birthday, a fake burger, a real burger, and a puppy. Plus, St. Petersburg rooftops, frogmen, and how to bathe in crude oil.
Bread and Circuses. And Tetris. Arcade cars, patriotic circuses, and administrative festivities. Also, some crazy murals, Moscow's transformation, and the secrets of Peter the Great.
Rocks, Raps, and Cats in Charge Trouble in the tombstone industry, booming blockchain, and mercenary music hits. Plus, cats at work and a use of paper you've never seen.
Slavic-Style Spooks Halloween or Hallowon't? The holiday is more trick than treat in Russia, so dive into the details and creep yourself out with some frightful tales while you're at it.
The Big 100 This year marks the centennial of the Bolshevik Revolution. Here's what that looks like, plus gas, cats, and seals (state seals, that is).
Lions and Lawyers and Baba Yaga, Oh My! Ice Age lions thaw out, fairytale heroes meet social media, and foreign news needs a new passport. Plus, all about Russian art in less than 30 minutes.
Photography, Kachka & Spies Photography, food and spies comprise this week's Three Best Reads. We travel to Vilnius, Brooklyn, and Washington, DC, to consider wagging tongues, boiled tongues, and an overlooked photographer.
Santa Claus, Space Aliens, & Robot Cars Father Frost gets iced, a space shuttle gets wet, and cars get driven driverlessly. Plus, famous Russian buildings go on vacation, the Romanovs take TV, and Russian smilies)
Doping, Bus Stops, and Journalists This week's Recommended Reads for Russophiles includes a dope-master's diary, a revisiting of bus stops, and an intriguing theory about the Putin-Trump nexus.
Presidents, Olympians, and Feathered Friends Putin announces he'll run for president, the Olympic Committee announces Russia can't compete, and some swans announce that they want a new house.
Why We Love to Hate Russians Why are Russians are such enduring villains, and what was the real intent of the election meddling campaign?
Superputin, Sly Wolves, & Censorship Stalkers An art exhibit proves once and for all that Putin is a superhero. Plus, World Cup counterfeits, how Russian media monitoring works, and a leopard cub.
Romanov Holiday and Russia's Best Cat What a Russian holiday looks like, the Romanovs go to The Gambia, and why secret police are extra special around the holidays. All that, and Russia's most popular cats.
The Best of 2017 For our final TWERF of 2017, we look back and re-share some of our favorite stories from 2017. They may not be the most note-worthy or news-worthy stories, but we felt they were the most fun.
A little vodka, a little puppies, a little Despacito Let's go to Nizhny Novgorod to hear a Russian rendition of the song of the year. And then, lets meet some puppies and a vodka thief.
Scents and Scents-Ability There's a new Russian-language detective show on Netflix. It's a bit like Gogol meets House meets Sherlock.
Aliens, help Russia! Darkness descends on Moscow, a cry for help ascends to the sky, and a foreign agent stays exactly where it is. Also huskies and ancient teeth.
Moon Colonies and Molotov Modernism Join Earth's first non-Earthbound nation, get an art lesson with a side of Molotov cocktail, and learn about lusty leopards.
Fights, Oversight, and Voting Rights Russians practice their rights: heated debate, voting in North Korea, and not getting any more survey calls.
12 Myths/Truths About Russians and Vodka Think you know your vodka? Take this True/False quiz (just 12 items) about Russians and their vodka and see if you are right about that...
Resilience: The Book! Today, we officially put to print the book for our Children of 1917 project: Resilience: Life Stories of Centenarians Born in the Year of Revolution.
Groundhog Day, Russia Edition Punxsutawney Phil ordered six more weeks of winter for the States, but the weather is getting much weirder in Russia: record-breaking snow and locusts, to start with.
Stories of Sorrow and Uplift A Russian national tragedy is softened by stories of a skating grandmother and small children in the snow.
A Holiday for Every Occasion Traditional celebrations like Maslenitsa are accompanied by new ones, like Chinese New Year. The party never stops!
Viral Videos of All Stripes and Sizes Adults want kids to vote, kids want Leonardo DiCaprio to soak himself, and Leo wants fewer video games on TV.
Births, Rebirths, and Nuclear Weapons Nukes get names, a truck becomes a camera, and an old church gets a fresh look.
Another Birthday On this day, 28 years ago, two naive young Americans sat down and agreed to found a publishing company together. This publishing company.
Cats, Cars, and Non-existent Countries World Cup picks, elections, and fraudulent activity all point to the same lesson this week: make your choices wisely.
Tsar Vladimir II Putin has again been elected president. This post was originally written/aired in November 2007. Apparently, it still seems relevant.
Method Acting Here's a suggestion for improving your Russian: watch Russian TV. But which TV? Here's a suggestion...
Russian Election Special with Winners, Losers, and Shavers TWERF takes on the political this week, bringing you news of the election and the weird things that accompanied it.
US-Russia Sister Cities We mapped all the US cities paired with a Russian city, and to our surprise, the map looks like Putin's profile.
New Zealand, Nuke Names, and New 'dos Grudinin shaves the ‘stache, the other election results are in, and New Zealand struggles to offend Russia.
April Fool's Day, Russia Style! In honor of April Fool’s Day, we present you with jokes, mishaps, and fun times all around.
Singed Sweets and Stolen Sea-Dwellers Stories about chocolate and fish: not an appetizing pairing, but a good selection for this week’s TWERF.
Hot and Cold: Spies, Armageddon, and Skiing Half-Naked Learn about the animal spies among us, get tips on how to survive nuclear war, and watch a world record get broken.
A Proliferation of Playful (and Political) Pranks Featuring “poisonous” cooking oil, the finest pothole you’ve ever seen, and paper planes of protest.
Painting Veterans Artist Sasha Sokolova has undertaken a personal, artistic and cultural project to document the daily life of Russia’s remaining war veterans.
Monstrous Protests, Mobile Plants, and Too Much Paper This week Russians hit the streets, waterways, and air for all sorts of occasions.
Oleg Sentsov: Immutable FAQs. Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov is on the 15th day of a hunger strike in a northern-Siberian prison. Anton Dolin explains how Sentsov's case is a sad miscarriage of justice, and what one can or cannot do about it.
Peter the Great, Emperor of All Russia What do you have to do as Russian tsar to be remembered as "Great"? You can start by reforming the government, social structure, customs, language, and, well, everything else.
Pretty (and Pierced) Pictures, a Brutal Bridge, and a New Hope for Han Solo In a galaxy far, far away, the Millennium Falcon circled over a vicious battle with art and a dangerous passageway. That far-off galaxy being Russia, of course.
From Their Smile to Their Heartbeat, Everybody's Hiding Something This week gives everybody a new lease on life, whether in the form of a photo touch up, another platform for Putin, or an actual new life for a “dead” journalist.
The World Cup Whirlwind Begins Is it football or soccer? Either way, TWERF prepares for the start of the World Cup by examining Russia’s chances (not great), while still paying attention to a few other stories before the madness begins.
Russia Makes Hay in Moscow and Surmounts in St. Petersburg Russia wins its first two World Cup games and Jeff Monson is running for CIty Council in Krasnogorsk. Does life get better than this?
Against Some Odds, Still in the Game! This week Russia lost but isn’t out yet; football fans, amazingly, spread cheer across Russia; and a storm reminds us of the world outside.
Let's Create the New Russian Life Together Online media is rife with problems, and, as a result, it largely gets Russia wrong. You can help us change that.
Famous People Who Studied Russian Studying Russian and finding it a bit challenging? You are not alone. Check out our list of famous people who have studied Russian, and find some fellow-sufferers...
That Other Red, White, and Blue As Americans celebrate their Independence Day, Russia may have gained a new national holiday as well: the day they beat Spain in the World Cup.
Lost Game, but Newfound Pride What’s out of this world? Russia’s performance in the World Cup, a Russian cargo ship, and showers in Samara!
The Plagues of Russia: the Risen Dead, Bees, and Floods Shed a tear for our last World Cup TWERF, in which we finally learn about the Romanovs and feel the wrath of nature.
Russians in the Dark, One Way or Another It was a busy week in Russia: another round of pension protests, a pilgrimage for the Romanovs, and oh, the devil is working his magic.
A Round of Russian Rescues Everybody receives a lift, from a stranded hiker, to the planet, to two boys who are actually doing just fine.
Crime Doesn't Pay This is the crime-filled Russia you’ve always heard about, including a cat smuggling drugs and railroad theft.
The Dog Days of Summer and the Crazy Things They Bring This week gives us a plethora of emotions: shame in Samara, excitement in Tomsk, and a bit of both in Moscow.
Skyfalls, Sinking Feelings, and Smitings Falling from a Russian sky near you: airplanes, bags of money, and well-timed lightning bolts!
The Ancient Past, the Near Future, and a Sheepish Present Time got a little bit wibbly-wobbly and timey-wimey as Russia traveled to the future, to the past, and back to the present (and all in one week)!
A Walk on the Wild Side (of Russia) Russia Weekly gets wacky with singing policemen, forbidden emojis, and flying plagues.
Celebrating Tolstoy Today is the 190th anniversary of the great writer's birth. We thought we would share a few readings to get you in a Tolstoyan spirit.
Life, Death, and Pizza Climate change is destroying Russia and people still want to duel, but at least someone’s getting free pizza.
Ice Age Part 10, Coming Soon to a Russia Near You The weather in Russia this week was chilly with a hint of thaw, at least regarding science and political relations.
Politics and Technology: And never the twain should meet To selfie or not to selfie? That is the question, or at least one of the questions, addressed this week.
Things Look Different Below the Surface What’s more surprising, fake feminists or fish with bad teeth?
Of Rockets and Ruptures Falling objects, family feuds, and friendly felines dominated our attention this week.
Lawmakers versus Troublemakers Russian law enforcement had a busy week, from taking on the ~high~ seas to putting rich jerks in their place.
Chado, the Roving Superdog A dog is a basic necessity in the village, and the bigger the dog, the better. Chado is decidedly not big.
The Loss of Laura Williams Laura Williams, a long-time contributor to Russian Life (author of the wonderful book, Notes from a Russian Village), passed away suddenly on October 28, 2018.
Warm Feelings for the Cool Weather If you’re here for Halloween spooks, we can’t help you: all we’ve got this week are feel-good stories!
Our Untold Stories Ever wonder what we don’t publish? Well, here it is. The scraps on our cutting room floor, and last week’s fourth-best story – all collected in one wonderfully semi-interesting place.
First Love An excerpt from First Love, which Turgenev called his most autobiographical novel, tells the story of a sixteen-year-old boy’s infatuation with an older girl.
Being Turgenev Everyone in Russia knows the great writer Ivan Turgenev, whose 200th birthday is today, and they make his acquaintance in three stages.
Olga's Amazing Work of Art Olga Ezova-Denisova explains in words and pictures the complex process behind making her special bear linocut prints for our New Russian Life project.
Whoosh, Bark, and Boo This week was a grab bag of jobs well done, tear-jerkers, and meta-scary stories. Buckle up!
Operation Infektion This week, the New York Times released a well-researched, well-produced series of three videos on Russian and Soviet disinformation activities against the US and the rest of the world. Every Russophile needs to watch them.
Aleksashka in the Halls of Power On this day 345 years ago, Alexander Menshikov was born into a poor peasant family. No one could have predicted to what heights he would rise.
Of Ryan Gosling and the Dancing Siberians This week we’ve got sweet stories you’ll want as much as that second piece of pie: an injury-free minefield, Ryan Gosling, and dancing police.
We Once Had a Poet Named Tyutchev Fyodor Tyutchev (whose 115th birthday is today) was endowed with genius and good luck: a great Russian poet, he was not killed in a duel or in the Caucasus. Nor did he rot in Siberia, but instead lived until he was 70 and died in his own bed.
Vladimir Gilyarovsky and Russian Journalism Even today, 165 years after his birth, Vladimir Gilyarovsky - journalist, poet and writer of prose - is widely revered, especially among Muscovites.
Russian Fairy Tales of Royalty and Rappers We have a trio of uplifting stories this week: a Russian rapper freed, a Russian beauty turned royalty, and a literal (and strange) military lift.
Jedi Masters, Moon Colonies, and More This week goes intergalactic with a moon colony, two jedi masters, and several unhappy taxi drivers.
Sex, Drugs, and Rockin' Rectors This week is all about the places where Russians and new cultural phenomena meet, for better and for worse.
Merriment and Mischief Rocker tweens meet robots meet revelers in a very silly lead-up to Christmas week.
Richardson Receives Distinguished Alumni Award Paul Richardson, publisher of Russian Life, was presented with the Indiana University REEI Distinguished Alumnus Award, an honor that celebrates alumni of the Institute who have made exceptional contributions to academia, public service, education, outreach, and other fields by drawing on their expertise in the Russian and East European region.
Get Thee to Kolomna If you want to see the majestic, historic side of St. Petersburg, yet experience an area where people actually live, you should head to Kolomna.
Favorite Stories from 2018 We look back and some of our, and your, favorite stories from The Weekly Russia File during 2018.
Out with the Old, in with the Emu 2018 is out, 2019 is in, and even with the holidays, Russian news didn’t stop.
New Year, New Coffee Most people will associate Russia and Russians with tea, yet coffee is not some sort of Ivan-Come-Lately to Mother Russia.
The Coldest Town in the World The Australian edition of 60 Minutes traveled to Oymakon last winter and brought back this story.
Crooks and Crazies this Russian Christmas Russian Orthodox Christmas has come and gone, leaving us with all sorts of holiday lunacy.
A Great Overlooked Victory The Battle of Molodi, while not a well-remembered battle, was a rather important one in Russia’s history. Yet for some reason it is little-known.
A Tale of Two Movies Winter break is known to be a difficult time for Russia: to cope with all that time off, many flock to the cinema. This holiday season's most popular movie? It's about tanks.
The Beauty, the Beast, and the Bumbling Public Official The post-holiday doldrums must not exist in Russia, where we find stories of hope, change, and a mayor that cares.
Mud-slinging and Money-making This week got a little shifty, with trash sent in packages, a possible tax evasion scheme, and a game retelling a contentious moment in recent Russian history.
From Fairy Magic to Retirement Planning Russia's Central Bank believes people's financial illiteracy and economic troubles stem from bad messaging in Russian folk tales. Could it be true?
The American housewives who sought freedom in Soviet Russia In the summer of 1922, Ruth Epperson Kennell, a children’s librarian, left New York City for the far reaches of Siberia. She travelled with her husband Frank and 132 other ‘pioneers' who were eager to establishing industrial and agricultural communes to aid the ‘new Russia’.
Art Theft Made Easy and Pizza vs. the New Cold War Whether it’s stealing a favorite painting, living your Russian dream, or feeding your supposed enemy, these Russians channel Nike and Just Do It.
Christ in the Dungeon This fascinating wooden sculpture exhibition is running in St. Petersburg through mid-Febuary. For those who cannot visit, we offer a photo feature and notes from the curator.
Piter's People – Nikolay Predtechensky St. Petersburg was founded in 1703 as a port on the Baltic Sea, and about 10% of its surface area is water. So we meet a boat rental company owner and find out the best place for pizza in the city.
A Whole New World (of Nuclear Weapons) Whether you think INF stands for Instant New Fear or Internationalism Never Falters, this week’s got you covered with both politics and otherworldly events.
Tomin: Video Artist Extraordinaire Khabarovsk artist Tomin creates mind-bending, universe-tilting videos. We tracked him down to find out how he does it.
From Russia with Love Russia’s full of crazy (but lovable) animal stories this week: polar bears, camels, and fathers, oh my!
Black Snow, Brown Bears, and Sore Losers Two bears (Bers) meet very different fates. Meanwhile, black ice gets a whole new meaning.
Piter's People - Katya Kotlyar Graphic designer, traveler, instagram explorer, Katya Kotlyar knows her home city inside out, and sees it as an artist would, as a beautiful backdrop for living.
Krasnoyarsk Goes All Potemkin Authorities in Krasnoyarsk want to put the Siberian city's best face forward for March's Universiade sporting event, while covering up local pollution and snow-deficit issues. Residents are having none of it.
An ode to men, the opposite of old cat ladies As Russia celebrates men on Defenders of the Fatherland Day, it encourages them to have more sex, for the sake of growing the population of the Fatherland. Just not at work.
Five Proverbs to Get You Hyped for Maslenitsa Learn some proverbs and eat some blini as the Slavic world prepares to celebrate Butter Week.
A Grim Tale of Redemption Redemption is grim, shocking, and rooted in the author's own tragic history. Yet, true to its name, it is a powerful story of redemption.
Absence (of Sugar and Corgis) Makes the Heart Grow Fonder Life can be rocky, whether it’s because you can’t see a corgi movie, or because you’re a dead fictional character.
Piter's People – Sergey Goorin St. Petersburg is often thought to be a gray city, as it only has about 75 sunny days each year. Still, photographer Segrey Goorin finds inspiration here for his black and white photography, capturing street life, extraordinary locals and numerous parties.
Vladimir Etush: On Stage for Seven Decades One of the oldest actors working in Russia, Vladimir Etush, has died at 96.
Not Such a Flowering Holiday March 8 struggles with the duality of being the day of women and the day of “womanness.”
Wailing for Freedom What would the world be like without a wee boy, women, or whales in the wild? Definitely worse.
When Russian Cuisine Turns Georgian Why is Georgian food so popular in Russia? Turns out there's more to it than deliciousness.
A Race With a Heart (of a Dog) Every year, people from all over the world convene in a small snowy town in northern Russia for the friendliest and fluffiest of sports events – started by an Orthodox nun in a wheelchair who had an idea... and a dog.
A Dog and a Muscovite Come In from the Cold Three things you can find online and in real life: cats, dogs, and video games.
Piter's People - Ekaterina Khozatskaya Ekaterina is an artist who is constantly sketching in St. Petersburg bars. Her hobby led to the creation of the Instagram blog “Between the Bars,” where she captures the city's bohemian atmosphere.
Naked Facts about Science, Art and Agriculture Snow leopards, cannabis, and nudity are trending in Russia.
The Final Frontier of Communism Take a rocket launch into the dizzying expanses of Soviet space propaganda.
Natalia Filyova, aviation superwoman, dies One of Russia's wealthiest women, Natalia Filyova, together with her husband built the country's second largest airline from the ground up. She died in an air crash over the weekend.
Smart Homes, Sledgehammers, and Star Wars References Old meets new in the Far North, while both pranksters and public officials see their performances go awry.
Piter's People – Tigran Ayrapetyan Tigran loves history and music, plays piano, and founded hotels. Oh, and he also tries to make time travel possible.
Come Out and Play Defending gay rights, yoga, recycling, and a stress-free childhood. Yes, in Russia.
To the Kokosmos For Cosmonautics Day 2019, Anna Radchenko directs a surreal meditation on space. Watch the complete film on Russian Life.
Do Russian Robots Dream of Electric Ice? This week’s TWERF will amaze you, amuse you, and possibly give you nightmares.
Russian History in 13 Unusual Memorials A time-travelling tour of Russia from aristocats to nosy bureaucrats
17% of the Earth Day Moss, kneeless bears, diamonds, and volunteers (not serfs) are the worth of Russia’s earth.
Piter's People – Dusya Gorbovskaya Dusya is a Vasiliyevsky Island local, whose job it is to promote a creative space located on the island – Sevkabel Port.
Lights, camera, shovels! Russian officials participating in the subbotnik spring cleaning take a page from Lenin's book (the one about propaganda).
The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Russian Rock Curious about Russian rock but don’t know where to start? Here are five bands to start your playlist.
The Robots are Having a Whale of a Time There are wondrous things under the sea… but don’t get in too deep over your head.
Fact-Checking the Caucasus How true-to-life is a favorite Soviet movie, and what does it tell us about the Caucasus?
A Dangerous Film about Dangerous Wars Pavel Lungin’s controversial film Братство is nothing new, but its political context is — and that’s what makes it so dangerous.
It's an Animal World After All This week, we bring you three animal stories: wholesome, funny, and one with a twist.
The Pull of Stalin's Riviera On the foundation of Intourist and some of the beautiful posters they used to entice tourist to Soviet Russia.
An Alien's Guide to the Subway Sometimes a subway is just that. And sometimes it is not. On the perils of inter-lingual travel...
Russian Grammar Wars Tough time learning Russian? It’s not just you. Russians themselves frequently struggle to determine what is “correct.”
A Place for Everything Sorry, Bulgakov – the devil didn’t come to Moscow this time, but prizes and panties did.
Far From Moscow: A Digital Festival for the Ages Check out five of the best up-and-coming Russian indie bands of 2018 and 2019.
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Fire/Lightning? An invincible rocket survives lightning, teachers cosplay as Avengers, and a kid plays on a swing.
Happy 85th to Alexei Leonov Alexei Leonov, the first man to walk among the stars, gets an unusual birthday greeting from space.
Opposite Day in the World's Smallest Country Ticks are good, good grades are bad, and please, don’t drink the water.
How to Celebrate Russia Day The history of Russia Day is both complicated and controversial, with its origins in the dusk of the Soviet Union. Even its name causes confusion, with only about half the Russian population correctly identifying the holiday observed on June 12. We dig in to ferret out the facts.
Diving and Driving into Summer Holidays There’s lots of ways to have fun, whether it be a patriotic holiday or an “unpatriotic” game.
Arctic Atlantis On June 21, 1900, an intrepid explorer set off to find a mysterious Arctic island. He was never to be seen again.
Cycling with the Count Throughout his long life, Leo Tolstoy had many strange hobbies. One of them was bicycling, which he learned at the ripe age of 67, and which he loved. But that's not to say there weren't some humorous incidents...
The Surreal Among Us An interview with St. Petersburg photographer Viktor Mogilat, about his thought provoking art.
Chernobyl and the Soviet Legacy Chernobyl, the HBO miniseries, is many things: a disaster movie, a meditation on power, a warning against secrecy, a thriller – a race against time.
Concrete in the Clouds Snakes, shashlik, secret Soviet structures, students: just a few things you can find on Russky Island.
Trolley Drama and Piano Trauma A funeral for a trolley, a near-funeral for a pianist, and scared birds: all this and more on this week’s TWERF.
Swipe Me! Eat Me! Watch Me! Tinder, fish soup, and wakeboarding — these make both entertaining pastimes and fantastic publicity stunts.
A Good Time to Visit Pskov Sleepy Pskov has everything a historic Russian town ever needed: a winding river, a kremlin, and whitewashed churches – all of which have finally received global recognition from UNESCO.
A Friend of Both Russia and Ukraine Yes, it is possible to be a Russophile and a Ukrainephile. We explain how.
The Illegal and the Unbelievable This week’s “criminals”: politicians with dead souls, chocolate Robin Hoods, kid-conductors, and a woman who just wants to go home.
Brighton Beach: A Snapshot of the Ex-Soviet Diaspora Join us on a visit to Brighton Beach, a slice of Russia in America that has been shaped by the immigrant experience.
A Cross Wrapped in a Card, Inside a Khinkali In which Communists hate Georgian food, a cross is accidentally paved over, and the King of Spades rules Russia.
Beyond Bears: The Birds and the B(irch Tr)ees 14 members of Russia’s flora and fauna community that should be known to any self-respecting Russophile.
Tips for Russian Train Travel There may be no better way to understand Russia than spending a few days chugging across the country by train. Here are our tips for how to make the most of it.
The Road to Nowhere This week, Russians are caught in the act by means of butter, watermelon, and a controversial color
"The Last Czars" is a Disgrace to Russian History “The Last Czars” is a wolf in sheep’s clothing: disingenuous, deceitful hagiography masquerading as history.
When Chekhov Met Tolstoy On this day in 1895, two Titans of Russian literature met for the first time and had a swim. Or did they?
Missing Lakes, Concert Mistakes, and Séances with Darwin Lakes vanish, free food appears, and a priest speaks to the dead.
When Artists Get on Board with a Russian Protest As opposition protests rock Moscow, we look at how contemporary artists have interpreted the actions of Russia's riot police.
13 Massive Russian Monuments You Need to See In which we share some of Russia's big monuments (and moments) – from ice battles to DNA in stone and steel.
Come Hell or High Horses, Let's Save This Plane! A former lawyer saves 233 lives, and a guy finds hell in Yaroslavl. Also, your next delivery guy might deliver on horseback.
Odessa's Underground In which we explore the cats, catacombs, and contraband of a Russian imperial port.
17 Readings on Tolstoy Today is the birthday of Lev Tolstoy. We scoured our archives and offer a listing of 17 articles we have published on the great author over the years.
Summer Fun for All Faiths and All Ages Presidents eating ice cream, kids reporting toy theft to police… summer is almost over, thank Allah.
What Russian Rock Music Says About the Motherland “Mother Russia” is much more than a stereotype. Everyone has opinions on it, Russian rock musicians included.
Cosmic Robots, Cosmonaut Rituals, and Classrooms Resplendent There are two kinds of fast learners: robots and schoolchildren. Meanwhile, an odd cosmonaut tradition comes under siege.
Planting the Fourteenth Century Russian scientists have restored the steppe of Kulikovo – just as it was when the country's seminal battle was fought in 1380.
Cover Story Asya Lisina created a beautiful and somewhat surprising cover for the current issue of Russian Life. We asked her to explain herself...
Homecoming to Mother Russia Russian women: give birth in Syrian prisons, drive metro trains, make news (and borsch), and welcome children home from the dead.
Eight Russian Desserts To Make Your Mouth Water Forget vodka – dessert is the best part of Russian meals.
Bus Parades, Pumpkin Beheadings, and Other Dumb Ways to Die While city vehicles go for a stroll, death comes knocking — twice.
Go, Go to Ukraine to Find Gogol Small-town Ukraine shows a different side of one the famous "Russian" writer.
The Twitter Wars of the Russian MFA All of Twitter’s a stage for the Russian Foreign Ministry to promote its view of World War II.
Drop by St. Petes on a New Free E-visa Travelers hailing from 53 countries can now enter St. Petersburg on a hassle-free (and FREE) electronic visa. Dobro pozhalovat!
Beer, Balloons, and (GMO) Babies Can samogon predict recessions? Can a balloon seduce Elon Musk? And can Putin grow babies in labs? Find out this and more in this week’s TWERF.
American Folk Dance? Ukrainians Can Swing It. Swing dance talent and passion is surprisingly strong in Eastern Europe.
To and From Russia with Love Russians send the Night’s Watch to New Jersey and bottles to Brazil; they welcome a Swedish girl to speak and immigrants to share their imya (name).
Poems for a Golden Autumn Autumn is colder and darker than summer, but is it really that depressing? Classic poets and rock musicians weigh in.
Things to Avoid After Drinking Vodka Fall starts on a harmonious note, Putin’s meeting with the Saudis — not so much. Also, happy birthday to vodka!
Adding Me, and You, and All of Us to AdMe.ru In which we visit the weird world of the homegrown Russian Buzzfeed.
A State of Repression "Russia's strict state, with a harsh, or, more exactly, cruel law enforcement system... has raised a generation of citizens to match."
Saving Moscow - One Letter at a Time Activists in Moscow are crowdfunding to restore century-old signs, and uncovering traces of a buzzing and eclectic merchant city.
Velimir Khlebnikov: Innovating 100 Years Before Silicon Valley Happy birthday to Velimir Khlebnikov, Futurist poet, avant-gardist, and developer of an algorithm to predict the future.
Dostoyevsky's Birthday in 10 Dark Quotes In honor of the writer's 198th birthday, here are 10 quotes to celebrate the life and writings of Fyodor Dostoyevsky. They may not be cheerful, but they sure are profound.
"Eagles These Days Text Too Much," Said Putin (Or Did He?) This week, eagles rack up data bills while Putin pontificates about AI and a restaurant operator starts Meatless Mondays.
Piter's People – Nikita Filippov Nikita was trained as a philologist, but gave it all up to co-found a craft brewery.
No Shortage of Soup and Porridge! Hearty Russian soups to warm up this autumn, all seven days a week.
Tis the Season for Pickled Ferns and Ice Cream Fish aren’t food, ice cream is medicine, ferns are pickles
A Prudently Droll, Privately Disquieting Police Day A little-known holiday brings to the fore well-known debates about Russian politics.
Baggage Bros, Covert Crimea, and Brezhnev's Crimes Brezhnev’s traffic ticket goes on sale, Crimea shows up in Astrakhan, and a man gives an all for his cat.
Seven Kasha's To Live By... Seven types of kasha to last you all winter – from farina to kutya, and everything worth eating in between...
(Don't!) Touch for Good Luck Urban legends and superstitions made some sculptures in Moscow and St. Petersburg too famous for their own good, and some culture officials have had enough.
Ice, Ice, Baby Tigers A cold flag, a resolved cold case, and the not-cold-at-all hearts of Russian children
Too Much Catherine, Not Enough Greatness: Two Reviews of "Catherine the Great" Two reviewers evaluate Catherine the Great through a gender and a storytelling lens.
Dumbledovich and the Chamber of Bovine Distractions Russia is a little out of touch with reality this week: gates lead to nowhere, cows get VR, and bankers think the economy is like Harry Potter.
11 Reasons to Be Grateful for Russia Russians may not celebrate Thanksgiving, but we can still be thankful for Russia
"Yo" is for Yolka Pie not in the sky, vampires against anti-vaxxers, cooks for cats… not to mention self-improvement in advance of the New Year
Piter's People – Kseniya Schastlivtseva Kseniya is an architect, who found her passion in jewelry making.
Perestroika Without Pleasure This year marks the 30th anniversary of Yanka Dyagileva’s punk rock album Anhedonia, the greatest monument to perestroika that you’ve never heard of.
Exorcising the Spirit of Upside-Down Christmas Ded Moroz and kindergarten parents conceive of the Christmas spirit very differently. Also, Russians may have domesticated the first dog.
Beginner's Guide to Getting Off the Beaten Path in Eurasia Eight tips to make your travels throughout the former Soviet Union easy, fun, and low-budget!
Tik-Tok Goes the Progress Clock Political entities and 97-year-old veterans on social media, transgender marriage, and sushi at office parties show Russia is ready for 2020
Best of The Russia File 2019 We re-share some of our favorite stories from 2019. They may not be the most noteworthy or newsworthy stories, but we felt they were the most fun.
Russians on Oscar Shortlists Three Russian films have been shortlisted for the Oscars this year, in three different categories. Some critics say it is unprecedented and a sign the country's creative industry is on the upturn.
You'll Spritz Your Eye Out: Testing Putin Cologne All I want for Christmas is to smell like Putin. (Unboxing a mysterious Putin-esque cologne.)
Meet Russia's favorite sable Siberian sable fur was once Russia's biggest luxury export, but now we can't get enough of Instagram star Umora, the sable inspiring Russians to never look at fur coats again.
Health in the Soviet Sanatorium From salty baths to salt caves, sanatoriums throughout Eurasia have, over the centuries, changed in form, but not in spirit.
Piter's People - Mikhail Ivanov Mikhail is the director of a book store that has been operating in St. Petersburg since 1926.
Wacky Winter Weather The weather has been all over the place in Russia, and future forecasts predict more of the same.
Putting Robots to Work on the Past Ever wanted to take a stroll in nineteenth century Moscow? See how one Russian uses machine learning to make grainy old videos ever more realistic.
The Epic, the Bad, and the Ugly: The Best of Russian History Russian history is interesting. Not always beautiful, not always glorious, but almost always... interesting.
Russians "Re-Zero" in Online Humor After President Vladimir Putin admitted he wouldn't mind resetting his constitutional term limit, a new meme was born.
Coronavirus Coping: Russian Lit has the Answers Russian literature has an answer for everything. In the times of coronovirus, this is your guide.
Generation "Y (Just) Russia, Y (Just) Politics?" Millennials studying Russian will determine the future of U.S.-Russia relations. How they differ from their Sovietologist predecessors.
Dissecting Chekhov Translation is an art, not a science. And translating Chekhov is a particularly challenging art.
Piter's People – Darya Aleksandrova Few Russians know who Julia Child is. Yet Darya still chose to name her restaurant after the iconic American chef.
Officially Over the Hill The company that publishes Russian Life was officially founded 30 years ago today. It's been a helluva ride...
Homebound a la Russe As Russia follows the rest of the world in asking people to self-isolate, struggling venues are launching online shows, tours, and even cooking classes. Here are some streaming options from Mother Russia.
Little Big's Big Little Moment What happens now that Eurovision is canceled? Little Big would like to know...
Piter's People coping with Coronavirus Given all that has been going on, we thought it would be a good time to check in with some of the people we have profiled in Piter's People and see how they are doing.
A Russian Gift A look at how the Jesuits, Pope Francis, and Georgetown University all share an interesting connection to Russia.
Exploring Medieval Russia in Veliky Novgorod “The Birthplace of Russia” might be a little off the beaten path, but it houses plenty of surprises for the enthusiastic history buff.
Dr. Anton Chekhov and the Typhus Epidemic In 1887, Chekhov the doctor encountered typhus, leading Chekhov the writer to pen this powerful story.
Russian Epidemics and Riots The world's novel coronavirus emergency response is, it turns out, not so novel.
Little Big: Where are they now? The former Eurovision competitors have been staying busy during quarantine.
Russian/Soviet War Movies You Can Stream Some of the best Russian and Soviet films about World War II that you can stream online.
Piter's People – Maxim Kosmin Maxim is a blogger and photographer who helps everyone to see the charm of St. Petersburg historic apartments.
The Amazing Life of Moscow's Gator Saturn, a Mississippi alligator, saw Hitler and survived the Battle of Berlin. A tribute to the Moscow Zoo's greatest reptile.
Tiger Queen: The Incredible American Odyssey of Rasputin's Daughter The life of Rasputin's daughter, Maria, was full of twists and turns almost as dramatic as her father's, and took her deep into the American heartland.
Celebrating Russia's Graduates If you think American high school graduations have fanfare, wait till you see what Russians in St. Petersburg do.
The Inheritance of the Tsars: Russia's Claim to Rome Russia-watchers sometimes encounter the idea that Moscow is the "Third Rome." But where does this idea come from, and what does it mean?
Russia's Stone Belt: The Urals Find out what the deal is with Russia's stone belt – the Ural Mountains.
The Soviet Diet Cook Book Food-writer Anna Kharzeeva brings best Soviet recipes, spiced with hints and memories from her Jewish Grandmother.
Racism Here and There A Russian moves his family to America to avoid racism. Their experience is telling.
Grandpa Lenin and General Lee A considering of differing Russian and American views on monuments, history, racism, and coming to terms with history
Putin's Victorious Summer This year's Victory Day parade was a sight to behold— and we might be seeing its effects for the next 16 years.
From Poetry to Song: A Russian Poet's Work Makes a Debut How the work of one of Soviet Russia's greatest poets found new life through modern music.
Sad Smiles and Kremlin Corruption Recounting a 2008 meeting with activist Alexei Navalny, before he rose to prominence.
Day of Knowledge and the Start of School September 1 is not only the start of the school year in Russia, but also a time to celebrate knowledge and wisdom.
The Hunt for Movie Russian "Kakov nipudt pakaru!" The classic 1990 movie Hunt for Red October had a $30 million budget. Apparently none of that went towards Russian language coaches.
A Russian Millennial's Path to Vinaigrette Growing up in post-Soviet Russia can make you crave anything foreign. Here is how a salad helped a Russian millennial develop a taste for her own culture.
Seaweed, salami, and potatoes on bikes Anton Morozov grew up on potatoes and seaweed in the hungry ’90s. He still eats seaweed every day, and now has turned many Russians onto it.
Baba Yaga: Russian Folktales' Classic Witch Slavic folklore sports a spooky old crone that just might give you a costume idea this Halloween.
A Hotelier Shares the Love Raised between classy Moscow and a farm in Krasnodar region, Elena Manienan learned a few things from both her grandmothers and is spreading the love at her remote hotel and eco-village.
How Leo Tolstoy Shaped the Modern Melodrama On the 110th anniversary of Lev Tolstoy's death, we look back at his link to cinema: Tolstoy is more closely linked to the history of the cinema than any other writer of his time.
What Happened in Khabarovsk? How one sparsely-populated region in Russia's Far East became a hotbed of protests in 2020.
Dumplings Fit for a Surgeon Tuyana loves being a doctor. But she has a passion for pozy – steamed dumplings rooted in Buryatia that are shaped like a yurt.
An Immigrant's Story, with Cake Polina Chesnakova's family moved from Russia to Georgia, then from Georgia to Ukraine, and to the US. A cookbook author and cooking instructor, Chesnakova keeps her family traditions alive through cooking and baking, and inspiring others.
Soviet Disneyland: Exploring VDNKh One of our favorite spots in Moscow is a surreal blend of theme park, museum, and Stalinist kitsch.
Oksana and Her "Jewish" Zakuska In which we meet Oksana, Russian millennial and cook. She shares childhood memories of a surprisingly abundant 90s, and her favorite snack: the "Jewish" zakuska.
Russian America There are countless interesting, Russian-related places across North America. We have used the Google Map Engine to show where some of them are.
Most Popular Stories of 2020 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...
Herring Under a What? A popular New Year’s dish in Russia, Herring under a Fur Coat is a bit baffling.
A thirst for travel... and kefir Leo started traveling as a young man. Upon emigrating, he traveled around the world twice, and has been to 120 countries. At 84, he yearns for more.
The Best (and Worst) Facial Hair in Russian History Which Russian tsars, stars, and commissars sported the most macho mustaches, grimy goatees, and bombastic beards? Let's make a listicle!
From the Urals to San Francisco Olga was born one year after the collapse of the USSR, but she witnessed both scarcity and communal living. Optimism and creativity have served her well.
Shurpa: Gulnaz's Taste of Home Gulnaz has lived in many places: the Siberian North, St. Petersburg, Georgia, and Moscow. And shurpa has been with her wherever she went.
Don't Cross the Domovoy The creaks of a home can startle the most grounded adult. What kind of mischief might this mean, what kind of creatures lurk unseen?
A Valentine Gift: He and She In which we review Him & Her, Daria Geller’s marvelous, heartbreaking, new short film, inspired by Chekhov’s “Он и Она” (properly, “He and She”). A perfect film to enjoy for Valentine's Day.
An Ode to the Hovercraft Russia is a land of many mysteries. The greatest of all, of course, is this: What's the deal with Russians and their hovercraft?
From Tvorog to Protests Natalia was raised between downtown St. Petersburg and a small village. She is passionate about sharing all aspects of Russian life: both the good and the bad.
City Spotlight: Barnaul A carjacking museum, Soviet statues, and Hollywood letters: let's take a closer look at one of Russia's best-hidden gems, the city of Barnaul.
Kalling All Krokodils The Soviet satirical magazine Crocodile, which ran from 1922 until the 2000s, was both a government tool for propaganda as well as space for artists, comics, and writers to engage in hard social and political critique.
International Women's Day: A Look Back Tired of having to do Valentine's Day and Mother's Day separately? Try it the Russian way and combine them into International Women's Day! A closer look at this convenient holiday's socialist origins and not-so-socialist present form.
Eggplant Caviar, on the Shelf and at the Dacha Brought to Russia in the seventeenth century, eggplant caviar became wildly popular after a Soviet comedy movie. A Russian blogger shares her story.
A Memory Battle for Lubyanka Square The hoopla surrounding a new monument at a controversial location in central Moscow highlights the importance of history for Russia – and ourselves.
The Sea Buckthorn: Russia's Berry Best This tiny Siberian berry packs a powerful punch – both in flavor and health benefits.
Change Your Default Mouth Position Dr. Kimberly DiMattia, known to her Russian students as Kira, has a range of offerings for anyone who wants to "move the needle" on their pronunciation.
The Soviet Creative In the Soviet period, artists were treated with esteem and lived comfortably, but their privileged position also required sacrifice.
Milk Foam Pancakes is Only the Beginning Traditional Yakut meals get a second chance thanks to local museum. Tuyara, museum employee and part of the program to bring back these recipes, shares her story.
The World's Largest Country, Made Tiny St. Petersburg's Grand Maket Rossiya presents a droll and humorous self-reflection of Russian life.
Five Russian Words You May Be Misusing The good news is that if you don't already speak Russian, you probably already know a few words in the language! The bad news is that you've also probably been using these words wrong.
Not-Russia Does Great Figure Skating The non-doping "Russia" won three out of four events at the recent world figure skating championships and swept the ladies' podium.
Funky Soviet Keepsakes Citizens of the Soviet Union amassed many things, but of all the collectibles, perhaps the most popular was the badge (znachok).
The Past in the Past: Reading a Book about Soviet Archaeology A sixty-year-old Christmas present reveals how Soviet archaeologists perceived their craft.
Siberia: Land of Pines, Exile, Cold... and Bird Cherry Cake. Siberia is surrounded by stereotypes, but there's more to it than exile and cold. It has amazing forests, pine nuts and delicious bird cherry cake.
My First Ivan Kupala Ivan Kupala is a traditional Slavic celebration of the summer solstice, with many pagan and deeply symbolic rituals. How are these ancient customs celebrated and recreated today in modern Russia?
Vladimir Pozner: Soviet Soldier-Journalist Vladimir Pozner Jr., Russian-American journalist and television host, describes his path to disillusionment.
Alice by Another Name, and Nabokov, Too In some other Wonderland, she may have remained Alice – but when a certain Sirin heard of her plight, his messy meddling left her convinced she was Anya.
A Soviet Bake-Off and Blini Julia Frey's parents, Victor and Victoria, created beautiful feasts in the Soviet times. For Victor, it meant getting cake equipment tailor-made and becoming the best baker in town. For Victoria, it was cooking a Russian and Ukranian storm. Julia cooks, bakes and reminisces about her "great childhood" in London.
Eisenstein's Mythic Masterpiece: Alexander Nevsky The legend of Russia's heroic defender passed into Stalinist myth with some help from one of the 20th century's most famous filmmakers.
Zelyonka: It Ain't Easy Being Green Brilliant Green Dye or "Zelyonka," as it is known in Russia, has been a popular antiseptic and mild chemical weapon in the country for years. How is it possible for one thing to have two such varied uses?
Finding Her Russian Roots How a conversation led one of 60,000 Russian adoptees in the United States on a journey to her past.
Eco-Scandal on Lake Baikal: "Chinese Invasion" or Distraction? There has long been anxiety about a “Chinese takeover” of Siberia. Even Lake Baikal is not immune.
Soviet Terror of the Skies: Marina Raskova and the Night Witches The bravery with which the all-female 588th Night Bomber Regiment defended the Soviet Union from Nazi invasion earned them a legendary nickname.
The Forgotten Journey of the Frigate Pallada An often-overlooked high-seas tale of swashbuckling adventure, empire, and exchange between Russia and Japan.
Great Grechka! In May, the Russian Federation temporarily banned the export of grechka, also known as buckwheat, from June 5 to August 31.
Using Laughter to Cope These eight outstanding Soviet comedies show some of what has made Russians laugh over the past century. Most are still watched today. (First in our new series on learning about Russia through its films.)
Your Trip To The U.S.S.R. Let's take a trip to a nation that no longer exists! We've got an old hard-cover travel guide to lead the way.
Follow the Money Russia's independent press faces innumerable pressures. Former Russian Life Editor Mikhail Ivanov (1995–2003) describes how economic issues have long plagued the Russian media system.
Lessons From the Russian Village Life in a remote Siberian village can teach you a lot about adaptability, nature, food, and, most importantly, folklore.
Putin's Pooches On this, Vladimir Putin's 69th birthday, we are reminded that even authoritarian leaders are softies for good dogs. Maybe especially so?
Garnet Bracelet Salad: A Tribute to a Popular Russian Love Story How a classic romance novel inspired a delicious Russian holiday delight.
Canning Worth Its Salt What better way to celebrate the shifting seasons than with a review of the delicious things you might find stored away in a Russian pantry for colder days. Recipes included!
Biopics: Monarchs, Heroes, and Their Fans Eleven recent biopics highlight fascinating histories of Russians of ages past.
At Home with Dostoyevsky If, for some reason, you ever find yourself in the small town of Staraya Russa, be sure to check out Dostoyevsky's summer house.
Dostoyevsky in Siberia and Beyond Dostoyevsky spent ten years of his life exiled to Russia's Eastern hinterlands. Beyond the Urals, there are several places that shaped Dostoyevsky and influenced many of his greatest works of literature.
Cats: An Unofficial Symbol of Saint Petersburg St. Petersburg is a magical place, in part thanks to its feline denizens.
Dostoyevsky's Brilliant Wife Anna In which we learn about the strong-willed and brilliant Anna Dostoyevskaya, the wife of Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Lenin Claus Is Coming to Town A delightful Soviet winter tale about children, a big holiday tree, and the true meaning of Christmas: communism.
10 Things About Moscow at the End of 2021 (With Pictures!) Despite the pandemic (and a bad reputation for a distinctly Russian grimace), it’s not all sad faces in Moscow at the end of 2021.
Heroes With a Foreign Accent in Russian Cinema Six films in Russian cinema with foreign characters as their heroes.
Not Quite Business as Usual Sellers of souvenirs? They’re missing you, folks! But perhaps not that much.
The Fiasco, by Anton Chekhov In honor of Chekhov's birthday, we present his story, "The Fiasco," translated by Bob Blaisdell. And a video version...
Biking with Style, with Putin: The Night Wolves Russia has an ultranationalist, pro-Putin motorcycle gang. Because of course it does.
Sending Smiles from the Soviet Union Where we remember Vladimir Lagrange, the photographer who showed everyday Soviets living their lives.
Battling Dementia, One Stitch at a Time Embroidery brings 84-year-old Yulia Aleshicheva peace and focuses her mind ravaged by dementia. But thanks to an enterprising grandson, her colorful art has many fans around the world.
Ukraine Invasions and Justifications: Catherine the Great Got There First An illustrated history that draws parallels between a potential invasion of Ukraine today and Catherine the Great’s occupation and annexation of Crimea in the late 1700s.
No to War (Нет войне) The Kremlin's unprovoked, illegal war on Ukraine will backfire. And untold millions will suffer. Silence would be complicity in this horrendous crime.
A Doughy but Cozy Plyushka This Russian sweet pastry has turned heads since ancient times. Because it's still delicious.
This is How the War Ends Those in power need to seek a way to end the war that could be agreed to by Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and the US. It seems a tall order, but really it’s not that hard to envision.
Why Putin Invaded Ukraine A brief analysis of why exactly Putin invaded Ukraine. And the reason he's giving.
Culture Under Fire Five sites in Ukraine that are known for their cultural value and how they have been affected by the ongoing war.
Televised Bravery A one-woman anti-war picket interrupts Russia's most important state news program to tell the country, "They are lying to you!"
Russian Perspectives on the War in Ukraine An exploration of Russian perspectives on the war in Ukraine.
Gogol: A Surrealist Author between Russia and Ukraine An ode to one of the wittiest authors of Russian literature. And one with a complex legacy.
Loving the Homeland and Leaving It Too A powerful, deep interview with one of Russia's leading artists and humanitarians, about her decision to leave Russia.
Annihilating Mariupol: When is it a War Crime? At least eighty percent of Mariupol has been destroyed or damaged. An account of what has happened in the city through the eyes of two refugees – Alla, 87 years old, and Denis Hulai, 24 – both of whom managed to escape with their families.
Pysanky for Peace Ukrainian Easter pysanky are a colorful symbol of peace and prosperity. As the country resists Russian aggression, there are ways to support Ukrainian pysanka makers, learn to decorate your own Easter egg, or join a local event to learn about this unique tradition.
A Nation's Symbol: the Flag of Ukraine The Ukrainian flag that flies as a symbol of patriotism and solidarity has a strong history.
The Spirit of Maidan Remembering the Maidan protests of 2014 and how Ukrainians fought back when their freedom was threatened.
What the Invasion Means for Russians The Russian people may not be at the front lines, but they, too, will feel the effects of war in Ukraine.
Sergei Elkin: Russia Through Caricatures Over the years, Sergei Elkin has created hundreds of cartoons satirizing Russia's politicians and elites.
Friends to the Friend Who Isn't There Armenia’s relationship with Russia is complicated, yet locals are welcoming fleeing Russians.
Piercing Russian Propaganda Russia's independent media has been destroyed in the wake of the Ukraine war. Which fearless outlets continue to report and need your help?
Facts and Figures From the War: Russian Losses A round-up of some facts and figures regarding Russian losses from the Russian war on Ukraine.
Searching for Nazis Putin says he invaded Ukraine to root out Nazis. Zelensky compares the defense of Ukraine to the heroism of the 1940s. Can both be right? No. No, they can't.
Keeping the Pulse on the War with Telegram Want uncensored news about what is going on in the Ukraine War (and in Russia)? You need Telegram.
The Most Important Thing We Have Done? Russian journalists need help. Now. Russian Life and its community can help. [video]
The Not-too-Mighty Russian Armed Forces It's been four months, and Ukraine is still standing. The front lines have hardly moved in ten weeks. Is this the Russian army everyone so feared?
Life Impacts Art Two female Russian artists discuss how their life and work has been impacted by Russia's Ukraine War.
Russian News Has Gotten Wacky Since the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian press has gone off the rails. Here's what they're saying.
Bulldogs under the Kremlin Rugs As we said at the outset, Russia lost this war the day it began. But where are we now?
Anti-LGBTQ Law Has Broad Ripples President Vladimir Putin signed a law against LGBTQ "propaganda." Is this only a homophobic act? Or is it part of something bigger?
Not in the Job Description The director of a nature reserve near Novosibirsk has been arrested for illegally hunting inside his park.
Latvia Opens Its Umbrella Latvia annulled the Russian news network TV Rain's broadcasting license due to pro-Russian government narratives.
What Is Born from Fire Russian singer Monetochka released a music video on YouTube criticizing pro-government propaganda on television.
The State is the Real Enemy of the People Opposition politician Ilya Yashin was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for posting a video about Russian crimes in Bucha.
War Support Falling According to an internal, Kremlin poll, 55% of Russians favor negotiations with Ukraine, and only 25% are in favor of continuing the war.
Russians Getting a Raise? In a November 30 speech, President Vladimir Putin said the next big challenge for his government will be raising the economic well-being of Russians.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov Chekhov was one of Russia's most prolific and influential writers, and this January marks his 150th birthday. We look back at his work, always worth another read.
Money Laundering, in a Sense A colonel in the Russian army is facing house arrest for two months for taking a washing machine as a bribe.
Yandexit Russia's homegrown tech giant is collapsing under pressure from state censorship and the war in Ukraine.
The Russian Economy Is Like A Stool How is the Russian economy fairing during the war, and what can we expect in the months ahead?
Chinese Arbitration? China's UN representative has suggested that Beijing could perhaps mediate a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow.
The Wrong Kind of Patriotism A student in Karelia was reportedly disciplined for wearing a sweatshirt with an American flag on it.
Controlling Cash for Cars President Putin has called for automotive companies to keep car prices low.
Too Hot for Kazakhstan A Russian singer's Almaty concert was canceled due to her vocal support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Cracking Down on Air Travel Russia's aviation authority has placed its airport security on maximum antiterrorist alert.
English Gains in Russia Annual rating of English language proficiency worldwide shows Russia holding steady, notwithstanding anti-Western propaganda and travel bans.
Still Aloft? With no foreign technicians, Russia's aviation ministry promised to check up on nearly 600 imported aircraft by the end of the year.
The Booze Must Flow Russians hankering for foreign alcohol can now rest easy: state ministries will oversee the delivery of international alcohol products through a parallel import system.
A Travel Uptick? Even as the invasion of Ukraine continues, internal sources say that Russians are traveling once again.
A Lady Leaves Famous Russian journalist and politician Ksenia Sobchak has reportedly fled the country to avoid arrest.
Mature Maneuvers A US Air Force plane has drawn ire for reportedly flying near a Russian base in a less-than-PG-rated path.
To the Frontline or to Prison “Now they have been abandoned without command. They are in some village in the Luhansk region. They need to get out of there because now they are attacked again by an army of enemies. How will they return to Russia? What will happen to them next? We can’t even imagine.” – Irina, wife of a Russian soldier mobilized in Ukraine
An Escalating Strategy Russia has begun training its army for the event of a nuclear weapon deployed on its home territory.
Lust for Almost-Wandering An airport in Anapa is selling a flight experience that promises everything but the travel.
Everything is Connected We are all daily shaken and unsettled by the fire hose of bad news from Russia and Ukraine, and we all would love “something good, loving, and light from Russia to counterbalance the darkness, the senseless brutality, and the horrors perpetrated by Russian hands in Ukraine.”
Poems in a Piggy Bank War births poetry. We share five recently created and translated anti-war poems.
Russian and Me A translator with Russian roots ruminates on her past, and what it means to be a Russophile today.
A Knight Brave and Bold A mother in a remote village grapples with past, present, and future losses to war.
Never Abandon Your Own When circumstances force you to leave the country, what do you do with your beloved pets?
A Warm Welcome to the Russian Federation? The Russian government has begun instituting martial law and evacuating residents in its newly-"annexed" Ukrainian territories.
Flowers Beat Tank Kyiv based Irina Kostyshina (@iranoirodraws) offers this powerful image of a tank being subsumed by blue and yellow flowers.
Zinvasion This creative Zinvasion poster relies on Soviet-era tropes to drive its anti-war message home.
From the Front Since the start of the war, the work of Ukrainian artist Julia Veritina (@yuliiaveritina) has been particularly powerful.
Heroic Sofiia Runova (@runo_illustration) has a very sweeping, colorful style that elevates her heroic subjects.
Bags in the Forest Playing off the famous Russian painting by Shishkin and Savitsky, "Morning in a Pine Forest," sometimes known as "Mishki v Lesu" (bear cubs in the forest), @pyrigpyrozhok offers "Body Bags in a Forest" (Meshki v Lesu)
Cultural Bomb Many artists integrate icons of Russian culture as elements of aggression. This one by artists Oleksiy Say is particularly powerful.
A Quiet Power Kharkiv-based Olga Shtonda (@olgashtonda) is an illustrator whose images have a quiet power. This one in particular resonated.
Odessa Steps Another Maksym Palenko poster, showing Putin rolling down the Odessa steps, a riff on Eisenstein's famous scene from Battleship Potemkin.
Now Hiring: Occupiers Russia is looking for 52,000 new cops to serve in territories recently taken from Ukraine.
We'll Swim After Victory Our correspondent was offered a business trip to Odesa, Ukraine. He took it and brought this back.
Scratch a Russian Word... ...and you are likely to find a Tatar one beneath it. We dig into the sordid details.
Letters We have received many letters and phone calls about the magazine since we restarted it in a new way this summer. As expected, there has been both support and denigration. That’s just the business we are in.
Emily Hoffman Emily Hoffman is an illustrator who lives and works in Vermont. Her work can be found here.
Elizabeth Wilson Elizabeth Wilson is a performer, teacher, and writer. She studied cello at the Moscow Conservatoire with Mstislav Rostropovich and is the author of biographies of Dmitri Shostakovich, Jacqueline du Pre, and Mstislav Rostropovich.
Everything That Should Not Be Written "I'm a fool. I didn't just cross the line, I erased it unintentionally... I think about every child, every mother, and every family. And I also think and suffer about every child on the other side, I dream that there would be no deaths, that children would not die. Believe me, the tear of every baby is my pain, my nightmare. I don't wish death on anyone, anyone." – Anton Krasovsky, head of the Russian-language directorate of RT Russia
Drilling Down A school in a Russian Black Sea town held a surprise terrorist drill without warning parents.
A Director Detained Russian playwright Alexei Zhitkovsky has been detained for suspicion of engaging in "extremism."
The New Military Economy Two days after declaring martial law in four Ukrainian regions, Vladimir Putin quietly put the Russian economy on a military footing.
Completed in Full "We hope and pray that you return alive and healthy [and] that you return victorious, having defended the security and independence of our country." – Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, announcing the end to mobilization in the capital.
Some Parents Precluded The Russian State Duma has announced that parents of three or more children can have their draft deferred.
Brussels Sprouts and Nuclear Strikes Russian politician Dmitry Medvedev dismissed EU Representative Josep Borrell's fear of nuclear war as "paranoid."
Time for A Talk? Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claims that Russia remains "open for talks" with Ukraine and other interested nations.
Donations of Vengeance Recent crowdfunding efforts in Ukraine raised almost $10m in 24 hours for kamikaze drones.
Conflict Conflagration The Kerch Strait Bridge, a symbol of Russian unity, was hit and damaged by a blast.
A Family that Disrupts Together Tensions continue to rise in Russia after the start of mobilization, leading to more extreme acts of disruption.
Ded Moroz Is Still Comin' to Town The Russian military has assured local governments that they don't need to worry about canceling New Years' festivities because of the mobilization and conflict in Ukraine.
Mobilizing Support for the Mobilized The governor of the Moscow Region has vowed social support for those mobilized in his constituency and their families.
Death Awaits Them "Honestly, they will all die there." – Kirill, a Russian soldier who has fought in Ukraine offers a grim prognosis of what awaits the new mobilized recruits.
Dangerous 10-year-olds Moscow police have detained a 10-year-old girl for using a yellow and blue avatar in her online chats with friends.
Genocide Preventing Genocide Russia filed an official objection against Ukraine's case that Russia committed genocide during its invasion of its neighbor.
All Loud on the Eastern Front Ukraine continues to press forward in its major counteroffensive against Russia, recapturing villages and towns along the way.
Mediocrity Grows Up “It’s time to prove themselves in a real fight, I can only welcome this desire.” – Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, announcing that he was sending his teenage sons to Ukraine
Imagine There's No Countries... ...It isn't hard to do... if you are Yandex. The Russian company that runs YandexMaps has stopped showing all boundaries for states and oblasts – all over the world.
Mrs. Crimea Under Fire A regional beauty pageant winner is under investigation by Russian police after singing a patriotic Ukrainian song (on the internet).
From Offense to Defense After a five-day referendum, Putin signs a decree integrating Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk into Russia.
Hard Facts from Russia's War in Ukraine A round-up of some stark facts about Russia's War on Ukraine, and how it is changing the face of Russia.
Fighting for God and Putin Patriarch Kirill says that Russians can fast-track their way to heaven by fighting in Ukraine.
A Mysterious Leak A critical natural gas pipeline between Russia and Europe has started leaking... suspiciously.
Home for the War In a surprising turn of opinion, Ramzan Kadyrov has exempted Chechnya from the draft.
Mobilization Hotline Russians with questions about Putin's recent mobilization against Ukraine can dial 112 for more information.
A Soldier Nation "We are a soldier country, a soldier nation. We will fight, it's not our first time, and so on... I feel that a rather gloomy period is ahead." – Alexei Levinson, Levada
Sentenced to Return Home After negotiations, Russia agreed to release 10 foreign prisoners captured during the fighting in Ukraine.
Served Uncivilly An employee of the international governmental organization OSCE has been sentenced to thirteen years by authorities in Russia-supported Luhansk.
HBD, Famous Orb The iconic and wacky Millennium of Russia monument in Veliky Novgorod turns 160 this month.
A Sincere Appeal “I am asking you to include me on the foreign agents' list of my beloved country.” – Russian pop star Alla Pugacheva, to the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
Referendum Redux The governments of the Ukrainian separatist LPR and DPR are calling for referendums on joining Russia – a callback to 2014 Crimea.
A Crime Against Passion Crimean wedding-goers were arrested and fined after playing a patriotic Ukrainian song at their reception.
High Treason in High Places After charging President Putin with high treason for the invasion of Ukraine, seven lawmakers have been summoned by the police.
Flipping the Script A massive Ukrainian counterattack in Kharkiv Oblast now places the frontline at the Russian border.
No Rush to Surrender The Russian military's morale weakens as Ukraine announces the liberation of two villages.
Russians Get "Good Cola" After exiting Russia earlier this year, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company has begun selling "Dobry Cola" across the country.
Excessive Restraint a New Norm? Law enforcement in Samara has begun regularly using leg shackles for courtroom defendants.
Я Вас Люблю "I love you." – Journalist Ivan Safronov after being sentenced to 22 years in prison for treason
A Rain Check for Respect Due to scheduling conflicts, Putin was not able to attend Gorbachev's funeral.
Reimbursing the Evicted Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to pay Ukrainian refugees in Russia monthly and one-time payments.
A Bite from a Billionaire For the first time, a Ukrainian court has ruled to confiscate the assets of a Russian billionaire.
Belarus Cracks Down, Again Belarus's Supreme Court has ruled that a group of former law enforcement officers who support opposition politicians is a terrorist group.
July/August 2020 Religious graffiti * Mapping remote Russia * Love in a Russian village * An Expat Goes Home * Language of COVID * History of Geography * The first linkup in space * History of dachas * Beet soup * Books to read in quarantine
January/February 2021 Russian Wine Growing • Trekking in the Russia Far East • Restoring a Town • Repairing a Stove • Enjoying Pirozhki • A Sleeper Spy • An Underappreciated Writer • Words of the Year
Gorbachev Dead at 91 Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, the Communist Party Leader who unleashed democracy, glasnost, and perestroika, has died.
Mikhail Gorbachev The rises and falls of the esteem in which Russians have held Mikhail Gorbachev over the years have been dizzying.
COVID Continues Russia's second-largest city has announced that COVID restrictions will stay in place until the end of October.
The Essence of Freedom “Independence Day will have a different meaning this year. Us Ukrainians love our freedom. We can say what we believe. My friends in Russia say they have a democracy. What kind of democracy is it if you cannot call a war a war?” – A Russian living in Ukraine, Tatyana Antonova
From the Big Screen to an Online Meme A character from a 1988 Soviet animated film has taken on a new life as a 2022 internet meme.
Five Years Ago Means Five Days in Prison A Moscow political candidate was arrested after a woman discovered a Pro-Navalny post on his Twitter from five years ago.
Puppy Love On International Homeless Animals Day, Moscow citizens attended a festival to encourage the adoption of pets from city shelters.
A Flag that Rocks The governor of Samara Oblast enlisted the help of students to create a 200-foot-long Russian tricolor out of painted stones for Russian Flag Day.
Homophobia Codified The Russian state is preparing to pass new laws banning "gay propaganda" after a recent book led to public outrage.
Foundations of Suspicion “What reason is there for us to do this?” – A Ukrainian official speaking on the murder of Darya Dugina
Twinkle, Twinkle A rapper and a restauranteur have teamed up to rebrand the now-exiled Starbucks as a more Russia-friendly Stars Coffee.
Tanks but No Tanks The Estonian city of Narva, on the Russian border, quietly dismantled a Soviet memorial featuring a T-34 tank.
"Flowers for Hope": Healing or Harming? Ukrainian and American artists launch the project "Flowers for Hope" to encourage hope and support humanitarian funds in Ukraine.
My God, a Symbol of Separation “There was a certain girl here who was handing out some permission to paint to artists, complete nonsense. I gave her this work, and the first thing she said was that it was a very dangerous job, because if Gorbachev saw it, he would not allow the unification of Germany and that she will send it to the senate of West Berlin, which was a different country, for approval.” – Dmitry Vrubel, the artist behind the Berlin Wall's "The Fraternal Kiss"
Grounded for Life A Russian airbase situated behind the frontlines receives an alarmingly powerful attack.
An Excuse to Persecute Since the annexation of Crimea in 2015, Russian authorities have been targeting Crimean Tatar activists.
Kremlin Cancels Culture A working group of the Russian State Duma has compiled a list of cultural figures who have denounced the war in Ukraine. They can either "repent" or quit their jobs.
A Terrorist State? Latvia's legislature has ruled Russia a "terrorism-supporting state" for its attacks on civilians in Ukraine.
The Price of Dissent A Russian journalist, already arrested for speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine, has had her home raided by authorities.
Fighting Extremism, or Censoring the Truth? Approximately 138,000 websites have been taken down or banned in Russia since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
International without the Amnesty “[This report] does not mean that Amnesty International holds Ukrainian forces responsible for violations committed by Russian forces, or that the Ukrainian military is not taking adequate precautions in other parts of the country. We must be very clear: nothing of the actions of the Ukrainian military, which we have documented, in any way justify Russia's violations.” – From a report released by Amnesty International
Azov, a New Terror? While resisting Russian forces in the invasion of Ukraine, the Azov Regiment has been declared a terrorist organization by the Russian Supreme Court.
One Mistake Away from Annihilation As Russia increases tensions in Ukraine, Putin warns against the dangers of a nuclear war.
A Soviet Callback Moscow and St. Petersburg will see new shops filled with international goods where only top officials and their families can shop.
Time to Move? An English-language video released by the Russian embassy in Madrid lists reasons why Westerners should pack up their things and move in.
Give me Your Data... or Your Rubles Three American tech leaders, Tinder, Whatsapp, and Snapchat, are being sued in a Russian court.
Sanctioning Romance Alina Kabaeva, Vladimir Putin's alleged romantic partner, has been sanctioned by the US Treasury.
Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys Performers from both the United States and Ukraine are invited to participate in a circus festival in St. Petersburg this fall.
One Prison to the Next Russian prisoners with military experience are being recruited to join the fight in Ukraine.
Confusion Amidst the Fog “It’s unclear what happened, but you can’t bring people back to life.” – Alina Nesterenko, whose husband was a prisoner in Russian-occupied Donetsk.
Somewhere Between Classic Rock and Jazz Pro-Russian hackers took over a major Ukrainian radio station to broadcast rumors regarding President Zelensky's health.
The Transfer of Regions In the coming months, the State Duma will likely consider full annexation of occupied territories of Ukraine.
Russia Needs Space... From the ISS Yury Borisov, chief of Roskosmos, announced Russia's plan to abandon the International Space Station in 2024.
Artistic Apoliticality Russian event promoters have begun requiring artists to promise that they won't include political statements in their performances.
A Debilitating Drought Following the Ukrainian invasion, Russian bars and restaurants are expecting to face foreign liquor shortages.
An Attempt to Reason Belarusian President Lukashenko pleads for Ukraine and Russia to come to an agreement.
A Protest for Love and Friendship “We must save the world not with blood, but with friendship and love.” – A sign by Russian activist Tatyana Mateyeva
Russia's First Female Casualty Anastasia Savitskaya, a corporal in the Russian Armed Forces, is Russia's first known female military casualty since the launch of the Ukrainian invasion.
Facts and Figures from the War: Ukrainian Refugees A roundup of some facts and figures from a survey conducted by the United Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) regarding Ukrainian refugees.
Ukraine's Decisive Strikes Ukraine's effective use of long-range weaponry shocks the Russian military.
Rain Reenters the Forecast “Today, more than ever, the citizens of Russia should have access to independent information. And therefore it is especially important for us to return to the air. We, like tens of millions of Russians, want the war to end, and Russia to return to the path of development from catastrophe and destruction.” – Editor-in-chief Tikhon Dzyadko of Dozhd TV
Sexual Violence in the Ukrainian Invasion Over one hundred cases of sexual assault by Russian troops have been reported during the invasion of Ukraine.
Forced Integration, Continued Russia's streamlined passport process, offered to residents of Kherson and Zaporizhia, has been expanded to include all Ukrainian citizens.
Prone to Resist “Prone to betrayal, lies and deceit. He refused to participate in a special military operation on the territory of the LPR, DPR and Ukraine.” – A stamp on a Russian soldier's military ID after he refused to fight in Ukraine
Sci-fi Author, Meet Dystopia A well-known science fiction author has been placed on the Kremlin's wanted list for protesting the war in Ukraine.
Fencing It In Finland seeks to strengthen its eastern border with Russia, as the country nears to joining NATO.
It's Nothing Serious... Right? In a recent meeting, President Vladimir Putin claimed that the invasion into Ukraine wasn't anything "real" or "serious."
Soviet Law Against Sabotage May Return The National Anti-Corruption Committee has proposed resurrecting the Soviet-era law against “sabotage.”
A New Leader in Russia's Tech Market After the exit of Western companies from the Russian market, Chinese tech companies are gaining ground.
Incendiary Weapons in Ukraine? Russia has allegedly used incendiary weapons, such as white phosphorus, in their war on Ukraine.
International Sports for Peace 35 countries are calling for stricter international sports sanctions on Belarus and Russia.
"We Shall Return" “If the command of our army withdraws people from certain points of the front where the enemy has the greatest fire superiority — in particular this applies to Lysychansk — it means only one thing: we will return thanks to our tactics, thanks to the increase in the supply of modern weapons.” – Ukrainian President Zelensky, addressing the loss of Lysychansk to Russian forces
Exit... the Diplomats The Prime Minister of Bulgaria has ordered 70 Russian diplomats to leave the country.
Summer Fun at a Russian Prison Penal Colony No. 7 in Bashkiria is in the market for a "towed water banana." Exactly why is anyone's guess.
Dentist Kadyrov Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov isn't a dentist. But that didn't stop him from being awarded the Russian Order of Merit for Dentistry.
The Center of Denial Putin denies Russia shelled a shopping center in Kremenchug, Ukraine, that killed 18 people.
A Failure to Perform The International Platonov Arts Festival in Voronezh, has been canceled due to current political conditions.
All That Glitters is Not (From Russia) Gold The US recently announced sanctions on import of Russian gold.
Stealing Grains Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country has lost approximately 400,000 tons of grain to theft by Russian troops.
Suing for Peace, and Compensation "The looting of Ukrainian goods for export – including grain and steel – has already led to rising prices and an increase in the number of people dying of hunger worldwide. This barbarism must be stopped, and Russia must pay in full. I believe in justice, and I will fight for it.” – Rinat Akhmetov, the Ukrainian businessman who is suing Russia
A Patriotic Statement Piece Russian schools have been given a billion rubles to purchase state symbols to decorate their walls.
A Nobel Donation The 2021 Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner auctioned his medal off to help displaced Ukrainian children.
Automotive Industry Out of Gear Russian imports of Chinese cars have steadily fallen since the invasion of Ukraine began, revealing a stalling industry.
A Humiliating Lack of Recognition "In general, it has been calculated that if the right of nations to self-determination is actually realized throughout the globe, then instead of the 193 states that are now members of the UN, more than 500 or 600 states would emerge on Earth. Of course, it would be chaos. For this reason, we don’t recognize Taiwan, Kosovo, South Ossetia, or Abkhazia. Apparently, this principle will be applied to the quasi-states, which, in our view, Luhansk and Donetsk are." – President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at a recent forum with President Putin
Independence, Educated New material recognizing two Russia-friendly separatist regions in eastern Ukraine will soon be taught in Russian high schools.
Forbidden Fruit Russian combatants occupying Melitopol, Ukraine, have fallen ill after eating poisoned cherries.
Facts and Figures From the War: Losses and Ukrainian Refugees A round-up of some facts and figures regarding fleeing civilians and lost material from the Russian war on Ukraine.
Precarious Citizenship The citizenship of a well-known Armenian activist is at risk after speaking out against the war in Ukraine.
A Peace-Loving Priest A St. Petersburg priest faces up to ten years in prison for speaking out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
An Imposed Russian Birthright Children born in the Ukrainian city of Kherson will now receive Russian citizenship, whether they want it or not.
Russia's Yellow Card Ex-captain of the Russian national soccer team speaks out against the invasion of Ukraine despite potential consequences.
Down and Dirty Journalism (Or, Poo-tin) A Russian independent journalist has published an exposé on Putin's "biomaterials."
A Loss for Justice "The Committee against Torture has been protecting the rights of citizens who have suffered from torture and inhuman treatment by government officials all their lives. Despite the obvious benefits of this mission, the authorities have been trying for many years to give it an alien and harmful outline... Apparently, the authorities are giving a signal that torture is becoming (or has already become) part of state policy and is not a problem. Here I would like to remind you about the Constitution, where torture is prohibited (for the time being)." – Sergey Babinets, chairman of the Committee against Torture
A Soccer Star Speaks Out Nadya Karpova demonstrated bravery in expressing both her sexuality and her stance on the war in Ukraine.
An Attack on Sea Life Over 600 dolphins died and washed up on the coast of the Black Sea bordering Russia and Ukraine.
A Victory for Higher Education American University Kyiv is partnering with Arizona State University to provide Ukrainians higher education amid times of war.
Of Grain and Ukraine The chairman of the African Union has announced a trip to Kyiv to discuss the world food crisis caused by the invasion.
Over 100 Days and 32 Lost “This year’s Journalist’s Day has a special taste of bitterness. The fourth month of a full–scale war – and we lost 32 journalists… In eight years of war we lost even more. Eternal memory to our fighters of the advanced information front." – Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko
Long Range Effects Putin claims that US-provided weapons to Ukraine have made no impact against the invasion.
A Most Important Import Saudi Arabia has agreed to increase oil production as demand for Russian oil takes a hit.
Flowers in Kyiv Floral creations are spread throughout Ukraine's capital city to honor the Day of Kyiv.
Three Stories for Maslenitsa Three stories by Chekhov are translated here for the season of late winter and Maslenitsa: Bliny, The Stupid Frenchman, and On Frailty.
Liberated from Home “It was a very happy life, because we lived in peace, tranquility. And the fact that our acquaintances from Russia and relatives say that we were infringed upon in some way [by the Ukrainian authorities] is not true. We lived and rejoiced, made plans for the future. And now the 'liberators' have come and 'liberated' from all the good that was in our lives. Ruined, or rather, want to ruin our lives." – Julia, a nurse in Severodonetsk, a city in Donbass
Russia Forever? A Russian rock musician was filmed helping Russian soldiers replace a Ukrainian road sign with one reading "Russia Forever."
A Little Help from the European Family Finland agreed to help rebuild and reform Ukraine's education sector, and the country more generally.
Where the Streets Have Names Ukraine has begun a "derussification" of street names, replacing them with names of important Ukrainians.
Forced Integration through Passportization A presidential decree aims to integrate the inhabitants of conquered Ukrainian regions through a streamlined passport process.
A Collaborative Effort The US Department of Defense is coordinating with nearly 50 countries to provide military aid to Ukraine.
Bully Diplomat “My country is being bombarded, tens of thousands of people are dying in the bloody war of conquest that Russia has unleashed. If I make demands out loud, I can achieve more for Ukraine than writing diplomatic cables that often go unanswered. This is a matter of life and death, and every day matters." – Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk
An Anthem of Dissent A Russian man in Tyumen was arrested for playing the Ukrainian national anthem in public.
Russian Trains In for a Bumpy Ride German engineering firm Siemens is leaving Russia. Train travel is about to get far more difficult.
Filtration, Evacuation, Deportation Many Ukrainians are trying to find their way after experiencing filtration camps, evacuations, and deportations.
For All Ukrainians “Now more than ever, every victory is important for Ukraine. This will further raise the morale of the Ukrainians, which is so needed now. We won not for ourselves, but for all Ukrainians." – Oleg Psyuk, member of Kalush Orchestra, winners of Eurovision 2022.
Detained on Victory Day Over 125 citizens were detained during Immortal Regiment processions across Russia.
Headlines for Truth Editors of a Russian news outlet surprise readers with their anti-war sentiments.
Putin Promises Aid to Families Vladimir Putin signed a decree promising support to children of fallen soldiers.
Ukraine's Best Friend Patron, a Jack Russell Terrier in Chernihiv, is fighting against the Russian invasion in his own way.
An Apologetic Putin? Did Putin apologize for Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's outrageous lies?
Immortal Anti-War Demos There were brave dissenters amid pro-regime Immortal Regiment demonstrations on May 9.
Saltevsky Vladimir Saltevsky, arrested in Novosibirsk. "You embarrass me, grandchildren. We fought for peace, you chose war."
The Fighters of Azov “Surrender is not an option.” – Ilya Samoilenko, a 27-year-old officer defending Azov.
An End in Sight? “This offensive may end on the eve of May 9, because the [Russian] forces are running out, as are the existing reserves. As our Commander-in-Chief said, the occupiers have already brought the entire reserve into the territory of Ukraine, and then an operational pause will be required.” – Ukrainian military expert Oleg Zhdanov on the Russian offensive
Zelensky Returns After six weeks away, Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky made an appearance at Kiev's parliament.
Two Gentlemen, Two Novels Reviews of A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, The Summer Guest by Alison Anderson. Also short reviews of The Man with the Poison Gun by Serhii Plokhy, Bears in the Streets by Lisa Dickey, and Hard Times by Vasily Sleptsov.
Russian Troops Storm Mariupol Russian troops have begun to storm the Mariupol steel plant in Ukraine.
Gummy Bear Suspension The candy company Haribo halts production to Russia due to the Ukraine conflict.
Schoolboy vs The Kremlin An 11-year-old schoolboy was put on a watch list after "discrediting" the army on social media.
Deukrainianization Russian authorities seek to eradicate all and any association with Ukraine... including blue-and-yellow color schemes.
Hard Times Ahead One Russian economic official provides a grim forecast of Russia's economy in the near term.
Golden Mask of Support Ksenia Sorokina gives her Golden Mask award to jailed anti-war activist Sasha Skochilenko.
Defiant Postage “It's a symbol of Ukraine, a symbol of our future victory.” – Director of Ukraine's National Post on the new stamp honoring the guards of Snake Island.
Russian Easter Amid Conflict Russia's 2022 Easter proceedings were tainted by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Selling Russia to Support Ukraine A Georgian company is selling NFTs of Russian territories to help rebuild Ukraine.
Signed, a Foreign Agent Artist Daria Apakhonchich illustrated her quarterly report to the Ministry of Justice with her thoughts about the war in Ukraine.
Spot the Difference Zoya Cherkassky-Nnadi is creating pieces of art comparing the Ukraine she knew in childhood and the war-riddled Ukraine we see today.
Less than Ship Shape The flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet has been lost; whether to an accidental fire or anti-ship missiles depends on who you ask.
Discrediting the Military Security forces have reportedly filed at least 993 reports against Russians for discrediting the Armed Forces.
Help the Earth and Fight Putin German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck urges Germans to reduce energy usage to help wean the country off of Russian oil.
Revealing Images “Now everyone can see a variety of Russian launchers, intercontinental ballistic missile mines, command posts, and secret landfills with a resolution of about 0.5 meters per pixel.” – The Ukrainian Armed Forces on Google Maps removing blur for Russian military sites
Refugees Aboard the Volendam A well-known cruise line has offered one of its ships to aid the humanitarian effort for Ukraine.
A Hard Talk to Have “Direct, open, and hard.” – Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer describing his talk with Putin
Russian Denials Inspire Pet Meme After the atrocities committed by Russia's military in towns surrounding Kyiv first came to light this month, Moscow labeled the extensive evidence a "fake." The blatant attempt to hide the obvious inspired... a viral cat meme.
Huawei Slinks Out Russia's international economic isolation continues as Chinese telecoms giant Huawei moves to leave the country.
Protesting Horror Despite bans on protests, Russians have found creative ways to voice their anti-war stance.
Ukrainian Animals, Suffering In the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many animals in zoos and shelters have suffered immensely.
More Facts and Figures from the War Yet another round-up of some facts and figures from the Russian War on Ukraine.
A Question of Conviction “This is the state of someone who feels like a particle in the ocean. Someone else has decided everything for them. This learned passivity is our tragedy.” – A political analyst in Moscow regarding Russian support of the war
Haley Bader Haley Bader is currently working as a freelance journalist with a focus on Russia and Eurasia.
Soldiers Flee Chernobyl Radiation Russian soldiers are fleeing Chernobyl fortifications due to claims of radiation sickness.
Refusing to Kill 12 Russian soldiers were fired for refusing to fight in Ukraine. Now, they are trying to get their jobs back.
Sabotage Behind the Lines Belarusian railway officials say that sabotage has been preventing reinforcement to Russian forces in Ukraine.
London Rallies for Ukraine "The future of Ukraine will not be decided by Putin but by the people of Ukraine. It should not be decided by force but by freedom." – Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at 'London Stands With Ukraine' Rally
St. Jude's SAFER Ukraine St. Jude's SAFER Ukraine initiative has helped over 600 patients amid the Russian invasion.
Good and Evil Revealed "This whole situation has clearly revealed good and evil." A powerful interview with Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov, whose Novaya Gazeta newspaper suspended publication today.
Ukrainians Liberate a Mansion "This property has been liberated." – A banner hanging from a Russian oligarch's mansion taken over by Ukrainian Refugees
More Facts and Figures from the War Another round-up of some facts and figures from the Russian War on Ukraine.
Celebrities Standing With Ukraine Celebrity couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are being praised for raising over $35 million for Ukrainian refugees.
Ill-Suited Usually staid cosmonaut fashion raises some eyebrows with suspiciously Ukrainian-tinted coloration.
Panic! At the Grocers As the ruble continues to inflate and goods disappear, the Kremlin urges citizens not to panic buy.
Rasputitsa: Or, How Ukraine's Mud Is Foiling Putin One of Russia's greatest military allies has become a potent adversary in Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Easing Fear Through Film "Our mission, as workers in the sphere of culture, is not only to save culture itself from destruction, but to save those who value it." – The director of the Kyiv municipal Department of Culture on showing films during these trying times
Blue and Yellow Lights Many famous landmarks across the globe have been illuminated with blue and yellow lights, showing solidarity with Ukraine.
A Prayer for Ukraine In 2014, Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov wrote this beautiful short orchestral work, "Prayer for Ukraine." A German orchestra is sharing it as a symphonic symbol of solidarity and hope.
The "Z" Symbol Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak faces punishment for flaunting the new "Z" symbol in support of the Russian invasion on Ukraine.
Of Borscht and Tank Traps "Yes, this is Odessa. Someone cooks borshch and potatoes for Ukrainian soldiers, and someone cooks anti-tank hedgehogs." – Journalist Larisa Kozova, reporting on Odessa's defense
An NFT to Unite Under An NFT of the Ukrainian flag raises over $6.7 million for the war against Russia.
International Women's Day Today is International Women's Day, which traces its roots to 1917, when Russian women demanded "bread and peace." Four days later the tsar was forced to abdicate and the provisional government granted women the right to vote. What's going on today in Russia?
No War Please Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev writes a "no war please" message on a camera after a match.
The Toughest Sanction Putin has been stripped of two martial arts honors in response to his invasion of Ukraine.
Cryptocurrency Goes to War "Total donations to the APU in cryptocurrency have grown to $12.7 million. This is just two days! Most of all donations are made to Ethereum - $5.5 million, Bitcoin - $4.4 million, Tether - $2.1 million." – Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation, speaking on cryptocurrency donations to the army
No One Deserves That Anyone who has experienced an unpleasant neighbor has likely faced the problem of what to do about their children.
Facts and Figures from the War In which we share a few illustrative facts and figures from the war in Ukraine.
Reaffirming Ukrainian Sovereignty Zelensky's response to Putin recognizing the "independence" of the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics crystallizes the ongoing conflict.
Our Top Sources for Ukraine News The situation in Ukraine is complex and constantly changing, so here are our top picks for where you can get the latest scoop.
Reading about Putin and Poetry In which we review two books: one full of poetry, another full of Putin.
Lessons from a Hermit In a remote corner of Siberia, the last of a family of Old Believers lives her life in a state of time out of time. With a little help from some friends.
Twenty Years in a Siberian Gulag Excerpt from a newly published memoir, an autobiographical account of an engineer swept up into Stalin's Gulag.
Political Animals The Novosibirsk Zoo in Siberia announced that, for 2022, its new mascot would be chosen by a public vote. It turned into a scandal.
A Forgotten Classic If you consider yourself knowledgeable about Russian cuisine, but have never heard of telnoye, don’t worry. You are not alone.
Postcard from the Edge of the World The string of islands that is the Kurils – perched between Sakhalin and Japan – had a not insignificant role in the history of the past century. Long closed to outsiders, its future in this century may depend on tourism.
The Bottlephonist The life of a street musician is not an easy one. But it is one thing to busk with a guitar or pan flute, quite another to have to set up a complex vertical xylophone made of bottles.
She Fought to the Death Dubbed the “Mother Teresa of Dagestan,” Aishat Magomedova wanted something very simple: to give the women of Dagestan access to quality health care. Apparently, she did too good a job.
Finlandization of Russian? In which we look at Finno-Ugric words that have made their way into the Russian Language. (Click title to download PDF.)
Watch Where You Step In recent months the Russian press corps has been honing its euphemistic language skills, wondering how to talk crap.
Leonid Bolotov Leonid Bolotov graduated from Saratov State University in 1928, majoring in engineering; he then studied chemistry in Moscow before accepting a position as an engineer at the Red Triangle Factory in Leningrad. During Stalin’s purge of 1937, Leonid, along with 86 other engineers from his factory, were arrested and banished to Siberia.
Irina Barclay Irina Barclay teaches Russian at Appalachian State University. Her research and teaching interests include Russian and Slavic Literature in Translation, and the methodology of teaching Russian courses for ASU students.
Invading Ukraine, Then vs. Now A comparison of Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014 vs. the invasion of all of Ukraine in 2022 (written two weeks prior to the invasion)
Fighting for Truth While state censor Roskomnadzor objects to the terms attack, invasion, or war being used for the Russian "special military operation" in Ukraine, average Russians are showing their disapproval.
Hashish, Putin, and a Libyan Beach Libyan police have recovered 323 blocks of hashish embellished with Vladimir Putin's portrait.
Bellyaching in Belarus Locals near Belarus's border with Ukraine have complaints about ill-mannered interlopers: Russian troops.
Every Citizen a Resister The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said on its Facebook page that invading Russian forces must understand that every Ukrainian will resist the Russian occupiers.
Bass Guitar, Baby Goats, and a Break for Guys In this week's Odder News: a rocker's dream, a holiday for men, and goat saviors.
There's a Visa For That Is Russia is looking to streamline its 30+ types of visas by potentially adding four more?
Boring Weather Disappoints Meteorologist "During the first half of the week, the weather will be warm with temperatures eight to nine degrees above normal. Daytime temperatures are expected to be plus two to five degrees, nighttime temperatures from minus one to plus two degrees. Wind on Monday will be up to 17 m/s, precipitation is light, but also sleet and rain. This is such uniform and boring weather." – A disappointed meteorologist describing Moscow's upcoming weather
Punk Rock, Folklore, and Putin In which we unpack what Putin had to say about Ukraine while in France and what it's got to do with a punk band and a folk ditty.
Bronze, Silver, & GOLD The Russian Olympic Committee has won 26 medals in the Beijing Winter Olympics of 2022.
Cute Cats, a Lost Dog, and Insect Exes In this week's Odder News: kitty subscriptions, sketchy sledding, and spiteful Valentines.
Anna Antanaytite A photographer, traveler, and author, Anna Antanaytite has produced everything from travel and journalistic photography to medical films and video for television and film. In 2019 she traveled around Crimea for three months to create a three part travel guide to the region, which is being published in Russia. She is a regular contributor to Greenpeace publications and more of her work can be seen on her website, or on Instagram: @travelphotoreporter
Security Guard Doodles A security guard at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center was fired after defacing a $1 million Soviet-era painting.
A Priest's Life Hack for Marital Strife “If you had a fight with your wife, then you should ask for forgiveness like this: 'Darling, please forgive me for asking you to marry me….' There is a real chance that suddenly your wife will smile and forgive you. True, wives are unpredictable in their grievances—you can die from violence.” – A Russian priest's "life hack" for marital struggles.
Crimes Against Hu-mine-ity A Russian teenager faces 5 years in jail for crimes committed in Minecraft.
Battle of the Zoo Mascots A Siberian zoo's mascot competition has ended in fraudulent activity, anger, and political outrage.
"Slush Funds," Spotify, and a Subway Surprise In this week's Odder News: cartoons, a tiny apartment, and an alpaca using the metro.
The P.P.P (Professional Panda Predictors) Two panda bears at the Moscow Zoo have predicted the winners of this year's Olympic Winter Games.
Good Parking Spots Are Worth It Russian bank VTB is set to begin offering customers loans to cover parking spaces and closets, which seem like sound financial decisions.
A Not-So Sobering Message “About the dangers of alcohol, volumes have been written on the benefits of more than one brochure! From lack of education, we walk for five days and crawl for two! And, on Saturday morning, Russia from space looks like.” – An unintelligible sign alerting Muscovites to the effects of alcohol.
Reading Between the Palm Lines In the face of anxiety and uncertainty, sales of books about tarot cards, karma, and other esoteric, spiritual practices are skyrocketing in Russia.
A Cat Lady with a Cause Hundreds of kitties need homes in Novosibirsk – and this lady bought them one.
All the Village Is a Stage Performance art, adventure, and psychedelia in a Russian village. What more could you want?
Sniper Cover to Honor the Fallen Putin pays his respects at a memorial cemetery - by locking out the survivors and setting up snipers.
Copperfield? I Hardly Know Her! “Usually, to put money on a card, you need an ATM; with magicians, everything is much simpler: just rub a coin and it becomes invisible.” – Eugene, at Nevyansk prison, as he shows off a magic trick.
Slip-ups, Icicles, and (Not So) Sneaky Thieves In this week's Odder News: a propaganda failure, fishing robots, and a cross-dressing bandit.
Sophia's Failed Coup Peter I and Sophia (his elder step sister) should not have been at odds. They both carried out some of the same sorts of reforms. But you can only have one tsar...
Bringing Warmth to the Arctic Russia's Arctic towns are overdue for a makeover and graffiti is just what these chilly outposts need.
Of Ice and Snowmen The Snow and Ice in Moscow international festival, happening now, brings together artists from across the world to create brilliant works of art.
Theo Normanton Theo Normanton is a British journalist based in Russia. As a Moscow correspondent for bne IntelliNews, he writes about Russian politics, markets, society, and culture. He is also a contributor at the New Economy Observer, where he covers tech, ESG, and the circular economy. There, he has explored a range of innovations in the Russian market and further afield: from low-carbon metals manufacturing to sustainable Christmas trees. Theo studied Russian and French at the University of Cambridge, graduating in July 2021.
Tipple Tender Trending The minimum price of vodka, set by Russia's Ministry of Finance, has been raised. Barely.
Six Chances, One Wordle The newly released Wordle game now has a Russian language version! Go try it out!
Deadly Farmer Dispute in Siberia Police search for perpetrator guilty of killing an entire herd of horses in a deadly rivalry between farmers.
Valuing Values In an effort to prevent the "cult of selfishness," Russia's Ministry of Culture is implementing a project to preserve traditional values in 2022.
Happy Birthday Anton Pavlovich Today, January 29, is Anton Pavlovich Chekhov's 162nd birthday. Let's celebrate!
Frozen Traditions, The Epiphany Swim Religious or not, January 19th marks the day in which thousands of Russians dunk themselves in freezing waters for the annual Epiphany swim.
The Orthodox Church Strikes Back A high-school biology teacher wasn't expecting officials of the Russian Orthodox Church to be so vocal about a recent lesson.
An Unofficial Open to the Winter Olympics? “I consider the Tomsk Winter Olympic Games open!” – Viewers joke as a man chases after his escaped plastic bathtub in the city of Tomsk.
The Russian Granny Made of Steel "I have enough safety margin for a lot more. Nothing is impossible, even at such a venerable age. Take care of yourself, dear friends, and never be afraid of anything." – Maria Koltakova, the "Steel Granny," imparting wisdom, insight, and encouragement.
Population, a Pistol, and Pregnancy Problems In this week's Odder News: under-the-radar pets, dangerous tomfoolery, and a pregnant lady's trek through the mountains.
Marriage is No Laughing Matter The Rostov Oblast puts new limitations on the behavior of wedding-goers.
Good Deeds, Gas, and Gasless Cars In this week's Odder News: Kanye comes to town, free gas for eternity, and a young language prodigy.
Put Those Cute Faces to Work! This tire shop has some fluffy new residents! But are they earning their keep?
Tiger Toes Get Chilly, Too An endangered Amur tiger cub undergoes surgery after falling victim to Russia's harsh winters.
The Fight for Dumplings The governor of Moscow Oblast pushes for pelmeni in schools, despite resistance from the federal government.
Tykes Take to the Web A new study shows that the percent of Russian kids aged 3-6 using the internet has tripled in the last ten years, among other stats.
Rachel Rodriguez Rachel Rodriguez is a fourth-year student at the University of South Carolina, double majoring in Russian and Criminology and Criminal Justice. She plans to apply for the University of South Carolina’s Master’s program starting in the Fall of 2022. She has previously written for SRAS (Study, Research, and Custom Programs Abroad), and their family of sites such as popkult.org and folkways.today. Post-graduation, she aspires to have a career where she can apply her knowledge of both Russian culture and criminology.
Hannah Halladay Hannah Halladay is a Senior at Cornell College studying Russian and Philosophy. She hopes to one day combine these interests into a unique and viable occupation. As to how this will occur, she isn't sure, but she is excited by the possibilities. She became interested in Russian culture through the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. In 2021 she received the Grace Wormer - Mihailo Mihailovic Russian Award for her interest in the Russian language and culture.
(NOT) Morgenshtern A burgeoning new (joke) media company is founded by none other than Russia's top rapper, Morgenshtern.
Nepotism Takes to the Ice The son of one of Putin's buddies was recently named the head of a professional hockey team, with no previous experience.
Grinches, GPS Art, and Gordon Ramsay In this week's Odder News, Russians are not happy with their gifts, an underwater winter wedding, and cooking for President Putin.
The Grinch Who Regretted "Dear residents! My deepest apologies. I confess I went too far with the alcohol. I am ready to financially compensate for the damage for the toys." – A note from an anonymous Christmas tree thief from Krasnoyarsk, published January 10.
Worth a Pretty Kitty How much would you pay for a feline once caressed by the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin?
Slavify Your Instagram Feed Start the new year off right by adding a little more Russian art to your social media platforms.
The New Year's Fairytale Nobody Asked For A little girl from Moscow just asked for a robotic toy dog, but instead, she got a rather unusual tale from one of Russia's head political leaders.
Say What?! Britain Had Plan to Smuggle Last Tsar's Family Out Newly declassified documents show that the British government intended to save the last Romanov.
Dead Morose: Never Too Late for the New Year "Thank God no one is writing any filth. Everything somehow really worked out very soulfully. This kind of thing is a sincere message from one to the other." – A representative of the Omsk ritual company “Heritage,” explaining the response to a New Year’s letter-writing campaign for the deceased, headed by a very punny Dead Morose.
TikTok Gets Cultured TikTok isn’t just for kiddies these days. The video streaming platform offers a range of people, such as those of Russia’s many ethnic groups, the opportunity to educate others about their cultures.
Weak Stomachs, Romanov Reboot, and Ciao to 2021 In this week's Odder News: the weirdest New Year's show ever, the most eco-friendly person ever, and great news for Russia's orphan care system.
Charcuterie à la 1984 Fiscal sanctions may be devastating for an economy, but food sanctions are a punch to the gut.
A Firefighter's Best Friend Opening a mysterious box turns out to unleash the best kind of surprise (spoiler alert: it's eight puppies).
January/February 2022 The Treacherous Beaty of Tuva * Birdmen of the Baltic * The General in the Village * Soviet History Through Insects * The First Russian Census * Peter I and Beards * Foreign Visitors * It's Not Good to be Cheap in Russian * French Borrowings in Russian * A Pie Recipe for Gluttons * Best Online Posts
Paul E. Richardson PAUL E. RICHARDSON is a writer, photographer, and editor. When not traveling, he oversees production of Russian Life out of its office in Montpelier, Vermont. He has written numerous articles for Russian Life, three novels, and several works of nonfiction, most recently Resilience: Life Stories of Centenarians Born in the Year of Revolution, with Nadya Grebennikova and Mikhail Mordasov, and Driving Down Russia's Spine. The company he founded in 1990 not only publishes Russian Life, but also provides marketing, photography, and publishing services to companies and nonprofits.
Yevgenia Volunkova Yevgenia Volunkova worked for many years as a journalist in Karelia, Russia’s northern republic that borders Finland. Then she moved to the Volga region and worked for four years as the editor of the most popular paper in Samara. Since 2017 she has been working as a special correspondent for the online publication, Takie Dela (“How Things Are”). She lives in Moscow but travels frequently around Russia, writing about people living in remote regions. She also writes about Russia’s social issues and doggedly maintains that high-quality journalism can change the world for the better.
The Best of the Rest We decided to look back on the year that was, to discover which online stories got the most reads and shares in the last year. Out of over 300,000 pageviews, these are three new posts from the past 12 months that came out on top.
A Glutton's New Year Feast The pirog is quite capable of holding the flag as the most important dish in Russian cuisine. It is a filling, generous, and hearty meal, containing all the major food groups (vegetables, animal protein, grains, and bread) rolled up in one.
Sinners, Saints and Pilgrims Revies of a book on one of the true-crime sources for Crime and Punishment, and a collection of Teffi's stories.
Exploring Early-Soviet-Era Insect Culture The insect world had a sort of heyday in post-revolutionary Russia. We visit an exhibition devoted to this topic and explore what it all means.
A Helping Hand When a general retires, a village can be in real danger. Because a general cannot ever really retire, and he may or may not have the sort of useful skills that the local folk require.
The Birdmen What makes them forsake their families and spend long months in isolated, Spartan cabins perched along the shores of the Baltic? The birds, of course. It’s all about the birds.
A Treacherous Beauty You may have heard of Tuva because of its stamps. But the Siberian Russian republic is so much more, offering a curious mixture of deep cultural traditions, natural beauty, and mortal danger.
French in Russian In this issue's language insert, we look at French words that have made their way into Russian. (Link to article downloads PDF of the page.)
Early Foreign Views of Russia Some thoughts on George Turberville, who served as secretary in the embassy of Queen Elizabeth I to Russia’s Ivan IV, and was one of the earliest observers (and reporters) of Russian mores.
The First and Last National Census Late January 2022 marks 125 years since the first thorough count of the Russian Empire’s population was begun in 1897. What was the significance of this endeavor, how was it carried out, and what were its results?
Peter's War on Facial Hair August 27, 1698, was a day of historic importance for the grooming of the Russian male. It was then that Tsar Peter I (known to history as “the Great”), armed himself with scissors and undertook to mercilessly clip beards from the faces of summoned noblemen and boyars.
The Tsarina's Daughter A short excerpt from the beginning of The Tsarina's Daughter, a novel about the life of Elizabeth I.
The Gambler Wife An excerpt from the new book, The Gambler Wife, a glimpse into the life and motivations of Dostoyevsky's very successful wife.
Erasing Memory The government wants to close down Memorial, while at the same time not be seen as the sort of repressive state that brought about the need for a Memorial. Lose-lose balancing act.
Undesirable Outcome The history of Russia since 2008 has been to repeatedly lop off appendages – nose, ears, digits – to spite itself. Obsessed by erroneous threats, it has invaded its neighbors, quashed all democratic activity, rigged votes, interfered in foreign elections, harbored and/or enabled international cybercrime… and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Phallic-Shaped Ice Rinks, Flying Dyed Morozes, and Frightening Elevators In this week's Odder News, stay out of the elevator, be careful where you ice skate, and Ivan Urgant says goodbye to 2021 in grand fashion.
Courting Father Christmas "Since I am also a lawyer, I can act as an attorney for Father Christmas, and remind the plaintiff that Father Christmas fulfills wishes and gives gifts only to good girls and boys. Let him analyze his behavior and, perhaps, find something that has prevented Father Christmas from presenting him with gifts for the New Year holidays. This will be the main line of defense." – On December 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to defend Father Christmas after a St. Petersburg lawyer sued the gift-bringer.
Sock the Competition The Russian town of Rasskazovo hosts the very first all-Russian sock knitting championship.
Droning on About Lake Baikal Robotic drones are now being used to monitor the ecological situation of Lake Baikal.
School Lunch Gourmet An annual Russian competition to decide the best school cafeteria cook in all the land was held recently.
Snow Fright A granddaughter of Father Christmas who is blonde, slim, and very kind? This year’s Snow Maiden doesn’t seem to fit the bill.
Bunkers, Beglov, and Bad Weather In this week's Odder News, next year will be better, St. Petersburg's mayor should move to Africa, and bunkers are hip.
A Sweet Treat "Ancient instincts work – I licked the thing." – Hermitage artist-restorer Galina Fedorova discovers a candy stuck to the ball gown of Grand Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, sister of Tsar Nicholas II.
Trading COVID for a Car Thankful for the care they received while ill, one citizen gladly gives away their wheels for the greater good.
Yappy, Gigolos, and Timofei Chalamov In this week's Odder News, gigolos must be stopped in Russia, Yappy might take over TikTok, and "Timothée Chalamet" promotes Russian pastries.
What a Gap Year The world's youngest female pilot to circumnavigate the globe recently stopped in Russia's Far East.
A Different Kind of Train Schedule Second-class travelers on Russian trains may soon be required to take turns with their neighbors to use their compartment's table.
Barking Up the Right Tree "Yes, we growl and bite. Yes, we have sharp teeth and strong grip. But we are the prerequisite for progress. We are the antidote against tyranny." – Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Dmitriy Muratov, celebrating the work of journalists on December 10.
Great Cats! Should She Be Canned? One brave Russian journalist has done great service for the world’s population of domestic cats by taste-testing their vittles.
We're in Your Camp! Just Kidding A deputy from Russia’s Rostov Region, who lives in a home with décor that rivals a tsar’s, is suspected of making some of his money stealing from poor kids. Oh my.
A Cone-petition A challenge to collect the most pinecones turns out to be about more than just the competition itself.
Magic in St. Petersburg King's Cross station has nothing on the city of St. Petersburg, which is now complete with its own Platform 9 3/4, too.
2022 Wall and Desk Calendar Pack Order both of our calendars for 2022 and save on both products and shipping!
Censored Roots: Russian Life at 65 The progenitor of Russian Life got its start 65 years ago this fall. We talk to one of its famous early editors about what it was like to write about Russia for the world in that era.
Evil Etsy, Nutcracker Shortages, and Rudolph on His Way In this week's Odder News, Etsy is a threat, a reindeer tries to race a Russian train, and "The Nutcracker" is much harder to see in Russia than in the U.S.
Free Villi Belugas captured off Russia's Pacific coast since 2018 swam off into the sunset just like the hero of the 1993 film Osvobodite Villi (Free Willy).
Of Players and Puppies St. Petersburg's Zenit soccer team had some adorable company on the field in a recent match.
The Breadwinner "Any region [of the Russian Federation], a Russian citizen, a Russian person – these are our people. We have never split. Can we help with something in agriculture – please. We will give the last grain, super-elite [grain], so all is well." – From the website of Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, on December 2.
A Premature Celebration A Krasnodar man, sentenced to serve time for theft, marked his release by doing what he does best.
Marisa Irwin Marisa Irwin is a professional Russian- and German-to-English translator specializing in historical translation. Her love of languages and history led her to complete a bachelor’s degree in Russian, German, and history at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a master’s degree in translation from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. After living in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Germany, she’s now based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition to her translation work, she serves as blog editor for the American Translators Association’s Slavic Languages Division.
How to Pick a Christmas Tree Like a Russian A Russian tree retailer lends some tips on how to land the perfect spruce you've been pining for.
Snow More! In an unusual turn of events, students in Chelyabinsk protest for more snow in the upcoming year.
Spy Rocks, Scent of a Man, and Lump of Coal In this week's Odder News, a Russian dog gets its paws, a museum exhibit brings joy, and spy rocks are on the move.
Conqueror of the Cold Oleg Rezanov claims to have overcome aging and pain by embracing the cold. Let’s look into this a bit more closely.
He Wouldn't Bear It A clever hunter made a move to pluck himself out of an unbearable fate nearly a month ago. This week, his friend explained how he managed to help.
Of the Old School "Let's revive the Soviet school of education. It was the best in the world, everyone has always recognized this, and this is what our legislative proposals should be aimed at. After all, the Unified State Exam is just some kind of torture for young people." – Chairman of Russia’s Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin, reminiscing about how the Soviet system of education really made the grade.
On Being a Good Sport Good news for anyone with a solid right hook! The Russian Ministry of Sports has deemed fist fighting as an official sport.
New Moo In which, after not a small bureaucratic scuffle, a thirteen-year-old boy receives the gift from Putin that we all are really hoping for this Christmas: a brand new cow.
DNA in a Database Russian national energy company Rosneft has begun a project to create a database of genomes of Russians, which is definitely something a state-held corporation should be doing.
Catherine the Great Wants You to Get Vaccinated Catherine the Great's injunction to get vaccinated has recently emerged from a private collection.
After the Lord Mayor's Show "They are waiting for conversations from us, but not concrete actions.” – Andrei Alekseenko, the new mayor of Krasnodar, seems to have confused the demands of his citizens.
Maria Antonova Maria Antonova was born in Moscow and lived for several years in the United States, studying at the University of Washington. She relocated back to Moscow to pursue journalism and has traveled extensively throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union. In addition to her duties as Russian Life's Managing Editor (since 2007), she was a longtime correspondent for Agence France-Presse and contributes to many other publications.
Space News, Scam Salmon Caviar, and Electric Cars In this week's Odder News, good luck finding your bus, good luck getting your caviar order, and the cosmos is about to get boring.
The Turtle and the Scare A robotic turtle with spider-like abilities could be Russia’s next crowd control.
All Aboard the Hogwarts Express! You no longer need to travel to platform nine and three-quarters to get to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; Russia now has her very own Hogwarts Express.
Birchpunk, an Internet Gift Despite how weird it looks, birchpunk is a fun and talented hip hop group asking important moral questions.
Late Bloomers An unusually warm fall is leading to some unusually beautiful blossoms in Sochi this year.
Belarus, Bigwigs, and Boasting "I knew Hafez Assad, I knew Saddam Hussein, I knew Muammar Gaddafi. We had very good and close relationships with them. We met with them. I'll tell you, the greatest thinkers!” – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko name drops on November 10.
A Comfy Place for Eternal Sleep A man disturbed the quiet slumber of the dead while looking for a place to catch himself forty winks.
Murmurating, Toothless Sherlock Holmes, and "Own Goal" In this week's Odder News, starling flocks are stunning, Dostoyevsky was a weird guy, and Team Russia bought Team Croatia a ticket to the next World Cup.
Neater, Braver, Smarter, Stronger Ever wonder about the ideal police officer every Russian citizen dreams of? Look no further!
Spelling Out the Rules Bad news for Russian language students: it looks like there might soon be some new spelling rules to memorize.
Russia to Launch Digital Ruble The digital ruble is about to be tested, so here's a crash course in how digital currency works.
Crying Wolf, for Good Reason As if COVID hadn't forced enough kids to learn from home, the prospect of wolf attacks are doing the same thing in the Ugra region.
Missing Lynx in Transportation In which a Siberian Lynx is caught waiting for the bus, just like the rest of us.
Why Not International Relations? "Sometimes there is a desire to remain silent about something, to not have a falling out, but this is the wrong strategy. Conversations, conversations, and more conversations. Find out from the get-go who cannot put up with what, for whom some moments are unacceptable, what responsibilities and rights you will have, and so on.” – Russian Psychologist Kristina Yakubova, giving advice for couples in their first year of marriage that might do any (ahem) conflicted pair some good.
Spider-Man, Siberian Tigers, and Sputnik V In this week's Odder News, Spider-Man is on the loose, Russia loves fast food, and protect your dogs.
Just a Little Horse Play Three young men from St. Petersburg have been detained by police for trying to ensure that the city’s stone horses aren’t left out in the cold.
Remembering the Good Times, Lukashenko Style An exhibit showing off the machine gun of our favorite mustached president (alongside other artifacts from August 2020 unrest) is currently gracing Minsk's Independence Palace.
A Not-Comprehensive List of Dostoyevsky 200th Events A thoroughly incomplete list of ways to scratch your Dostoyevsky itch ahead of his 200th birthday.
Something Worse Than Detention An abandoned crypt found on a Russian school's property takes the phrase "bored to death" to a whole new level.
Planking, Police Play Squid Game, and "Plus-Sized" Models In this week's Odder News, new planking record, Krasnoyarsk Squid Game, and 100% preschool attendance.
Gogol in the Middle Russia and Ukraine have a long history of disputes over beloved territory, to say the least… But this time, it’s Gogol.
Make Not War Art "In connection with the incident, the State Hermitage was forced to apply to the prosecutor's office of St. Petersburg with a statement to conduct a prosecutor's check and assess the actions of a citizen for possible violations of the legislation of the Russian Federation, including in terms of public insult to the memory of the Defenders of the Fatherland.” – Press Service of the St. Petersburg Hermitage, announcing it would be reviewing an artist’s behavior for potentially insulting the veterans of the Patriotic War of 1812.
Reading is Essential St. Petersburg book-lovers can relax going into the city-wide shutdown knowing that their favorite bookstores will not shut down fully; the city has added books to the list of essential items.
Vaccination is the Cat's Meow The Moscow Regional Coronavirus Headquarters are using all the available weapons at their disposal to fight the spread of COVID-19, and they've pulled out their biggest gun yet: cat memes.
November/December 2021 Dostoyevsky Turns 200: Is He Still Alive in Russia? * The Myth of Catherine the Great's Demise * Telling Fortunes in the Village * Dostoyevsky Sees a Corpse * King of the Cold * The Difference Between Now and NOW * Nobel Winner * Alexander's Decree * Elizabeth's Reign * Plov for the Holidays
A Pen for Peace Dmitry Muratov, the longtime editor in chief of the opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta received the Nobel Peace Prize, sharing the award with Philipina journalist Maria Ressa.
A Perfect Holiday Centerpiece It’s that time of the year again, when afternoons are short, the colors are subdued, and the appetite for rich spicy foods is at its highest. What a perfect occasion to cook a hearty Central Asia pilaf with mutton, lots of cumin, and (if you can find them) barberries (also known as berberis or “northern lemon”).
Мафия рулит! (или Итальянский в России) In this issue's language page, we look at the influence that Italian has had on the Russian language.
It's Now or Never When you begin to learn Russian, you may be a bit puzzled by two “nows”: теперь and сейчас. Let's clear this up, right NOW.
The Road Ahead People often ask me what lies ahead for Russia. This question always surprises me. It suggests that people think historians are part prophet, as if knowing a lot about the past means you can predict the future.
Death of an Empress Empress Elizabeth Petrovna breathed her last in December of 1761, in her St. Petersburg palace. By any standard, Peter the Great’s second daughter had lived an unusual life.
The Timid Path On December 12, 1801, 23-year-old Tsar Alexander I issued an ukaz. This particular decree was not something historians have considered extremely significant in the scheme of Alexander’s reign, but it merits attention for a few reasons.
Russian Terrorists with Febrile Dreams of Flight An excerpt from To Break Russia’s Chains: Boris Savinkov and his Wars Against the Tsar and the Bolsheviks, recently published by Pegasus Books.
News and Readings from Russia The latest news and developments from Russia that may not have made it into the New York Times.
Dostoyevsky is Born Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821-1881), novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist, was born in Moscow.
Happy 200th, Dostoyevsky! On this, the occasion of the great writer's 200th birthday, we offer some links to stories we have published about him over the years, as well as some cool videos. Happy reading and viewing!
Crime and Punishment W.W. Norton has released a new translation, by Michael Katz, of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s classic novel. We excerpt here the novel’s opening.
Dostoyevsky the Gambler In September 1863, Fyodor Dostoyevsky was desperate for money. The result was one of his finest works, the novel The Gambler. It would change the writer's fate in many ways.
The Grand Illusion Russia went to war with the Ottoman Empire in 1877 for what it thought were noble reasons. Yet, in the end, it turned out the usual way. A look back at that era, with contemporaneous accounts by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky is treasured the world over for his psychological novels, many written under hurried deadlines. We look at his life and art, and talk to his relatives.
Ten Best Hollywood Films about Russia and Russians We did a survey of experts and came up with our list of the Ten Best Hollywood Films about Russia and Russians
Reindeer, Restaurant Overload, and the Best Taxi Drivers in All the Russias In this week's Odder News, gig work gets some much-deserved attention, Muscovites "celebrate" the imminent lockdown by going nuts, and the wild comes to the streets of St. Petersburg.
A Good Sign Researchers in Novosibirsk are working to develop the world's first Russian Sign Language-to-text translator.
Don't Bungle Your Bowels, Eat Sauerkraut "Sauerkraut that can almost completely solve the problem with dysbiosis. This is because it contains a fairly large amount of dietary fiber, which is a good nourishment for your microflora, and immunity largely depends on the work of the intestines.” – Nutritionist Andrey Solotarev on what might be good for the gut.
Quote-Unquote Eternal Flame Due to a gas shortage, one former Soviet city has been forced to shut off a war memorial: an "eternal" flame that was never supposed to stop burning.
A Mustachioed Medusa What could be more sinister than a Medusa with a mustache? A hint: a Medusa with a mustache and a reputation for being Europe’s last dictator.
Valhalla on Lake Baikal For the first time in history, a Viking-style longship sails the waters of the Angara river near Lake Baikal.
Defending a Mural to the Death If you don't know short-lived Soviet rock musician Igor Talkov, you should. His St. Petersburg mural is under threat.
Debunking a Myth The salacious and derogatory myth surrounding the death of Catherine the Great has its roots in her detractors and successors, both at home and abroad.
Dreadful Terror Dostoyevsky’s chance visit to a museum led to a chilling, life-changing encounter with an artist long dead, but whose work was very much alive. It would make an appearance in the writer’s next novel.
Telling Fortunes When they turn the electricity off in the village, everybody promptly shows up at Granny Shura’s.
Is Dostoyevsky Still Alive? On the occasion of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky’s 200th anniversary, we visit his adopted city to consider the imprint he left behind.
Outsmarting Smart Voting For the first time since 2016, and the first time since the momentous constitutional changes of 2020 allowing President Putin to run for two more presidential terms, Russia has elected a new parliament.
All Good Things In which we say goodbye to a longtime editor and look toward the future by looking back.
Anar Movsumov Anar Movsumov is a photojournalist based in Samara. He has worked as a staff photographer and freelance contributing photojournalist with major Russian news media (Meduza, Kommersant, Novaya Gazeta, and others) and with international media (El Pais, Der Spiegel, and BBC). He also works as a producer and fixer. He loves to capture stories of ordinary people and always tries to find and show something inspiring in every story he does.
Vladimir Alexandrov Vladimir Alexandrov received a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Princeton. He taught Russian literature and culture at Harvard before moving to Yale, where he is B.E. Bensinger Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures. He is the author of The Black Russian, To Break Russia’s Chains: Boris Savinkov and his Wars Against the Tsar and the Bolsheviks, as well as books on Bely, Nabokov, and Tolstoy, and lives in New Haven, Connecticut.
Emily R. Zarevich Emily R. Zarevich is an English/ESL teacher and writer from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. She attended Wilfrid Laurier University for her Honours English B.A. and earned her teaching certificate from Humber College. Her research journalism has also appeared in Jstor Daily, The Archive, and Early Bird Books. She is also a writer of fiction, and her published short stories can be found in Wild Roof Journal and Dreamers Creative Writing Magazine.
The Cat's Out of the Suitcase A new statue in Kurgan is decidedly not the cat's pajamas, and after less than a week on display is being taken down due to public outcry.
Scoot Safely Russia's ministry of transportation has created a set of rules and regulations for electric scooters.
That's Not the Team Spirit "Because of e-sports, we are losing future great athletes who could become Olympic champions.” – Svetlana Zhurova, State Duma Deputy and Olympic Champion, commenting on the recent (sedentary) victory of the Russian cybersports group Team Spirit.
Message in a Bottle, Moscow Canal Blockage, and Mother of 22 In this week's Odder News, the most amazing cakes you have ever seen, Russia's Suez Canal moment, and how do 100 kids sound?
Akhmatova's Cat Goes Missing After a brief scare, the oldest cat at the poet Anna Akhmatova's museum in St. Petersburg has returned safely back home.
A Bare Cat-art-strophe in Kazan An indignant social media user called out an artist for her choice of subject in the heart of Kazan, but there’s another side to the story – a backside, if you will.
Kremlin Ghosts Hidden behind the walls of Moscow’s ancient fortress are phantoms and shades from centuries gone by.
The Sweetest Stowaway In which a lucky kitten gets to see a good portion of Russia from the cabin of a very kind truck driver.
Christopher Marcisz Christopher Marcisz is a writer who lives in western Massachusetts. His work has appeared in Hyperallergic, Popula, and the Berkshire Eagle. @cwmarc
Tractors in Tomsk, TikTok, and Space Movies In this week's Odder News, don't drink and drive your tractor, ticket-taking grandmothers are surprisingly entertaining, and the Russians win the new space race by a hair.
Fair Trade One Russian city is taking moonshine off the streets by offering a trade: groceries in exchange for booze.
The Little Bike That Could Just when you thought that Russia had everything, an inventor from Krasnodar gains recognition for creating the world's smallest (functional) bicycle.
Being the Face Sans Facebook "The president’s website is working. There are no problems.” – On October 4 Press Secretary for the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov reassured the public that not even Facebook can take down the President’s site.
Jello, Fellow! Shall We Sweeten the Deal? Somebody’s got a sweet tooth in Tyumen, where they deputy head of Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service has accepted forbidden fruit in exchange for the right to supply other sweet ingredients.
A New Spin on an Old Painting The internet has been talking about Ilya Repin's painting Barge Haulers on the Volga a lot lately but, as usual, it is ignoring history.
A Glorious Gazebo A village in Bashkortostan has opened a new gazebo as a gathering place for the community, and photos certainly make it look welcoming.
Dressed to Kill Their Careers There are worse fashion blunders than white socks and a self-tying tie, but the chief prosecutor’s office of Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory might disagree.
A Corgi Coronation The third annual Corgi Ball took place outside Moscow, and yes, it was just as cute as it sounds like it would be.
A Rare Royal Romanov Wedding A wedding fit for a Romanov went down in St. Petersburg on the first of October.
Devil-May-Care or Crazy Like a Fox? "We did not have a fox in the monastery, definitely not ours, but it’s probably someone’s pet. They write that someone [at the monastery] was scared, but the fox was the most scared of all – a hundred people chased after her with their phones; she is the main victim.” – A resident of the Srtensky Monastery in Moscow denied that a young fox accused of terrorizing parishioners had come from the premises.
Giant Pumpkins, Giant Trash Piles, and Micro-Apartments In this week's Odder News, a wedding that sends the cast of a French musical to Africa, Moscow's new tiny flats, and Russia's trash is piling up.
Not All Eco-Heroes Wear Capes Meet Khokhulya: he's a Russian desman, the official eco-hero of the Kaluga Region, and now an internet personality to boot.
Philosophy Baddie: Detective Lenin Closes the Case Formerly an editor of “glossy publications,” Russian writer and editor Alexei Korolev has released his debut novel, Death of Pure Reason. The novel’s “hero” is one Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov.
Ageless Youth The new head of Yekaterinburg's youth commission is perhaps a little older than one might expect.
Troppau Protocol Signed As Europe boiled and revolutions fomented, the rulers of Russia, Austria, and Prussia granted themselves the authority to invade other countries in order to maintain calm and protect the power of the ruling monarchs.
The Panic By mid-October of 1941, Moscow seemed on the verge of falling to the Nazis. German troops had reached the city’s edge, and there were rumors of fascist tanks closing in.
Mysterious Mice, Marketing Cats, and Fake Scorpions In this week's Odder News, blind dueting, cats at work, and the mice who love COVID.
Wisdom Welcomes a Wine Glass "The world is absolutely clear to me :) CHEERS.” – Elena, wine-bearing marathon runner in September’s Galaxy Vladivostok Marathon.
Pelevin Perplexes After twenty years outside the public eye, celebrated author Viktor Pelevin comes to Moscow to greet fans and sign books. Or does he?
Dromedary on the Roam You can find lots of unique and unexpected things when you take a trip into the woods in search of edible mushrooms, but a camel in Nizhny Novgorod seems to be the most outlandish find yet.
Compliments to Russia's Chefs A new ranking shows that 4% of the world's best chefs come from Russia.
Remembering Yaroslavl's Lost Hockey Team A decade has passed since an entire Russian professional hockey team was lost in a moment.
Kremlin Finally Gets Around to Clearing Out Old Basement Archaeologists have just completed digging through layers of cultural strata in the middle of the Kremlin, unearthing some interesting finds they totally forgot were down there.
What's Worse: Unsympathetic Aliens or Interfering AI? "The App Store portal: who regulates it? Artificial intelligence, people from Mars?” – Andrei Klimov, seeking to understand what’s going on behind the scenes with Apple’s App Store on September 17.
Chess, the Most Dangerous Game A normally quite peaceful board game took a violent turn in Krasoyarsk.
Hero Cats, Bizarre Voters, and Roscosmos In this week's Odder News, polling stations get wild, a family cat saves the day, and where in Russia is the head of the last Kazakh khan?
Bring Out the Chainsaw! As policy dictates, election staff must now dispose of unused ballots in Russia's State Duma elections – and you’ll find that some have been cutting corners. Chainsaw, anyone?
Gone Fishing ~ Video Andrei Borodulin, the writer and photographer who penned "Gone Fishing," an article about the Volga River delta for our September/October issue, sent us this fantastic short video captured while reporting that story.
Pumpkins, Medieval Renaissance Festivals, and Cattle Stealing In this week's Odder News, enormous pumpkins, LARPing in honor of Alexander Nevsky, and horses in cars.
What's Inside of Fox's Mouth? “Snrrf.” *crunching sound* *laughter* “Pant, pant…” – A fox as it thieves a camera from tourists in Kamchatka on September 8.
Bee the Change In Chelyabinsk, for the first time, an agricultural enterprise is under legal heat for the mass killing of bees.
2022 Wall Calendar This is one of the most beautiful calendars we have ever created. It features breathtaking images from all across Russia by acclaimed photographer Petr Ushanov.
2022 Desk Calendar The same 12 images as on our Wall Calendar, only smaller. It is printed on glossy card stock and features a sturdy “tenting” design, color coding of major holidays, and bilingual month names.
I'm Not Dead Yet! It seems that vampires aren't the only creatures who choose to sleep in coffins; drunk Russians do, too.
Bribes Aren't Funny Roskomnadzor seems to have a funny bone to pick with the Sverdlovsk government publication Oblastnaya Gazeta, blocking their website in delayed reaction to a questionable text.
A Dedication to Dairy Residents of Voronezh have made us all proud (and a little bit jealous) by setting the Russian record for eating the most sweet cottage cheese-based desserts in one day.
Awkward Signs, Awkward Videos, and Awkward Communists KHL-winning former NHL coach goes all in on Russia, Russia's top communist goes all in on religion, and fines for peeing on Russia.
Gone Fishing You’ve not been fishing until you have explored the Volga River delta. And what better guide to take us there than the intrepid Andrei Borodulin?
Don't Forget Your Flowers and Bows Last week, Russian children gathered for the Day of Knowledge on September 1. It is quite the spectacle.
Moscow Neighborhoods Due for a Face Lift “They are different projects, but they have the same goal: to create a high-quality urban environment and new opportunities for recreation and sports close to home.” – Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, announcing plans to improve Moscow’s public spaces.
Robots Hit the Road Three Russian cities are set to host the country's first unmanned taxis. What could go wrong?
Duct-Taped and Speeding A young Russian blogger and his accomplice published a video of vehicular hooliganism on September 1.
Kate Skorodinskaya Kate Skorodinskaya is a journalist and author of four books, and worked for Russian national television as well as various Russian magazines and newspapers. For the last decade, however, she has been teaching courses on Russian language, film, literature, and culture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She sees film as a shortcut to learning about and understanding Russian culture.
Baba Yaga's Birthday Bash How does Baba Yaga celebrate her special day? Head to Yekaterinberg to find out.
A Big Win for Big Cats Big cats can rest easy knowing that both the Amur Tiger and the Amur Leopard have been declared safe from the possibility of extinction.
Grace, Poise, and Firepower Belarus opens Russia's eight annual tank biathlon with tutus and Swan Lake.
First Contact It is astonishing to think that as recently as the eighteenth century – not the Middle Ages, not the days of Marco Polo, but in the supposedly enlightened eighteenth century – people still had only the vaguest idea of where Asia ended and America began.
Sofia Gubaidulina Listening to the intensely chromatic compositions of Sofia Gubaidulina can be challenging. You wouldn’t put her music on to relax or to be energized. As with any avant-garde work, taking it in can feel like work.
Virgin Arctic Russia is pushing ahead with a new drive to populate the country’s remote and unpopular fringes. Starting this year, Russians can claim a hectare (about 2.5 acres) of land in the Arctic zone – absolutely free.
Going Postal, Falling in Rivers, and Surviving Crimean Vacation In this week's Odder News, pregnant cows falling in rivers, drunk Pitertsy falling in rivers, mysterious runoff in the Black Sea, and going postal.
A Can-ny Campaign Strategy “Lids are very relevant seasonal paraphernalia for many. Everyone accepted the gifts, even adherents of other political views.” – Local news from gorbatka.ru, on United Russia’s election campaign strategy.
Russia Tire-d of Folk Art At the beginning of July, the Russian government re-tire-d a form of folk art dear to many: the lawn tire.
A Revolutionary Restoration After almost ten years, the Alexander Palace, the final home of the Romanovs, is back and open for visitors.
September/October 2021 Mouth of the Volga * Little Shop in Vedlozero * Heat in the Village * Russian Life's Censored Roots * Moscow's Modernist Marvel * The Language of Weather * From Germany with Love (Uchites) * The Panic of 1941 * A Woman Composer Who Persisted * "Discovering" Russian America * Olympic Flame, Out * A Crumb Cake for All Seasons
Scents and Memoirs Two books reviewed: one on the origin of two perfumeries, another that is a memoir of an archpriest.
Flame Out Due to the sports doping ban about which much has been written, Russia was not allowed to compete in the Tokyo Olympics this summer. But Russian athletes did compete under the “flag” of the “Russian Olympic Committee” (ROC).
A Crumble for All Seasons A crumble cake in Russia is something like banana bread in the US – the varieties are endless, and every avid baker has her “grandmother’s recipe” in their repertoire.
Moscow's Modernist Marvel Sometimes the most incredible things can be hidden in plain sight. In this case, a main thoroughfare in the capital.
Fate's Debt Register In which we visit a rather unique store in the Karelian village of Vedlozero. Which of course is far more than a store.
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall These days, unfortunately, we all need to become familiar with the terminology for extreme weather and climate change, if only to know when we should dash into the basement or pack up and run.
The Heat There’s no doing without hay in the village. The cows eat it, and the sheep, and the hens need loads of it for their nests. And it comes in handy for people too, when they stuff their mattresses with it and lie on them forevermore, because the scent is just marvelous.
Artur the Surgeon Artur, a surgeon from Moscow, spends more than 5 hours a day underwater during his Delta vacations.
Darkness The deeper into the delta one goes, the less conditions are prime for tourists looking for comfort.
Anatoly Anatoly, a local Kalmyk, has caught only a few medical leeches. Right: The horses of Kalmykia.
Yuri Yuri is a farmer and Terek Cossack. He treasures his fishing expeditions as an opportunity to turn off his phone and escape his daily routine.
News Notes Pressure on independent journalism, champagne importers, and some Olympics and architectural news.
Profiles in Courage It takes something special in a human being to create a thing from scratch, to see a slab of stone and carve it into a sculpture, to see an empty storefront and turn it into a store, to sketch out a multistory building on paper and then shepherd it into existence in the real world.
Concrete Jungle A shawarma shop accidentally delves into urban agriculture, much to the delight of city residents.
Nine Lives of Crime While that face might look sweet and innocent, recent allegations against Pushok the cat claim otherwise.
Little Wanderers, Watery Kasha, and Flower Bouquets In this week's Odder News, kids expect glamping and instead get camping, a missing baby is found after days of wandering, and a bouquet of flowers drives the internet wild.
Throw in the Mayor with the Banya Water “Today, the city bath house needs support because, due to last year's lengthy six-month shutdown associated with the coronavirus, the banya cannot pull itself out of debt." – Mikhail Valov, Mayor of Sayanogorsk, inviting citizens to save his city’s municipal bathhouse from the economic ravages of the Coronavirus on August 23.
Recovering from Covid? Bring on the Russian Ballad A little levity can be good for the Covid blues, and expert Khadizhat Omarova of Russia’s Rospotrebnadzor has given a variety of advice to accelerate recovery. Why not give your lungs a good stretch and practice your folk song, too?
Biscuithead Sweet-Talks on Safety In Russia, mascots only get better. Imagine a child cracking a smile not JUST for a man bungling in a hot costume, but for a role model who looks like a beloved teatime treat…
No Such Thing as a Free Pizza Pizza-lovers be warned: a new scam in Russia is targeting those with a craving for cheese and pepperoni.
Even Communists Like Rock A very uncharacteristic tweet about a famous Soviet rockstar has many Russians scratching their heads. Apparently, even communist party leader Gennady Zyuganov can't resist a catchy tune.
Who Fishes for Fishers? A court has found two men guilty of poaching—men whose job it is to prevent the poaching of fish.
Teach a Man to Phish “Don't believe it, don't click it, don't pay!” – Sergey Volodkhin, director of the Russian company “Antiphishing,” explaining how online scammers bait their hooks,
Seal Friends, Soviet Sunbathing, and Secrets of Moscow In this week's Odder News, a horse dung walking trail, a seal with a very proper name, and Mrs. Russia takes the stage.
What's in a Name? Yandex.Maps has completed a surprising study of all the places in Russia, and they even figured out how to get from the Moon to Mars.
Not-Russia's Final Medal Tally Not-Russia took home more Olympic medals than it thought it would, placing third in the overall medal count race.
Sinfully Good Burgers A Russian woman is suing McDonald's for producing advertising so effective she gave up on Lent.
Hell's Builders “There is not a single builder in Paradise.” – Stanislav Lisichenko, Russian restaurateur, providing an anecdote for Russia’s “Builder’s Day," August 8.
Borscht, Bears, and Birthday Surprises In this week's Odder News, the biggest pot of borscht you'll ever see, a new birthday gift idea, and piranhas hit Sakhalin.
Cops and Robots Russia's “Promobot” is more efficient than the teacher with eyes in the back of her head.
A Real Hot Rod Who needs headlights when you have flamethrowers instead? This Russian mechanic decided to find out.
No Scaredy-Cats Here Cats and bears are (arguably) Russia's two favorite national animals. What would happen if the two animals were to come head to head? Apparently, not much.
Are You Ready for Some... Football? Look out NFL – the Russian Super Bowl was held in the Moscow region last weekend.
Facepay, Tots in College, and Twisties In this week's Odder News, futuristic cities, unexpected parliamentary candidates, and the twisties.
Tourism in the Time of Covid “These people do not go to relax in other resorts, they settle in neighboring hotels: the more restrictions are imposed on legal business, the more it plays into the hands of those who work in the dark.” – Natalia Stambulnikova, Chairman of the Association of Small Hotels of Crimea, warning of the ominous nature of coronavirus restrictions that impede tourism.
The Purrfect PPE Cats and water are usually a combination to be avoided, but this Russian athlete wants nothing more than to make his affinity for his feline companions known in the Olympic swimming pool.
Leaving the Mark of Marriage at the Altar A move to allow Russians to choose whether their marriage status will be included in their passports has met with traditional backlash. What was that about a ball and chain, now?
Fountain Frolicking Forbidden The St. Petersburg city government has threatened to prevent traditional celebrations of VDV Day by turning off its fountains. Such grinches.
Starry-Eyed and Vaccinated Covid’s got a sun sign, and Russian television personality and astrologer Vasilisa Volodina is out to break the virus some bad news.
The False Borises Imitation is the highest form of flattery, especially when it comes to one's name on a ballot.
Chefs, Cockroaches, and Cat Cafes In this week's Odder News: raccoon rescue, low light, and cats, both homeless and elite.
More Borscht for All “We expect there to be and there already is a decrease in prices for products included in this ‘borscht set,’ and in our opinion, the trend will continue.” – Elvira Nabiullina, the head of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, has happy news.
Locating Lotuses Did you know that wild lotus flowers are native to Russia? Well, here's an interactive map of where to find them in the Astrakhan region.
Give a Dog a (Brand New) Bone A poor two-legged pooch needs a lending paw, and Novosibirsk veterinarians 3D-print her a pair of two prosthetics.
An Architectural Crime; or, Shedquarters A new village police station, unveiled with much pomp, occupies what appears to be a repurposed corrugated metal shed.
IKEA, Invasive Species, and Cat Kidney Transplants In this week's Odder News, elite cat care, the cutest reunion ever, and IKEA furniture is really from Russia.
No Lazy Elections “Video surveillance – it is not idle curiosity, for lying on the couch to watch some kind of movie. There are theaters and television for that, but this [observance of elections] is major work. If you want [to observe elections], if you are interested, an active citizen, then you’re going to need to work a bit for it.” – Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia’s Central Election Committee, on election monitoring.
Let Sleeping Bears Lie A Russian zoo will open its very first exhibit to allow the observation of hibernating bears, but will it allow the bears to get some good shut-eye?
An Olympic Reintroduction Everyone is excited for the long-awaited Games this summer, especially the Russian Olympic Committee, who is taking the opportunity to reintroduce us to their two new(-ish) Olympic mascots.
Not Cu-Cumbersome for Prisoners It looks like a penal colony in Russia’s Oryol region has met the challenge of prison reform with a solution as cool as a cucumber.
Russians Play Crucial Role in NHL Championship The Tampa Bay Lightning just won the NHL championship, and there were definitely Russians involved.
Doses Down the Drain While most Russians aren't known to shy away from free shots (vaccine or otherwise), one administrator is under investigation for selling documents sans immunizations.
The Right Dosage “Sex after administration of the vaccine does not cause any side effects in people of any age. As a matter of fact, sexual activity provides a lot of satisfaction and pleasure. People’s fears go away, as sex 'turns off' the head and relieves stress.” – Sexologist sexologist Andrei Lygachin, refuting the idea that individuals should avoid sex after being vaccinated against COVID-19.
Robodogs, Space Movies, and Skydiving In this week's Odder News, a skydiver plunges into family breakfast, Russian and American actors fly into space, and robots are taking over.
Flying High Russian air travel has changed radically over the past two decades. While there are still grave security concerns, there has been a boom in aircraft and airport construction, with positive impacts for travelers into and within the country.
Putting the Buzz in Buzzed Bees and people aren't really that different after all: Apparently, both get a little disoriented when the weather gets too hot and they have had a little bit too much to drink.
Dear Cheese Is there anything that could make cheese any better than it already is? A new patent in cheese-making with an unusual ingredient is attempting to do just that.
Cracking the QR Code In Moscow, a pair of legs with hot red stilettos on one end and a plush purple QR code at the other flounced down a Moscow street and into a restaurant.
New York, Back on the Map After sixty years of going by another name, New York, Ukraine, is back in action.
Dirty Money “We are strengthening the protection of banknotes from the effects of harmful microorganisms.” – On July 5, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Central Bank Mikhail Alekseev explained plans for the modernization of Russia’s bank notes
Cloudy With a Chance of Milkshakes A usual weather phenomenon called "Milky Rain" occurred recently in the Moscow region, but it wasn't nearly as delicious as it sounds.
Animals, Animals, Animals... and Faking Your Own Kidnapping In this week's Odder News, Russian highway drivers stop for a duckling crossing, a woman fakes her own kidnapping and pays for it, and what does it signify if two black sphynx cats cross your path?
Get Your "Mad Max" on in Russia's "Silk Way" Rally A trip for rugged vehicles of many types and stripes, Russia’s “Silk Way” Rally began on July 1 in Omsk.
Rushin' to Get Back To Russia Russophiles delight! The motherland calls, and she's saying that American ex-pats are welcome to enter through her borders once again.
From MMA to Crème Brûlée When an injury takes an MMA fighter out of the cage, he decides to take his talents into the kitchen instead.
July/August 2021 Russian Skies post-COVID * History of a spicy cookie * Real Kvass * Russian Cancel Culture? * The Wall at 60 * A Foreign Foreign Minister * Raspberry Yumminess * Language of Idiots * The Girl from the Hermitage * American Aid for a Russian Famine
Russia's Anomalous Zones While the U.S. Pentagon teases knowing the truth about UFOs, Volgograd continues to attract more of them... supposedly... than anywhere else.
Sandwiches, Suitcases, and Swaddling Clothes In this week's Odder News, marked up sandwiches, magic suitcases, and Chadian soldiers as alarm clocks.
Nice and Refreshing Russia announces "Sputnik Light," the not-actually-low-cal version of their Sputnik V vaccine.
The Rainbow Menace “The demand for primitive toys suggests that not all of society, but a certain stratum, are inclined to simple decisions. Our society is approaching a situation where we will collapse into the abyss of simple solutions to complex issues.” – Russian psychologist, politician, and head of the Department of Personality Psychology at Moscow State University Alexander Asmolov warns of the risks of Simple-Dimples, Squishies, and Pop-its
A Necessary Inspection Russian kids are caught up in a toy craze, and the government is worried about how it might be influencing them.
Let There Be Light A policeman had a bright idea for how to use his money to help his native village.
Britney's Plight Takes Flight, And Putin's "Troops" Speak Out News of Britney Spears’s recent appearance in court has crossed the globe, and a well-meaning group of supporters in Russia have taken offense at her plight.
Soccer Takes Over St. Petersburg St. Petersburg hosts one-eleventh of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament this summer.
Aeroflot, Achilles, and Alushta In this week's Odder News, a noble Hermitage cat predicts the UEFA tournament in St. Petersburg, new rules for flying with pets, and Russia's three biggest problems.
Crossing the Line With a bucket of paint and a dream, this Russian pensioner did what city officials wouldn't, but she may have had to cross a line to do it.
Putin's Pretty Pensive “Everything in the world displeases me, but, above all, my displeasure in everything displeases me.” – “Darth Putin” on Twitter parodies Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments after his meeting with Joe Biden on Wednesday, June 16
Of Fish and Cockroaches Some ways to tell the difference between fish names and a discussion of fishy aphorisms and idioms.
Too Many Cat Videos More than 40% of Russians say they're addicted to the internet, meaning that as many as 60% of Russians are probably liars.
The Mai Tais Are Worth It Ever been so desperate for a vacation that you're willing to go into debt? According to a new study, more and more Russians are.
The Original Cover of Alice The original cover of Nabokov's translation of Alice in Wonderland, published in 1923 | Illustration by S. Zalshupin
Drinking Not En-Cur-Aged If you’re craving hair of the dog, Russia’s State Duma might recommend leaving the dog—or any pet, for that matter—behind.
Famine and Relief In 1921, Russia was in a catastrophic state. Famine raged, and American aid proved crucial to the nation's survival.
More than a Cookie For some 300 years, the residents of Gorodets, near Nizhny Novgorod, have been making a spicy cookie famous throughout the country, and perhaps the world.
The Girl from the Hermitage Molly Gartland’s The Girl from the Hermitage follows the turns of fate over nearly a century of a single family in St. Petersburg, whose lives are forever altered by a portrait assignment.
A Century Ago On August 7, 1921, Alexander Blok, died in St. Petersburg. Widely considered the greatest poet of the Silver Age of Russian poetry.
Kvass Our old gals in the village cast a wary eye on all food from the store, because who knows what they’ve got in there?
Irina Poverennova Irina Poverennova is a photographer in Nizhny Novogorod. She canbe found at @irina.poverennova.
Cheburashka in the Fog Just a little over a year ago, Russia was rocked by revelations that one of its most venerated authors of childrens’ fiction subjected his daughter to abuse in a cult.
Dumb and Dumber In Russian, as in English, it isn’t nice to call someone “stupid.” But sometimes you just have to say it.
The Berlin Wall Why was so much manpower, money, and material expended on a project that flew in the face of the policy of “peaceful coexistence” that had been announced just five years earlier? It was classic Khrushchev.
The Foreign Foreign Minister Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski was born in Poland, and helped rule Russia, for a time at least.
Molly Gartland Originally from Michigan, Molly Gartland worked in Moscow from 1994 to 2000 and has been fascinated by Russian culture ever since. She has an MA in Creative Writing from St Mary’s University, Twickenham and lives in London. The manuscript for her debut novel The Girl from the Hermitage was shortlisted for the Impress Prize and longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition, the Bath Novel Award and Grindstone Novel Award. Molly Gartland's Website
Space, Felix, and Banyas News items on everything from the ISS to politics, from banyas to a new train station.
New GULAG? Russian authorities have found a new way to boost the country’s sluggish economic growth while also solving the shortage of construction workers: prison labor.
Apparitions, Animals, and Cannabis In this week's Odder News, moose loose, ghost spotted, and hemp growing under the government's nose.
Get Them Vacs A-Rollin' “The main condition is that the first shot of the vaccine must be administered between the 15th and 25th of June 2021 at the vaccination points of the Ministry of Health of the Moscow Region. For this purpose, you can choose any drug: ‘Sputnik V,’ ‘EpiVacCorona,’ and ‘KoviVak.’” – On June 13, Governor of Moscow Oblast Andrei Vorobyov announced a lottery to win a new apartment.
When Well-Oiled, Skip the Fat If you enjoy a hefty pour (or three!), you might think twice about what you consume to offset the effects of a night of drinking.
A Furry Fugitive In America, people go to country clubs to escape from the drudgery they bear. In Russia, bears escape from country clubs.
Inbreeding Animals, Escaping Arrestees, and Zhiguli Is Back In this week's Odder News, we have mutant dolphins, wild rappers, and (of course) vintage Zhigulis.
Looking for Elon “I think he has already been born. I think he is already in school studying or in kindergarten. And of course, he is not alone. A great country will certainly appear.” – On June 5, Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, on where the Russian Elon Musk is.
Netflix Loves Russia's Beloved Sergei Bodrov, Jr. Sergei Bodrov, Jr., shines in Netflix's Top 10 list in Brat's first week.
Flooded with Fun Citizens of Krasnoyarsk are figuring out how to make the best out of a pretty water-logged situation.
Internet Writing 101 Get ready for workout videos, dance clips, and photos of avocado toast: Russia's Ministry of Education is considering adding blogging to some curricula.
UFOs, Cars, and Steven Seagal's Samurai Sword In this week's Odder News, Russians are geeked about UFOs, past and present collide, and Steven Seagal becomes a real-life special agent.
Ferreting Into Adventure The world's luckiest ferret is set to go on the vacation of a lifetime in the Altai mountains.
iTeacher After a year of education through computer screens and the internet, one Russian school looks to bring the screens back into the physical classroom with a robotic teacher.
Boiling Politics! “The political field lives and evolves, it boils during election campaigns.” – On Tuesday May 25, Press Secretary to the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov praises Russia’s political environment.
Tamara Eidelman Tamara Eidelman is a historian, an author, and an acclaimed YouTube lecturer, and leader of historical tours. Formerly a history teacher at one of Moscow’s finest high schools, she regularly gives public lectures on history and recently published How Propaganda Works, as well as two books for children on Russian history. She has been the magazine's History Editor since 2003. She compiles the Calendar section and regularly contributes, vetts and edits articles on historical themes. In late 2019, she started up a Youtube channel on matters historical, societal and philosophical. It has become hugely popular (with over 200,000 subscribers), and it is a great place to improve your Russian. Also, she has an active Telegram channel.
Quadruplets, Stickers, and Jellyfish in Your Pants In this week's Odder News, Russia jumps on the organic bandwagon, Russians get circus tickets and stickers for vaccinating, and quadruplets are more common than you would think.
Congrats to Mikhail Kubar! A Yakut school's graduating class consisted of only one student, which means he receives all of our congratulations.
Tesla Comes to Russia “I think we're close to establishing Tesla's presence in Russia, and that would be great. And more broadly, also in Kazakhstan and neighboring regions.” – On May 21, entrepreneur Elon Musk announced that the Tesla line would soon make it to markets in Russia, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall Editor Tamara Eidelman reminisces about how little the Berlin Wall was part of Soviet life.
Peter the Great's Sandbox The Sandfest returns to the shores of St. Petersburg with global travel themes.
Scooter Blacklist The Moscow City Duma is proposing safety regulations that will help prevent Muscovites from scootering into peril.
Bling Defiantly! How to counter the "shameful" designation of "foreign agent"? With some bling, of course.
Teletubbies, TikTok Tinder, and TikTok Mayor In this week's Odder News, a city mayor uses TikTok and Grand Theft Auto to communicate with his constituents, the Teletubbies show up in Norilsk, and a Perm barn is sacrificed to TikTok.
Security Snoops on Banya Bathers A court case in the city of Perm unveils a story combining three quintessentially Soviet things: bathhouses, religious oppression, and an (extremely) intrusive surveillance state.
Take This to Your Grave These competitors will gladly dig their own graves, but only if it means victory.
Not Fit for the Kremlin “I also don’t know that they would be able to work in the President’s administration. I do not think there is a division in the administration that deals with sports nutrition.” – Press Secretary to the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov
Baikal by Birds Eye While manufacturers generally don't recommend you fly your drone at temperatures below freezing, that didn't stop videographer Vadim Sherbakov from shooting this amazing film depicting a frozen Lake Baikal.
Waste Not, Unless You Want to Support Russia's Disposal Services The Russian Government has invested in quite a mess!
Beastly Benefits When the show can no longer go on, animal members of the Russian State Circus will now be given the opportunity to retire in style in Crimea.
Ninety-Four Years Young Daily stretching and exercise are the secrets to a long and healthy life—and lots of gold badges.
Victory Day, Vaccination Drives, and Mass Marriage In this week's Odder News, Victory Day surprises, ideas to increase vaccination, and a mass wedding in the sky.
Get You With the Big Gun “Simple and reliable, like a Kalashnikov assault rifle.” – Putin's assessment of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, broadcast on television channel Russia 24 on May 6.
Russian-Canadian Now 27-Year-Old Billionaire The world's newest and youngest crypto billionaire is from Russia and goes by Vitalik.
Hacking into the Mainframe Don your fingerless gloves, put on your dark sunglasses, and grab your trusty black Anonymous hoodie: a new study reveals Russians are just as sloppy with their internet security as the rest of us.
Don't Diss the Dog Days As spring heats slowly to the rapid days of summer, the canines of Russia are kept on their paws with special challenges of their own.
Drop and Give Me Fifty, Mr. Mayor It's not very often that you see the mayor of a city get punished by a group of school-age children, but that's exactly what happened in Krasnoyarsk when mayor Sergei Eryomin lost a challenge.
Shashlik Responsibly Grilled meat on a stick and fire safety have never been good friends, but Russian officials are trying to change that relationship.
Happy Birthday to Russia's Quirkiest Pop Icon Russian television celebrated pop singer Philipp Kirkorov's 54th birthday in grand fashion at the end of April.
Sputnik V is Quite Alright “The fact of the matter is, 80 or 85% of Serbians want the Russian vaccine Sputnik V." – Down with the naysayers! On May 4, Russian news outlet Izvestiya published a written interview with the Serbian Ambassador Miroslav Lazanski where he explained that, while Serbians choose themselves which vaccine they will receive, the majority would prefer Sputnik V. Remember when The world poo-poo’d the Russian decision to vaccinate without full clinical trials? It looks like not everyone’s complaining these days…
What a Dud It might come as no surprise that a king of YouTube is not immune to a video scandal or two – but when journalists, government officials and members of parliament are involved…?
Squirrelly Behavior in Barnaul Siberian Squirrels are given their first taste of freedom in the Siberian city of Barnaul— but one chose violence instead.
Pelmeni, Rogue Rivers, and Military Bands In this week's Odder News, a military band delights a kindergarten class with songs from cartoons, Russian food might be able to make it in New York, and a Moscow nurse has had enough of this pandemic.
A Romantic Russian River Cruise A romantic shoreline walk turned into a romantic ice floe ride in Archangelsk, whisking away a pair of in-love teenagers on a Russian adventure.
A Refreshing Dip As residents of Arhangelsk were unable to use the tap, one city worker made the best of a bad situation.
Why Russians Don't Run A tale of two long distance road races – Russia’s oldest and its most prestigious – and what they tell us about the state of running and fitness in Russia.
Russia's Days Off “Russian means rested." – Twitter user @zhenya_indigo appreciated a surprise long holiday for the first ten days of May in the Russian Federation. Earlier in the week, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the request of Anna Popova, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, when she proposed consecutive days of holiday for Russia’s citizens. In addition to Labor Day on May 1 and Victory Day on May 9, the population will have the fourth through the seventh to rest. “If you think that it is necessary, well, we will do so,” Putin said in response to the proposal.
The Tsar with the Dragon Tattoo Something you probably did not know about the last Romanov: before he ascended the throne, he got a huge dragon tattoo in Japan.
May/June 2021 Racing Zhigulis * Letters from the Front * Moscow Archaeology * Village Post Office * Bulgakov * Sakharov at 100 * A little known Congress * RuNet Regulated (or not) * Language of schoolyard brawls (and high diplomacy) * Gagarin's anniversary * A Savory Pie * Books we liked
Spring Cleaning April 12 was the 60th anniversary of human space flight, coinciding with the date in 1961 when Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin first orbited the Earth aboard a Vostok 1 spacecraft.
In Many Guises Death comes in many guises in the two mystery/suspense novels we review in this issue.
What Lies Beneath On the architectural heritage of Moscow that is being lost, bit by bit, though not without some resistance by dedicated scientists and activists.
My Street Photo offering an inner view of a My Street construction trench, taken by a passerby in the summer of 2017.
Ilyinka before and after Excavation pit on Ilyinka Street, before and after the destruction of the church's ruins.
The Little Classic That Could The Fighting Classic Club (Боевая классика) is an informal group of teens who love old Zhigulis. They purchase the aged (often non-functioning) cars for kopeks, restore them, souping them up in their lilliputian garages, and then improvise nighttime races and rallies through city streets, in shopping complex parking lots, or on frozen lakes just outside the city.
Letters from the Front The packet of 11 letters and 12 postcards reached me from Kharkov, through a combination of fate, serendipity and sheer luck. They were written by my father, Alexander Suchovy, from the front during World War II, and were addressed to his first wife, Varvara, and their son Vasily.
The Post Office The only things in the village more important than the post office are the store that carries bread and the walk-in clinic. But when you come right down to it, the post office really is the bigger deal.
Night Event Night event at the AvtoVAZ parking lot. Fighting Classic members organize a drift competition around a burning tire.
Romanov Alexander Romanov is one of the most respected Fighting Classic members. He shares Alexei Levin’s belief that it doesn’t make sense to fuss over old cars. Tolyatti is full of massive garage complexes with tiny individual units that have barely enough room to fit a car.
Model Builder Alexei Galayev builds a scale model of a Zhiguli 2101, the very first Zhiguli made at AvtoVAZ.
Vitaly For a long time,Vitaly dreamed of getting his car painted artistically, but could not afford it. Then his friends chipped in and gave him a birthday gift of the paint job he always wanted.
Save Your Soul! This issue's Uchites language learning section focuses on the ever-mysterious Russian soul and where and how it shows up in phrases and usages.
Presidential Patty Cakes This spring, a ruckus roiling US-Russian relations was one for the history books: It was the first spat that involved a children’s playground taunt.
Yearning for the Bosphorus In May 1821, Tsar Alexander had a decision to make. Support an ally, and thus revolution, or support monarchy and betray and ally.
Mikhail Bulgakov Reactions to Mikhail Bulgakov have changed so radically over the past hundred years, it is sometimes hard to believe that they all pertain to the same man – the revered author of The Master and Margarita we know today.
Hedgehog in the Smoke A fire in the Moscow region put this poor hedgehog into a prickly situation— luckily, firefighters were eager to help.
Dracula's Castle, Trains, and Porta-Potties In this week's Odder News, visit Dracula's castle, Moscow's hidden subway stations, and the Russian cosmos.
Centenarian Ship Weathers Every Storm One of the world's largest and most famous sailing training ships celebrates 100 years in the water.
The Cat Dragged In...? A student from the Russian city of Perm got caught out like a cat on a hot tin roof this week when he found himself volunteering to save a feline stuck in a window frame.
Sidewalk Art One person’s problem becomes another person’s easel. An artist takes on his city’s sidewalk problems with a bit of porcelain creativity. One person can make a difference.
Aiming for RuNet Russia’s crackdown on internet freedoms reached a fever pitch this spring as the government attempted to slow Twitter traffic in response to the microblogging platform’s alleged refusal to delete banned content.
Kosmonaughties “A**holes. Superpowers do not behave that way." – On April 13, Roscosmos head Dmitriy Rogozin criticized the U.S. Department of State in a Tweet for failing to mention Yuri Gagarin in a Facebook post that commemorates 60 years since the first man flew in space. Such a pity to forget who got there first.
Spring Cleaning for a Cause Emptying out apartments, but keeping hearts full— this is how some Muscovites are giving back in anticipation of Easter.
Repeat Offenses: Mothers Grieve a Spectacular Repast 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?
Hairy Hijinks “Find someone who’s tall, get him to put on a suit, turn the fur inside out and run around in crowded places, shout so that the tourists will notice – but they won’t catch him. Of course, then you must mark him and let him be silent, so he won’t blurt out anything unnecessary somewhere." – On April 10, former governor of Kemerovo Oblast Aman Tuleyev admitted to dalliances with a local legend. Ten years prior to his confession, Tuleyev arranged a rendezvous at Azasskaya Cave in the Shoria Mountains with none other than Bigfoot. While the furry darling shied away, Tuleyev was nevertheless charmed.
Astronaut Food, Monsieur Tussauds, and a Four-Day Workweek In this week's Odder News, Russia goes wild for Yuri Gagarin, a new law against potty mouths backfires, and a four-day workweek may be imminent.
Did You Hear About This One? Moscow doctors successfully perform a tiny surgery on a tiny bone that has a huge impact on your hearing.
Nora Seligman Favorov Nora Seligman Favorov is a Russian-to-English translator specializing in Russian literature and history. Her translation of Sofia Khvoshchinskaya’s1863 novel City Folk and Country Folk (Columbia, 2017) was recognized by the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages as “Best Literary Translation into English” for 2018. Her translation of Stalin: New Biography of a Dictator by Oleg Khlevniuk (Yale, 2015) was selected as Pushkin House UK’s “best Russian book in translation” for 2016. She serves as editor of SlavFile, newsletter of the American Translators Association’s Slavic Languages Division, and translation editor for Russian Life, for which she has been translating since 2005.
Running Away with the Story In Moscow, a Golden Retriever stole the show during a news broadcast — by stealing the microphone.
Raving in Khimki Grab your glowsticks: the Moscow region city of Khimki is lit! And unlit... and then lit again.
Attack of the "Uncultured" Muscovites Online photos of Moscow tourists on Petersburg landmarks have residents stewing.
Lynn Cox swam across Bering Strait In 2 hour 6 minutes, American swimmer Lynne Cox swam the Bering Strait from the island of Little Diomede in Alaska to Big Diomede, USSR, where the water temperature averaged around 43 to 44 °F (6 to 7 °C).
Computer-Judge Finds You Guilty Russian authorities are planning to make laws that computers can understand and, by extension, adjudicate.
Lock and Load For all your zombie apocalypse / Texas boar hunting / frontier bank-robbing needs, we present the Russian revolver shotgun.
"The Silver Skates" on the Silver Screen The ultimate St. Petersburg film is coming to a Netflix account near you.
Trolling Horse People “For those not familiar with the lyrics of this song, I recommend it. It’s some horse people and absolute drivel. I simply don’t understand what it is. What is it about?... Somehow everything is very strange, mildly speaking.” – On March 31, Russia’s Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko commented on the lyrics of “Russian Woman,” a song that the Russian-Tajik artist Manizha, who is known for her feminist activism, will soon be performing at Eurovision.
Play-Doh, Vaccinated Pets, and Irish Whiskey In this week's Odder News: the Play-Doh version of Moscow, the Russian version of Irish whiskey, and the Red Bull version of ice skating.
Smells Like Money Soon American coins won't be the only "scents" that are exchanged inside Sberbank's buildings, as Russia's national bank plans to introduce its own perfume.
Earth Hour, Eurovision, and Eggs In this week's Odder News, the lights go out for Earth Hour; egg sandwiches get their due; and a huge crack opens up in a St. Petersburg apartment building.
Mines from Aluminum to Crypto A dying Soviet "monotown" in the Arctic is saved by cryptocurrency mining and online pie stores.
Tripping on Tolkien If you’re a fan of hairy fairy folk with a hint of пошлость (crass banality), look no further! Russia’s Channel Five recently published two episodes of a supposedly “lost” television show based on “The Lord of the Rings” that was filmed in 1991.
Malfeasance! “I want to note that corruption is an important component of our work. It is far from the only offense, but at the same time it is an evil that we are doing alongside the prosecutor's office, the Investigative Committee, and the FSB. The Rosgvardia is also providing support.” – In November 2020, Vladislav Tolkunov, head of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Bryansk Region, speculated about corruption live on the Bryansk Governorate television channel. Apparently, he had muddled his words, and while attempting to decry corruption he admitted to malfeasance.
Seeking a Sniper Looking for work? Moscow authorities have posted an opening for a police sniper on the aptly-named HeadHunter.ru.
Tatiana Liaugminas Tatiana Liaugminas was born to Ukrainian parents, refugees from the former Soviet Union after WWII. She spent her childhood in Casablanca and Paris before coming to the US, and was fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, French, and English by the time she was an adolescent. She studied at the University of Illinois, and has taught French and Russian at the university level. She has worked extensively in translation, and has presented papers on Camus, Cocteau, Akhmatova, Yesenin, Shevchenko, and on comparative literature. She is translating the poetry of Anna Akhmatova for a course that she is offering next fall at the University of Dayton, where she teaches Russian.
Tram Takes on a Life of Its Own A viral video documents an out-of-control tram in Barnaul, and its hapless driver.
Heavily Taxed While some countries are considering doing away with coin money, this Russian citizen is still making the most out of their rubles and kopeks.
Putin's Siberian Adventure Putin headed to Siberia for a snowy, sheepskin-clad spring break with Sergei Shoigu.
Missing Raccoon, Anyone? In which a raccoon is returned safely back home— but not to the habitat you might expect.
Half-Mermaid, Half-Dog, All Cute A Russian nine-year-old is in the spotlight for inspiring a new stuffed animal for Ikea.
Schoolboy Spat “During childhood, when we argued with each other in the yard, we’d say: It takes one to know one!” – Vladimir Putin comments on Joe Biden’s belief that the President of the Russian Federation is a “killer.”
Who's Not Done With Quarantine? Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs was caught with his mask up while on a work trip to China.
Who is Manizha? Singer, activist, and Eurovision prospect Manizha uses her art to both mock and baffle her critics.
Take a Deep Breath and Go Diving with Alexei Molchanov Russian Alexei Molchanov is in the spotlight as the world's best freediver.
Polar Youth Andrey Borodulin made a video to go with the story in our March/April issue on Polar Youth.
A Paw-some Recovery Rescuers at the Amur Tiger Center are always happy to lend a helping hand (or paw) to tigers in need.
Protein, Protein, Protein! Heads up, parents! You might not celebrate Russian Orthodox Lent, but who wouldn’t appreciate a tidbit from a nutritionist?
It Happens to All of Us “Well f*** your mother, they positioned it like a monkey!” – Crimean Minister of Culture Arina Novoselskaya, forgetting to turn off her microphone while on a video call with other Crimean leaders.
Equus Asinus Asinus Evidently, sick burns can get you into trouble in Russian legal court— even if they are delivered in a dead language.
Coming Up Roses After one year of pandemic, Russia's economy is looking dandy while others are on the verge of collapse. Or so says new research.
Blini on a Budget In honor of Maslenitsa, Russian health experts encourage citizens to limit their intake of one of the holiday's most beloved foods.
Rapping for Russia With Russian teenagers in mind, plans are being made for "The First All-Russian Festival of Patriotic Rap."
Snowmen Acquitted! All charges against a group of snowmen, embroiled in a recent controversy, have been dropped.
Lukashenko Gets the Putin Treatment The President of Belarus is the subject of a new corruption investigation from Radio Free Europe.
Intrigue at the Monastery Sredneuralsk Monastery becomes an action-packed place as police enter in search of a murder suspect.
A Cold-Blooded Eviction Surprisingly, a two-bedroom Russian apartment does not make an appropriate habitat for this 13-foot long python.
The Tram from Hell Leave it to Russia to come up with the absolutely most punk-rock way to remove snow.
An Army Gift for Women's Day Leningrad Oblast's military commissioner has a solution to those pesky exes: send them to the army.
Sovereignty is a Luxury “Real development in a country can only come in a sovereign form. Sovereignty is very costly, and the overwhelming majority of countries in the world cannot afford such a luxury. We belong to this small circle of countries. We have already achieved this.” – Press Secretary of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov tells reporters on March 4 that President Vladimir Putin’s decisions in the international arena have been made in service to the Russian people.
Draining the Tanks The Russian Duma is seriously considering putting a slow end to the dolphin and whale display industry.
Not a Snowball's Chance One wouldn’t expect it to be an issue for a snowman to be left out in the cold, but in the village of Zachachye in Arkhangelsk Oblast, four such fellows were found wanting for warmth.
Sputnik Rap, Dolls, and Animal Skulls In this week's Odder News, how one man spent his pandemic, prisoners teach us how to get out of the pandemic, and a new video game connects you to the Russian police.
Culture Is Back in 2021 (Whether the Pandemic Is Over or Not) In this week's Odder News, museums reopen with some strange offerings, the organizing game Tetris is coming to the big screen, and we are thrilled that Russians love the Home Alone franchise as much as we do.
Wine Flights in Flight Aeroflot is offering a short excursion flight for those interested in getting a quick taste of air travel— and wine.
Road Repair “Our city is famous now, maybe they’ll make some roads.” – A resident of Pokrov, the village near the penal colony where Navalny has been transferred to serve the two years and eight months of his sentence.
Vodka Sign: "Moscow Special Vodka" Caption: "He undressed" (Second connotation - "He was ruined") | Artist G. Norsha
Defender Paper in hand: "Speech of the Public Defender" Caption: "He took it too far..." | Artist I. Semenova
Breathe Top left: "Don't breathe!" / Artist A. Aleshicheva Center left: "No - you've got to cut the drinking!" / Artist V. Shkarbana Bottom left: "We don't serve in working clothes." / Artist V. Kanevsky Right: "Daddy's home!.." / Artist V. Zharinova
Forester Forester: "It's the most peaceful flower... ... but the berries are coming." | Artist U. Cherepanova
Lesser-Known Art of the Siege of Leningrad On Display Some little-known art from a civilian eyewitness to the Siege of Leningrad is public both at one of the blockade museums in St. Petersburg and in a new book.
Get Your Cold War On Cold War nostalgia is dripping from the recently aired Russian miniseries "The Optimists: Caribbean Season."
Just Ten More Minutes A Russian gamer was forced to forfeit a cash prize of $16,000 after his dad turned off the internet.
March/April 2021 Arctic Youth * Valley of the Dead * Sidewalk Artist * The Votes People * Language Stress * Chernobyl * Gorbachev at 90 * The NEP * Standing Up Your Language Skills * Vaccinations in Russia
A People on the Brink Just outside St. Petersburg, a small, ancient ethnos comes to terms with its history, its language, and with its inevitable end.
Can't Bear to Watch A nurse injects a performer in a bear costume with Russia’s Gam- COVID-Vac vaccine (under the brand name of Sputnik V) at a temporary COVID-19 vaccination site in Moscow’s Shchyolkovsky shopping centre.
Lady Macbeth and a Tarantas A review of a new collection of Leskov's stories, and a new translation of Sollogub.
The Valley of the Dead A severe, remote valley in Ossetia inters the remains of one of Russia’s most revered film stars... and the mingled bones of countless ancients.
Air Kirovsk There’s so much snow in Kirovsk that people don’t need to construct ski jumps – they appear naturally.
New Economic Policy In the Soviet era, NEP had always been regarded as a strange, only vaguely understood, and not very sensible chapter in Soviet history: a pause between the heroic Civil War and the no less heroic Five-Year Plans.
Chernobyl Disaster In an odd way, it was only after watching the HBO miniseries Chernobyl that I fully appreciated just how great a catastrophe threatened mankind on that April day in 1986.
Tipping Point? Just over a decade ago in Moscow, I interviewed Alexey Navalny, who was then only beginning to carve out his profile as a blogger, activist, and politician. It was May of 2008.
Sputnik V: First Place or Long Shot? The Russia vaccine seems top-notch, but low public trust and a botched rollout remain formidable barriers to returning to normalcy.
Have Your Cake On February 18, the Moscow Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia (CK) released a stern reminder for Russian youth who might be considering a stint in theft, robbery, extortion or other shenanigans after their fourteenth birthdays.
On Creativity The thematic arc that unites our features in this issue is that of creativity in the face of neglect, persistence in the face of oppression, resilience in the face of difficulty.
Gender Equality in Gift Giving Russian women seem to luck out more than their male partners during the spring holiday season, a new study shows.
Snow Leopards Dream of Electric-Fenced Sheep This creative conservation project benefits both the endangered snow leopards in the Altai region and local farmers and their livestock.
The Goodest Boy in All of Russia There are a lot of really wonderful dogs in Russia, but this life-saving cutie has been named the best of all.
Regions Measure Up RIA Novosti's annual survey, ranking each Russian region by residents' quality of life, has some not-so-surprising results.
Skiing Buddies “I hope we will be able to spend a little time together, relax after today's working hours. I would like to invite you to go skiing.” – Another productive meeting this week with Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko on February 22nd. The pair discussed their work together on the energy sector of Belarus, Putin particularly noting Lukashenko’s support for the country’s nuclear power plant. He followed up with an invite to ski.
Finnish War Starts Without a declaration of war, Russian troops cross the border into Sweden at Abborfors, in eastern Finland, starting the Finnish War, in which Sweden will lose the eastern half of the country (e.g. Finland) to Russia.
Dyatlov Pass Conspiracy Theories Laid to Rest... Or Not? New models attempt to put an end to all Dyatlov Pass conspiracies for all eternity... but do they have a chance of succeeding?
Kamchatka Tragedy Russian scientists are researching the cause of a massive die-off of marine life off the coast of Kamchatka in October.
Love in the Time of Protests “…there was no direct violation of the law. Yes, individual people went out with flashlights. Fine. Maybe someone was in love. There was someone, maybe, who was protesting something. Someone was there just for company, not understanding the need to light a flashlight. But most importantly, they didn’t break the law. And so everything was calm.” – Dmitriy Peskov spreading the love to Moscow activists on Valentine’s Day 2021.
You Think You Know Russia? Perhaps Russia Knows You... Get out your aluminum foil hats, folks. It seems the Soviets got ESP down decades ago.
Russian Government Goes Super Saiyan on Anime Sorry, nerds: Russia has banned certain Japanese cartoons due to concerns of violence.
Philipp Lausberg Philipp Lausberg is originally from Munich, Germany. He holds degrees in History and Politics and Russian and East European Studies from the University of Oxford. Currently, he is finishing his Ph.D. at the University of Antwerp. He previously was based in Russia, where he worked at The Moscow Times and in the startup industry. For his project “Faces of the East,” a collection of portraits and stories, he regularly travels the post-Soviet space. He is co-running ostblog.org, a photojournalism website focusing on Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. He likes to write about travel, protest movements, ethnicities in Russia, and history.
Thanks, Doc Moscovites are thanking medical professionals during the Coronavirus pandemic the best way they know how to: colorful Metro trains.
A Pixelated Palace for Putin Now you, too, can experience the glamor of Putin's Black Sea palace without the pricetag in the digital worlds of Minecraft.
War of the Potties “Shocking! You don’t say – a toilet, right in the home! And a double-sized bed. Even Putin sleeps more modestly, and has to go out into the yard of Gelendzhik [to do his business].” – On February 7th, Twitter user Kön de Labre, Inostrannyj Agent, Jr. (@KStatator) bled concern for Putin’s modest living.
Mimosas (The Flower, Not the Drink) in Sochi Unusually warm weather brings bright yellow blossoms to the region much earlier than normal.
Freed Internet or Internment? “Everything is ready for it technologically. All decisions have also been made at the legislative level, but (…) it is not easy, and it is really not desired. I still, frankly speaking, do not see any signs of this happening, because, for obvious reasons, it is a double-edged weapon.” – Brandishing the biggest sword, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev announced to the rest of the world on February 1st that Russia is now ready to disconnect from the global Internet.
Artem Zagorodnov Artem Zagorodnov holds a management position a large Russia steel company. He has extensive experience as a journalist, and has commented on Russia affairs for a wide variety of publications like The Economist, BusinessWeek Russia and Petroleum Review. He received an award for reporting ahead of the APEC summit in Vladivostok, from former Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov of the Russian Foreign Affairs Council. During 2013-16, Artem was based in the Middle East and launched the first English-language corporate newspaper of Lukoil Overseas, a subsidiary of Russia's largest private oil company. Before returning to Moscow in 2009, he lived in the United States for 17 years.
Russia's Cup of Tea Russian scientists are attempting to bring tea cultivation to more Northern regions of the country.
Shoeing a Flea Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov holds a somewhat odd place in Russian literature. He is at once a famous writer, a recognized classic, yet he has not won the same honors granted to the “first tier” writers.
Sports, Sleep, and the State Duma This week's Odder News features Russian athletes making international news, low-tax sports gear, and more opportunity for restful shut-eye.
The Zoo Animals Who Outlasted the Hermitage Cats The Leningrad Zoo kept its animals alive during the siege – the 77th anniversary of which was commemorated this week.
Plenty of Penguins Eight little penguin chicks make for one very lucky aquarium in Russia's Far East.
In Memoriam In a year filled with death and mourning, we remember an individual who was, for this magazine, profoundly influential and truly remarkable.
Our First Half Century Where we look back on the first five decades of this magazine’s publishing history, from USSR, through Soviet Life, to the present day. [Download article as PDF.]
Whatever Floats Russia's Boats It’s plain sailing for the Russian Federation along the Northern Sea Route, thanks to melting ice caps.
Think Before You Post The head of Russia's space agency was blocked on Facebook after commenting on a post in support of Navalny.
No Beating Around the Bush “These promotions are illegal. <...> Of course, we must talk about the illegality of the actions, not about detentions. I don't see any violation at all. What is it, are these our first arrests? These are not the first uncoordinated rallies. Usually this ends with someone drawing up a complaint of administrative offense and then they are released. I am sure that now, if there are no provocations or clashes with the police, the same will happen.” – The refreshing honesty of Valeriy Fadeyev, the Head of the Human Rights Council under the President of Russia, calling it like it is in the midst of massive anti-corruption protests rocking Russia.
The Kingdom of Eternal Permafrost With abnormally cold weather in Yakutsk, Russian TV news channels have been promoting the city's Kingdom of Permafrost and annual ice sculpture competition.
It's a Dog's Life (in Russia) Icy winter waters were no threat to a talented reporter who dove in to save a puppy from the cold.
A Model Problem-Solver A man in Ufa got help for paying off his debts thanks to a classy photo-shoot.
Opposition, not Operation Barbarossa “Don’t feel sorry for us, we’re simply working. We adequately “met” the airplanes from Germany in 1941, and we will meet all aircraft in the year 2021. This year we will be 80 and we have already seen and survived a lot.” – The Twitter account of Moscow's Vnukovo Airport, on the controversy surrounding the detention of opposition leader Alexei Navalny upon his arrival, drawing parallels to the Second World War.
Cat's Got Your Train Felix the cat is on the right track: instead of catching mice, he catches trains to get his daily supper.
The Family Panties Quarantine might have gotten many of us used to hanging around in our underwear, but Russian film director Vitaliy Mansky took his to the streets of Moscow.
Not-So Smart Crosswalks When the Russian city of Salekhard tried to upgrade its pedestrian crosswalks, crisscrossed chaos ensued.
Like Uber for Booze Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade has thrown its support behind a measure for distance-selling alcohol.
The Fast and the Broomiest A bus driver in Kaliningrad has become internet-famous after video surfaced of them changing gears with what looks like a mop.
A Quiet Christmas for Putin Instead of reveling in the bright lights of a Moscow Christmas celebration, Putin decided to take in the holiday at a small church in a small town.
Why Didn't We Think Of That? “If you don't like the current president, only elections can solve the issue.” – President Alexander Lukashenko, of the former Soviet state Belarus, known for having rigged elections last year to continue his run since 1995, among other things.
Alexandra Curtis Alexandra Curtis is a 2020 graduate from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in both Comparative Literature and Russian Area Studies. In 2018, she completed an internship at the A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, where she was offered the opportunity to participate in a folklore research expedition in the Irkutsk region. In the same year, she completed a semester-long intensive language immersion program in the Siberian city of Barnaul. Her favorite memories in Russia include participating in a Shaman ritual celebration in a Buryat village; stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Baikal; and traveling through the Altai Mountains in a Soviet-style UAZ bukhanka van. In addition to writing for Russian Life, she works as an online English as a Foreign Language teacher and curriculum developer.
Women Can Be Metro Drivers, Too A relaxing of workplace regulations means that Russian women can now drive the Moscow Metro.
Death of a Snowman Hooligans struck a collection of over 200 snowmen in the town of Kaluga, an act of gruesome vandalism.
Party Like It's Belarus The president of Russia's neighbor Belarus ended 2020 the same way he started it: in denial over the coronavirus pandemic.
Restoring the Future 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.
Russian Medics Recognized “In the Russian Federation, we have witnessed the heroic dedication, professionalism, and selflessness of all medical workers in the fight against COVID-19. From the first days of the pandemic, they worked on the front line and risked their health and lives every minute.” – From a report by Hans Kluge, Director of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Melita Vujnovich, representative of the organization in Russia, on Russian medical workers’ stellar performance throughout the pandemic
Russia's Still Odd in 2021 This week, stealing a ridiculous amount of butter leads to punishment; Chechen nepotism knows no bounds; and Russians hope for an end of the pandemic (don't we all?).
Frozen Ramen Challenge Russians are taking advantage of sub-zero temperatures to participate in the frozen Ramen challenge.
Feminist Titles The Russian language codifies gender inequality through, among other things, misogynistic proverbs, and far from neutral job titles. What is to be done?
Where in the World? At a time when international travel has come to a screeching halt, I can think of little better service our magazine can provide than to take readers to far-flung places.
Inside Brighton Beach's Babushka Beauty Pageant A lovely short film on Brighton Beach's Your Highness Babushka Beauty Contest.
Vodka vs. Coronavirus Russia’s Ministry of Health discussed ways vodka can affect the coronavirus (spoiler alert: not much).
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.
That's Mr. Cat to You This is how 2021 should start: a cat in Ulyanovsk was rescued from a trash compactor and awarded a government post.
Heroes and Inflation “A person who would personify the hero of 2020, according to Russians, is honest, decent, and fair (13%). Of the options proposed, Russians most often referred to the heroes of the year as doctors and medical workers (55%), as well as EMERCON employees who save people in emergency situations (31%).” -Results from a poll by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM)on who Russians consider to be the heroes of 2020
Movies, Modernism, and Moscow Archaeology News items on an Oscar contender, a respected doctor, renovation of Tula, and a Kremlin dig.
2020 in Words 2020 will surely go down in Russian history as one of the most word-productive years since the changes of 1917 and 1992.
A Stove Named Yerofeyevich What is a Russian home without a stove? Exactly. But how does one build one? Now that is less simple.
Mikhail Romm Mikhail Romm is remembered by everyone who ever worked with him with tenderness and affection. Yet it is hard not to wonder how differently his life and work might have turned out had it not been for the exigencies of Russian and Soviet history.
A Time for Pirogi January – and the winter months in general – are a great time to master the hearty Russian recipes for all kinds of pirogi.
Searching for St. Nicholas A town on the Turkish coast preserves the memory of one of Russia’s most venerated saints.
600 This issue of Russian Life is issue number 600. Given this milestone, I would like to give a shout out to some of our unsung heroes.
Ascending Anik Our intrepid Far Eastern explorer gets it into his head to trek through uninhabited wilds in order to ascend his region’s tallest peak. Not all goes to plan.
Pilgrims Russian pilgrims venerate the sarcophagus that reputedly contained the bones of St. Nicholas, before they were transferred to Bari, Italy in the eleventh century.
Naos The naos, or central chamber, is the heart of the church. The original altar is missing, but a fragment from a later altar was put in its place.
Fresco The Church of St. Nicholas in Demre is richly decorated with frescoes, many of which have been uncovered thanks to refurbishments by the Turkish government.
Tenders of the Vine Where we explore Russia’s oenophilic intentions and vine-driven tourism, rooted in the hills of Krasnodar Krai.
"Не живёте, потому что нельзя это жизнью назвать." Тридцать лет назад, незадолго до своей смерти, Игорь Тальков (1956-1991) написал песню-крик души о своей многострадальной родине — СССР. Эта песня, к сожалению, до сих пор очень актуальна в России и не только...
Best Shows of This (We Think?) Year Russians responded to a poll about the most popular movies of 2020, but were generally unable to determine the best ones of this year.
VR-Series from the ISS Roscosmos is partnering with foreign space agencies and film studios to create the world’s biggest VR-series on board the ISS.
Smoking Underpants In an astonishingly brazen operation, opposition politician Alexey Navalny pulled the ultimate punk on FSB operative Konstantin Kudryavtsev, who allegedly tried to kill him.
An Apocalyptic Aircraft Heist A Russian military aircraft designed to withstand nuclear war has met its match: burglars.
What Went Wrong “Maximum conspiracy – this is of utmost importance. No one must be seen.” – Konstantin Kudryavtsev, suspected as one of the FSB agents responsible for the poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny in August, in a phone call with Navalny
A Blog for Babushka A recent survey of the elderly finds that one-fifth of pensioners hope to supplement their income with a blog.
Reference Shelf Where we gather blog posts, reference pages and useful resources for Russophiles from all across our website.
Geography Lessons from Space Russian astronauts on the ISS are preparing for a live lesson that will be broadcast via the Internet.
"Hitler's Alligator" to Be Displayed A Moscow Zoo alligator with a rich history has been stuffed and will be on display at a Moscow museum.
"Map of Resistance" in St. Petersburg “Not working at all is death… The authorities chose a blow worse than a lockdown. Any sane person understands that the coronavirus is terrible. But this does not mean that the coronavirus should kill an industry to the point that it cannot be restored in any way.” - Alexander Konovalov, organizer of the “Map of Resistance,” a group of bars and restaurants in St. Petersburg that plan to defy new coronavirus restrictions calling to close all bars and restaurants from December 30 through January 3
Tsargrad the Litmus Tester The “Orthodox oligarch” is starting a political organization to promote politicians who share his views.
More Dead Souls A Russian executive is under house arrest after it was discovered that she employed more than a dozen nonexistent employees for her own gain.
Yes, Dumplings are Still Bribes A police chief in Novosibirsk has been convicted of corruption charges after accepting Caucasian dumplings as brides.
Don't Try This at Home “If questions arise as to whether demons should be driven out of this or that person, first of all, you need to turn to the priests. Any [personal] initiative in this is completely unacceptable.” – Metropolitan Hilarion, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Department of External Relations, in response to a video showing parents attempting an exorcism on their son
Spotify: Popular Music in Russia The world-wide music-playing platform recently ranked the most popular music in Russia.
More than Early Birds and Night Owls Scientists at the RUDN Institute of Medicine have determined more prototypes than just being an early bird or a night owl.
Oh Nice, Real Mature Russian airline Pobeda is under investigation for making our inner 14-year-olds giggle.
No Cash, It's Cold “The share of completely non-cash customers who use a bank card but do not withdraw cash from an ATM for a month is steadily growing. Now it is 39%, which is 5 percentage points higher than before the pandemic.” – Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Sberbank, on the growing number of clients who are not using cash at all
Anna Kharzeeva Anna Kharzeeva is a food blogger, Muscovite, and author of The Soviet Diet Cookbook: Exploring Life, Culture and History - One Recipe at a Time, not necessarily in that order. You can follow her on Instagram at @anna.russian.writer
Slander and Golden Schemes "I will transfer the amounts collected from the slanderers to an orphanage, I will publish a copy of the payment here." – Head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin, writing on his Facebook page that he would donate any proceeds from his suit against three news portals for slander
Best Film on Russia this Year It is just over six minutes long, but "In Russia" is the finest film on Russia we have seen all year. It will have you itching for travel again.
Students to Sue A group of students from Moscow State University is working on suing the university for a partial refund.
No Ketchup Here A Russian agency has banned some foods from school cafeterias in Russia, including ketchup.
Memories of Perestroika Malcolm Gilbert, a longtime observer of things Russian and Soviet who has been leading academic trips to Russia for over three decades, casts his gaze back to consider the changes perestroika wrought...
Takeout Trends of 2020 Yandex.Food releases fascinating data on the most popular foods for takeout this year.
Moscow's Merry Measures As the New Year approaches, Moscow’s mayor has announced new restrictions on holiday events, while the government considers extending the New Year’s holidays.
Packed Pillows, Drug Decreases, and Teacher's Top Dollars “A man caught the pillow. As it later turned out, it was the driver of the Tomskoe Pivo [Beer] enterprise, and he tried to hastily hide it in his car… The driver was detained.” – A source in Tomsk region’s law enforcement on the latest developments in the arrest of the town’s mayor
Putting the "Fun" in "Prison Camp" A Russian non-profit prepares to open a mock prison camp as a place to make fun memories with your family.
Mayorless Magadan The position of mayor in the Far East town of Magadan is apparently so undesirable that no one wants the job.
For the Sake of Russia, You're Fired! A Russian non-profit economic organization recently forecasted a way for Russia to achieve better GDP growth: fire ineffective workers.
Rocket Man Turns Elton John The director of Roscosmos uses the organization's website to distribute his latest hits.
Expiring Diplomas "Today, this absurdity is the rule. Who told you that [a graduate] has not forgotten 95 percent of what he actually studied there?" – Dmitry Peskov, suggesting the idea of instituting an expiration date for university diplomas
Big Little Parody of Little Big's Hit Women in a correctional facility in Russia participated in a competition with a parody of Little Big’s hit “Uno.”
Revolutionary Acts As the stories for this issue coalesced, I realized that all of our long feature stories were actually about the same thing: the power of language and the elusiveness of truth.
Humans Descended from Alien Mushrooms A leading Russian journalist has put together research from foreign institutions to make an interesting claim.
November/December 2020 Baron Munchausen at 300 * A Village's History * Feminist Labels * A Zen Village Primer * Language of Leap Year * A Cake for the Holidays * A Treaty in Troppau * A Pathbreaking Surgeon * War Communism
Tim Brinkhof Tim Brinkhof is an Amsterdam-born, Atlanta-based journalist who studied European history and Russian literature at New York University. He has worked as an editorial assistant for Film Comment magazine as well as the Hermitage Amsterdam, where he helped prepare several exhibits in 2019. His writing on the intersection between art, culture, and history has been published in History Today, History News Network, and The New York Observer, among others.
High Schoolers to Make Space Ships for ISS A program centered out of Tomsk is connecting high schoolers with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The Emperor Has No Clothes Unexpected nude photos of Nicholas II appeared online last week, causing quite a stir, despite being more than a century old.
Pink Weather and QR-Codes “In general, yes, winter is expected not to be cold. Winter is predicted in this color - I'm even afraid to pronounce the word – pink." – Roman Vilfand, scientific director of Russia’s Hydrometeorological Center, on the colors that will appear this winter on meteorological maps (pink means temperatures higher than norms)
Ivan Kobilyakov IVAN KOBILYAKOV graduated from Moscow State University (MGU) with a degree in geography. He took part in many scientific expeditions to Siberia and the Russian North sponsored by MGU’s Geography Faculty. His love for Russian nature and the people who live in the country’s furthest reaches led him to a career in writing and photography, and he wrote for several Russian journals, including Zerkalo Mira, Kvantik, Discovery and others. His article for Russian Life on mine rescue workers in Norilsk won first prize for reporting in the Russian Union of Journalists' 2016 All Russian Contest for Young Journalists, "Call of the 21st Century." Tragically, Ivan passed away all too young, in December 2019. But his work lives on through those who knew him and a book of Putorano Fairy Tales published nearly a year after his death.
Tsarina: In the Winter Palace Catherine I finds herself at a turning point upon the death of her husband, Peter the Great.
All That Remains Alexander Razeyev spent five years researching the history of his village. He thought people would welcome his work. Surprisingly, they did not.
Another Victim of Sandarmokh There are so many things wrong in the case of historian Yuri Dmitriev, it is hard to know where to start.
Taste of the Holidays For several generations of Russians, few things signal Christmas and New Year’s better than tangerines. So we offer a delicious holiday cake built around this fruit.
Handwriting and Siberian Pianos In which we review Dina Rubina's Leonardo's Handwriting, and the nonfiction book, The Pianos of Siberia.
Russia's Munchausens On this, the 300th anniversary of one of literature’s most famous fabulists, we look back at some of Russia’s greatest liars and taletellers.
Hopes for iPhones and Restrictions “Almost the entire first batch of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro was bought up over the weekend. A number of models with the most popular blue colors have already sold out. The highest demand was for the Pro version, with 70% of customers choosing it. New consignments of goods are expected in the near future.” – Report by MTS, on the popularity of new iPhones in Russia, which sold out at MTS stores within three days
Russians' Regional Preferences Recent research by HeadHunter has shown that a significant number of Russians want to move to a different region in the country.
Russian Critters Cast Their Ballots Putin might be a fan of Trump, but Russian zoo animals apparently aren't.
Goa and Greenhouses A well-to-do Russian tries to bring his green new ideal to life in a Russian village. Not all goes to plan.
Leap Year Language Superstitious Russians — 99 percent of my acquaintances — believe that any високосный год (leap year) is an unlucky year. I scoffed until 2020.
Ellen Alpsten Ellen Alpsten was born and raised in the Kenyan highlands. Upon graduating from the l'Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, she worked as a news anchor for Bloomberg TV London. While working gruesome night shifts on breakfast TV, she started to write in earnest, every day, after work, a nap, and a run. Today, Ellen works as an author and as a journalist for international publications such as Vogue, Standpoint, and CN Traveller. She lives in London with her husband, three sons, and a moody fox red Labrador. Tsarina is her debut novel.
News and Noteworthy News from around Russia, on everything from bicycles to Bunin, from mystery graves to trolleybuses.
Russian Faux Art The Museum Ludwig in Cologne, Germany, is turning a negative into a positive: breaking art world taboos by launching a major new exhibition on Russian art fakes it has unearthed within its own walls.
New Kino Clip The musical group Kino has released a new music video with archive vocals from Victor Tsoy.
A Good Reason to Join the Military A young woman in Kursk has been using her feminine wiles to hand over conscription notices.
Dr. Artificial Intelligence Clinics and hospitals in Moscow are working with a new diagnostic system based on artificial intelligence.
Something Big is Brewing, Illegally A businessman in Chita had his fizzy, hoppy side hustle busted this week.
Dancing Less and School Issues “Let's dance and hug a little less, and give less work to our healthcare system.” – Yevgeny Yelin, vice-governor of St. Petersburg, on a recent proposal to close restaurants in the city at 11 PM.
Savings and Plateaus “Compared to the crisis period, the share of people adhering to a savings policy in economic behavior has decreased: 68% of Russians believe that it is better to spend as little as possible, saving as much as possible for the future.” – Results of a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Center, on how Russians are saving and spending money
Cheburashka to Hit the Big Screen One of the Soviet Union's most iconic characters is set to make his movie debut.
Smile, or Else Who says Russians are cold and inscrutable? Kamchatka's new "Ministry of Happiness" seeks to spread joy and wellbeing.
Not-So-Fresh Siberian Air A recent study finds that Siberia's air quality may be worse than you'd think.
Ancient Animal Remains Recovered Paleontologists have discovered the remains of a rabbit-like animal previously unknown to scientists.
Job Offer for Trump “Note: this is parody, using #deepfake technology (but the job is there, Donald).” – Tweet from Kremlin-funded network RT, promoting an ad about its coverage of the US election
Instant Karma on Sakhalin Karma (and alcohol) lead a man in Sakhalin Island to have an eventful 24 hours.
Don't Be a Blogger A recent poll finds that the vast majority of parents don't want their kids to become bloggers. Sorry, mom and dad.
Damaging Food and The Fight against Coronavirus “You see, this is all the food industry. Unfortunately, the food industry is killing us on par with tobacco.” – Doctor and TV presenter Alexander Myasnikov, on the common mistakes people make when they’re trying to eat right
Bilingual Books All our bilingual books have Russian and English on facing pages, allowing you to read along and learn Russian in the most efficient way possible.
Sore Loser Turns Supervillain A recently defeated incumbent politician has turned off the water supply in part of his district. Out of spite.
First Artistic Film from Space Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos recently announced plans to shoot the first artistic film from space, despite a similar announcement from NASA earlier.
Russian Music Making a Comeback Over the past ten years, music made in Russia has become more popular.
Pop Star Politics “Just know that you don’t give away your loved one… Belarusians, we are a force.” – a group of Belarusian and Russian pop singers, singing in a patriotic music video to support President Lukashenko
Stumped Russia's election commission performed a "large-scale investigation" into tree stumps used as polling places. Only (?) three cases were found.
It's a Bird, a Plane... nope, a Secret Chinese Spacecraft A Russian radio fan managed to detect data from a secret Chinese spacecraft.
Wash Your Shoes, but Not Here Five men recorded themselves washing their shoes in a holy site in Kaliningrad. Then they overshared.
What Are You, Blind? Somehow, a blind man in Orenburg has been sporting a drivers' license for the last two years.
McDonald's, Mayor Measures, Pets on Planes "McDonald's is expanding its geographic presence and plans to open the first factories in the Far Eastern Federal District in December 2020." – Press announcement by McDonald’s, which plans to open its first restaurants in Russia’s Far East
Bring Out the Big Guns A Russian arms company is working towards a sniper rifle with a range of nearly five miles.
The Latest RosCosmos Launch: A TV Channel A TV channel for Russia's space agency will be blasting off in the coming months.
Anastasia Platonova Anastasia Platonova is a journalist, literary translator, and producer based in Moscow. She earned her degree in literature and linguistics and now works with major independent Russian media, covering stories on human rights, the difficult legacies of the Soviet era, and discrimination and violence against women.
Archaeologists Make a Home Run A baseball dating back to the 12th century has been unearthed in one of Russia's oldest cities.
Musician's Poetic Response to Sentencing A well-known musician posted a poem in response to the sentencing of his friend, the actor Mikhail Yefremov.
Space Shoes, Putin's Proposal, and Tanks Take First “This is a special lightweight shoe, which is currently the lightest possible in the world, so that there is no additional load (when it is delivered to orbit).” – Press release from Faradei shoe company, which recently developed a special shoe for astronauts
The "Battle" of the Ugra River The Great Stand on the Ugra River, a confrontation in the autumn of 1480, has come to be known as an emblematic moment in Russian history. Yet things are not always what they seem.
Life in Isolation We have all had to experience some unplanned isolation during the pandemic. So we decided to visit some Russians who have long been living isolated lives.
Fear and Fandango We review Good Citizens Need Not Fear, by Maria Reva, and Fandango and Other Stories, by Alexander Grin.
Life is Just a Bowl of... Raspberries? When you are deep in the woods, enjoying a day of raspberry picking with friends, anything is possible.
Sergei Bondarchuk Looking back at the life and work of the legendary filmmaker, and how views of him have changed over time.
Creating Anna Karenina When Tolstoy started Anna Karenina, he was forty-four. He guessed that he would finish the novel, conceived as only a novella, in two weeks. Anna Karenina took him more than four years.
Pay with Your Face A new video surveillance system in Moscow’s metro will enable passengers to pay with a scan of their face.
Murder, He Meowed A library's famous cat now resides with the big yarn ball in the sky, thanks to foul play.
Happiness, Ants, and a Cold Winter “Alla Borisovna [Pugacheva] drank not the elixir of youth, but the elixir of happiness.” – A fan’s post on Maxim Galkin's Instagram account, in reaction to a new photo of the couple
September/October 2020 The Mari People * Life in Isolation * Russia's Discovery of Antarctica * Raspberry Picking * Semyonovsky Revolt * Battle on the Ugra * Sergei Bondarchuk * Table Russian * Bird Language * Apple Fritters * Chicks the TV Series * Kamchatka and Belarus
Good Deed Punished A pensioner was fined for highlighting voter fraud in Russia's recent round of constitutional amendments.
Robert Blaisdell Bob Blaisdell teaches writing and literature at the City University of New York’s Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. He has edited more than thirty literary anthologies, including Tolstoy as Teacher: Leo Tolstoy’s Writings on Education and The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln. He occasionally reviews books for the San Francisco Chronicle and the Christian Science Monitor. His book, Creating Anna Karenina, was released in 2020.
In Search of Terra Incognita Two hundred years ago, the first sighting of Antarctica was recorded – by a Russian expedition. The author retraces the expedition’s steps, and not without hiccups.
God in Nature 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.
Moscow's Last Trolleybus Line Public transportation in Moscow is getting an electric facelift, but one trolleybus line will remain, in homage to this mode of transportation.
Russia's Instamamas Forbes recently released a list of the highest-earning Instagram bloggers in Russia, several of whom use their account to share details of motherhood.
Words are not Sparrows A look at avian idioms and phrases you will find useful in helping your Russian take flight. (Meanwhile, brush up on your bird names here.)
Chicks Rule the Screen A new series has taken Russia by storm this summer. Set in a provincial Caucasian town, Chiki (Chicks) is about four girlfriends trying to escape their lives as sex workers and launch a fitness club – the first in the area.
Can't Mask This “If the government thinks that it [wearing masks] is necessary, it should provide them free of charge, just like shoe covers are provided free of charge in medical organizations.” – Alexander Saversky, President of the Russian organization League of Patients' Defenders, who started a petition against wearing masks
Kamchatka or Bust Some of Russia's less-traveled regions are hoping to grow a booming ecotourism sector.
Nothing Suspicious Here... In disappointing-but-not-altogether-unexpected news, a prominent Kremlin critic gets hit with tea-borne poisoning.
I'm Not Dead Yet A hospital in Kursk is under investigation after a woman awoke post-surgery in the morgue.
Leaders Say the Darndest Things “Thank you, I have said everything. You can shout 'Leave'.” – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in response to workers at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant
Russia's Smallest Ethnic Group The smallest ethnos in the Russian Federation is an Avar sub-culture in the Caucasus.
Tsoy's Last Concert A recording of Viktor Tsoy’s last concert with his group Kino has recently been rediscovered.
Criminal QR-Codes Be careful what QR-codes you scan in Russia, you may be opening yourself up to fraud.
On Melons and Vacationers “You risk getting an upset stomach, but there is no scientific evidence for this fact.” - An announcement from Russia’s Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, on the incorrect way to eat melons
The great bird's milk secret Ptichye moloko -- that famous Russian torte, has its history revealed here. But the recipe remains a secret...
'Sup? St. Petersburg saw over 2,000 attendees at its stand-up-paddleboard (SUP) festival this year, many in costume and with pets in tow.
Short Film: Anya A touching, short, CGI animated film looks at 20 years in the life of a Russian orphan.
Criminal Camels A herd of camels, released by an 83-year-old pensioner, is wreaking havoc in Astrakhan region.
A Win for the Lada Russia's iconic domestic car has been the highest-selling automobile in the last six months.
The Яs Have It Yandex, Russia's Google almost-equivalent, is making moves to expand with products including "YaBank," "YaSafe," and "YaCash."
Russia's Median Income Data from Rosstat indicates that the median Russian monthly salary is R35,000 (approximately $480).
The West's Holodomor Unmasker A street in Kyiv is being renamed in honor of a journalist who helped expose Soviet Ukraine’s deathly famine.
Rumors and Mistakes “I have nothing to share.” – Comedian Maksim Galkin in response to journalists asking him about rumors of divorce between him and his wife, the musical icon Alla Pugacheva.
First Russian Producer Nominated for Emmy An Armenian-Russian producer is the first Russian producer to be nominated for an Emmy, for his documentary Hate Among Us.
Ever-Resilient Lukashenko The President of Russia's neighboring Belarus says he had coronavirus, but even that didn't keep him down.
Satellite Wars Russia has fallen under suspicion for testing what some say is an anti-satellite weapon.
Why Did the Cats Cross the Street? Two cats in Krasnodar are being praised after helping an injured dog cross the street.
Protest Poems and Start of School “Are all these really mercenaries? // In Moscow, their voices are heard already! // The column went more and more powerfully. // They do not ask or pray, // They want the will to reach // All the ears of the people. // And there is no task to borrow, // No, it’s not their roof that is sliding. // ‘We are not stupid, we are not stupid!’ // Ah, those who don't want to hear them.” – Sergei Shnurov, leader of the band Leningrad, and a politician and producer, who used a poem on Instagram to announce his arrival in Khabarovsk to check out the protests occuring there in response to the arrest of governor Sergei Furgal
Attack of the Radioactive Berries A batch of cherniki was found to contain high levels of dangerous radiation.
Danger: Explosive Pizza! Traffic was stopped in Moscow to investigate a suspicious bag, but what was inside wasn’t quite what authorities expected.
Pushups for the Poor Russian lawmakers seek to boost the economy – and citizens' heart rates – by providing vouchers for workout classes.
On the Benefits of Coffee “Coffee is good. I don’t know where we got coffee from – it’s like a sin, like drinking champagne in the morning... Coffee is good, remember that. You can love it or not love it, but you cannot blame it and say that it is harmful. ” – Dr. Alexander Myasnikov, dispelling misconceptions on the dangers of coffee
A Veritable Musk-see The world-famous billionaire reached out to the family of a Soviet rocket scientist to visit SpaceX.
Case Closed on Dyatlov Pass? Was it aliens? Secret nuclear testing? Bigfoot? The Russian Prosecutor-General's office claims to have solved one of Soviet Russia's most perplexing mysteries.
Unusual Russian Dishes and VR Films “This dish is eaten in almost every home. I don’t understand Russian people’s tastes at all.” - Chinese blogger on herring under a fur coat, one of six items he listed as unusual Russian dishes
The Dream Passenger (according to Russian Flight Attendants) Russian flight attendants were surveyed to determine the characteristics of an ideal passenger.
My Kingdom for a Church Russia and Turkey are split over the use of an iconic Istanbul— er, Constantinople— monument.
Boars and Bad Weather “If you meet a boar, don’t approach it and don’t look it in the eye … if you meet a whole herd, stay away from the piglets.” - Advice in a note from the Moscow mayor's official website on the appearance of wild boars in some Moscow parks
For Sale: Putin's Dirty Laundry The Kremlin said that the president's dirty laundry is not for sale on the internet.
Saving Steelhead in Kamchatka This beautiful film from YETI on an enviro-tourism effort to save Steelhead in Kamchatka is our video of the week.
Chinese Artist's Gift to the Hermitage A famous Chinese artist was so inspired by his visit to the Hermitage, that he created a whole exhibit.
Russian Grammar Strikes Again Russian grammar is tough, even for the Russians that make official constitutional-referendum ballots.
Victor Pogostin Victor Pogostin was born in Moscow and graduated from the Moscow State Institute for Foreign Languages’ School of Translators. After his return from military service in long-range naval reconnaissance aviation, he defended his PhD, on Ernest Hemingway’s Nonfiction. He worked for many years at the Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Sociology, while writing and translating as a freelancer for newspapers and literary magazines throughout the former Soviet Union. He has compiled, edited, and written introductions and commentaries for over a dozen books by North American authors, including the works of Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck. In 1993 he relocated to Canada with his wife and son.
Voting From Space A Russian astronaut became the first person in the world to participate in voting from orbit.
Next on your Summer Reading List: Putin If Russia has its way, German history students could be reading a new article by none other than the president himself.
Getting Out and Shaping Up “Women most often think about new breasts and buttocks, some receive such operations as a gift from their gentlemen. For men, surgery to correct the shape of the nose and ears is now popular. We took a closer look at ourselves, sitting at home, and apparently decided to improve our aesthetic appearance.” - Plastic surgeon Dmitry Elenshleger on the popularity plastic surgery in Russia, now that the quarantine is being lifted
Keep the Line, Lose the Shoe In this Cindarella story, a woman is lauded for keeping formation in a parade despite losing one of her shoes.
The Nose Knows Dancing noses, we have dancing noses, people! This week's video of the week is courtesy of Gogol, Shostakovich, and The Royal Opera.
The Year of the Crown As the коронавирусная пандемия (the coronavirus pandemic) still affects just about every aspect of our lives, it has, of course, been changing the way we speak.
Books to Read During the Great Pause We asked our editors, advisors, and frequent contributors to share a Russian literary work they felt was particularly apt to read during The Great Pause.
The Thimble A woman returns to the village of her birth and an unlikely and fateful connection ensues.
Soyuz and Apollo Dock in Space When cosmonauts and astronauts linked up in space, it represented far more than a technological achievement.
Destiny's Child? “Geography is destiny,” Napoleon is said to have uttered. Shortly afterward he invaded Russia, proving both his maxim and that of one of his imperialistic predecessors, Julius Caesar: “It’s only hubris if I fail.”
Journeys through the Russian Empire Excerpt from a new book in which the author recreates the famous journeys of the photographer Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky.
Owls of the Eastern Ice An excerpt from a new book about a quest to find an elusive owl, in which an expedition member tells a harrowing tale of survival.
A Cover Story The cover of this issue of the magazine is the final of a series of four seasonal images we commissioned from Asya Lisina. We asked her to explain how she went about crafting this image.
Lighten Up, Russia Experts report that Russian drinking habits over the last couple of months have gotten a bit lighter.
The reboot of a classic Russian cartoon features some modern updates. The reboot of a classic Russian cartoon features some modern updates.
Eurovision Revisited “It's nice to receive such news from Europe!” - Ukrainian singer Ani Lorak on winning the revote for Eurovision 2008
Even Russians Make Typos School certificates in the city of Tolyatti were declared void due to spelling errors.
The Show Must Go On A Russian theater takes to an unusual medium to perform its adaptation of Chekhov's "Cherry Orchard."
An Expat Goes Home A death in the family not only proves the maxim that you can’t go home again, but also that home is probably not what you remember it to be.
"Painting Jesus Isn't Dangerous" Moscow is seeing religious symbolism crop up in unexpected places. It’s not the first time, but there is something different about what is going on now.
The Romance of the Earth Half a century ago, the profession of geologist was both popular and revered in Russia, shrouded in a halo of romance and adventure. We see what it is like today, first-hand.
Sergeyenko A factory which is part of Roskosmos will produce elevators that will greet passengers with the voice of Gagarin: “Let’s go!” We also need, at the end of the ride, the voice of Putin: “We have arrived!” and, in the event of a breakdown, Medvedev’s voice: “Stay put! Here’s wishing you the best of health and good cheer.”
Arctic Wake-Up Call When environmentalists sounded the alarm this time about a spill of diesel fuel from a power station reserve tank near Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant, the government response was uncharacteristically serious.
VKontakte's Virtual Exhibit Competition VKontakte has partnered with a modern art museum to allow amateur artists to submit items for a virtual exhibit.
Couple Just Can't Wait Authorities are searching for a couple in Ufa who became overly physical with each other in front of a school.
The Anti-Party Almost Coup On this day in 1957, Nikita Khrushchev survived an ouster vote. It gave him another 7 years in power.
Watch Songs for Russia Day “This is a good deed, one of the great opportunities to pay attention to people who need special support and attention, and, if necessary, help, especially in the current difficult epidemiological situation.” – Advisor to the Governor of the Rostov region Anton Alekseyev on the online project “Smotri pesni” (“Watch Songs”)
A Feather in Petersburg's Cap St. Petersburg's deputy governor put forth a compelling reason for his city's more lax coronavirus regulations, compared to Moscow's.
Museum's Modern Masks The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts has found a contemporary way to display classic works of art.
Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three... Human testing of a coronavirus vaccine is set to begin in Russia, and you, too, can fulfill your dream of being a guinea pig.
Snakes and Self-Isolation “It’s not clear how he found himself at school: maybe someone threw him out or he crawled away. As our specialist said, the python is full. Such an animal is able to swallow even a cat. And it’s a great happiness that no one was hurt.” – Alena Shibanova, a representative from the Good Home Animal Shelter, on a two-meter python found near a school in Kineshma
The Occupant In our video of the week, something from the realm of scifi: A Russian drone operator encounters a UFO, then must decide what is real and not.
Kate NV is Coming for US Russian pop experimentalist Kate NV had her video voted the #1 best music video of May by Pitchfork.
Long Live Musketeers! This delightful animated short by Anton Dyakov is our video of the week that we had a hard time waiting to share...
Immigrants Protect Restaurant A group of friends from Russia and the former CIS states banded together to ensure a Russian restaurant stayed safe during US protests.
Celebrate Life (#TBT) In these difficult times, let’s celebrate life. Specifically, five Russians (from a diplomat to an conductor to an activist) who happen to share today, June 4, as their birthday.
Worth A Thousand Words A Russian colorist of historical photos has been banned from social media for her work.
Misplaced Global Anxiety? “It’s all bullsh*t… It’s all exaggerated. It’s an acute respiratory disease with minimal mortality.” -Alexander Myasnikov, appointed in April as Russia’s head of coronavirus information
Nathalie Wilson Originally from London but now based in Stockholm, Nathalie Wilson holds a Masters in Modern Languages (Russian and Spanish) from the University of Manchester (UK) and an MA in Conference Interpreting from London Metropolitan University (UK). She has both worked and studied in Russia and spent her university year abroad in Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg, where she studied at the St. Petersburg State University. A certified member of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Linguists, she freelances full time as a conference interpreter and translator, working from Russian, French and Spanish into English.
Quite a Thursday Here's a #TBT for you with some interesting variety: a poet, a pilot, and a natural disaster.
Come On In, the Bombshelter's Fine A swimming pool for the disabled is set to be built in an unorthodox location.
Russian Police's Online Flashmob Police officers in Russia are showing their support for a jailed community leader.
A Little Filler, You Know, Can Go a Long Way How to use fillers to make your Russian more colloquial.
Shchi soup: a not so invisible hand in history For many centuries, shchi soup has been a staple of Russian cuisine. There is evidence that shchi was known in Rus long before the adoption of Christianity in 988 A.D.
Transaero: What's all the fuss about? A look at no-frills debutante in the Russian aero market, Transaero.
Under New Management A few weeks ago our company, Russian Information Services, agreed to take over as publisher of Russian Life.
Is the Kremlin sinking? Reconstruction showed up some problems with the land supporting the Kremlin. How past and present efforts have alternately weakened and strengthened the fundament of the famed fortress.
American On Island During Sakhalin Quake Special report from the scene of the devastating May 28, 1995 quake on Sakhalin Island.
The Mysterious Origins of a Flea-Market Painting Peter Guppy of Prosperity Hardware thinks he has a Kazimir Malevich painting on his hands.
Tetris: The Perfect Video Game? A deep dive into the history and philosophy behind Tetris, and the reasons why it has managed to stay relevant for so long and will probably still be in the future.
Grilling over an Open (Memorial) Flame These people didn’t choose the best place to cook food for their picnic.
A Lucky Man Maximilian Voloshin was a poet and painter, a critic and translator. His home in the Crimea was a refuge for most of the Silver Age's brightest literary and artistic talents. And yet, he is little known.
The Railroad Less Traveled The Baikal-Amur Mainline is the other Trans-Siberian. More northerly, it runs through a range of Eastern Siberia largely untouched by human habitation.
An Icon's Journey Through History Discovered in a Russian forest 700 years ago, the Kursk Root Icon has a storied past - recently as a touchstone for the Russian Orthodox Church in exile. But the Church is reunifying. What of the icon?
Sleeping on Graveyards The Khakass are one of Russia's most ethnically complex nationalities. Their numbers are dwindling in the distant province that surrounds the headwaters of the mighty Yenisey river.
Poetic Graffiti, Self-Isolation, and Skyrocketing Views “On the day of his 80th birthday, Brodsky returned to Pestel Street—he is looking directly at his balcony in the house where he lived, those same one and a half rooms from where he left forever. But poets always return.” – Creators of a large graffiti display depicting the poet Joseph Brodsky
Self-Isolation Hymn One of Russia’s beloved comedians wrote a song about quarantine, and performed it in an unusual manner.
A Celebratory Cake А фestive Napoleon Cake that is plenty complex to offer lots of stress baking relief.
A Historic Drinking Development A new report finds that, for the first time, Russians are drinking more coffee than tea.
What Will Russians Want Next on TV? “I think that, first of all, viewers will want to watch something easy. Comedy, melodramas about love, and, of course, blockbusters, but they won’t start to be released right away, because the pandemic should not only end for us, but all over the world.” – Kirill Razlogov, president of the Guild of Film Critics and Film Critics of the Russian Federation
Like a Drive-Thru, But Not A Russian man has been arrested for selling alcohol out of his apartment window.
Phishing within the Pandemic Scammers are trying to take advantage of the current coronavirus situation.
"Victory Day" Sung from Balconies Despite a quarantine, Russians still managed to join together to celebrate Victory Day (from their balconies).
Victory Day in Isolation This project is free, there is no monetization in it… I don’t know what will be ahead, but it doesn’t interest me now. ‘Stoyanov in isolation’ is a way of emotional and professional survival." – Russian actor Yuri Stoyanov, on his new YouTube show “Stoyanov in Isolation"
TBT: Happy Birthday Pyotr Ilyich On this day in 1840, one of the greatest composers of all time was born: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
TikTok but from Home “I don’t know what to do here. What am I supposed to do, sing, dance? I don’t understand what people do on TikTok. ” – Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in his first post to TikTok, where he gained 130,000 followers in less than a week
Dance Like Everyone is Watching Residents of Nizhny Novgorod were arrested for participating in a khorovod.
TBT: A Terrible Defection On this day in 1564, one of Terrible's most trusted confidantes defected. But they kept in touch.
The Throat-Singing American “People here usually say to me: you are different than we thought and from the way American people are shown on TV. And I am happy.” – Sean Quirk, an American who has been living in Tuva, Siberia for almost 20 years, and knowns the Tuvan language better than Russian
Drama at Vedomosti The Russian newspaper has seen changes in its editorial process that have some people worried.
Lukashenko Gets His "Village Therapy" The Belarusian President followed his own coronavirus advice, Pomeranian in tow.
May/June 2020 A city closed for 50 years * Goats * A legendary lawyer * Nabokov's forgotten summer * A forgotten tsaritsa * Forgotten Kremlin brides * A Napoleon you eat * World War II films * The language is flooded by English
Sergei Solovyov May 5 marks the bicentennial of the birth of one of Russian history’s greatest scholars: Sergei Solovyov.
The Elusive Elena When the daughter of one of Europe’s most respected kings married the tsar’s son, it seemed like a match made in Heaven. And then the Kremlin court rivalries began.
Sarov: A City Closed The nuclear research city of Sarov has been closed to outsiders since the 1940s. What is it like to live in a city with no future of opening up?
Visions of War On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II this May, we look back at how Soviet and Russian cinema has depicted the war.
Writers in Isolation Russian literature is rich with experiences of isolation. We check in with a few famous writers of the past.
The Saratov Duma (Almost) Gets a Lenin Makeover A group of communist politicians attempt to celebrate Lenin's 150th with music and posters.
Celebrating Orthodox Easter “Happy holiday to you. Be happy and healthy.” – President Vladimir Putin in his Easter address to Russians
In the Trenches of Stalingrad On the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, we offer two excerpts from a new translation of Viktor Nekrasov’s In the Trenches of Stalingrad.
Handshake-Free Zone Looking back at the early Soviet years when the young state launched anti-handshake campaigns.
Wash your hands “Wash your hands after the restroom, after work, after eating. Cleanliness is essential in making workers’ daily life healthier.”
Did you rush? “Did you rush? Did you wash your hands poorly? Comrade, you should fear Koch’s rod!” (Refers to the tuberculosis bacterium discovered by Robert Koch.)
A Spring Day Feeds You For a Year Spring comes to the village in the form of mud and planting rituals.
Laura Williams Laura Williams worked to conserve Russian nature for nearly three decades. Laura earned a Master's degree in Conservation Biology from Yale and worked at WWF-Russia. Her husband Igor Shpilenok founded and directed the Bryansk Forest Nature Reserve in western Russia. They traveled throughout Russa, documenting the Russian wilderness, but made their home in the village of Chukrai, Bryansk region. Laura passed away in 2018 after a tragic accident.
Just What the Doctor Ordered What to drink in quarantine? Fortunately, a Russian expert has the answers.
The Russian Bees Will Save Us American bees are dying from mysterious causes, putting our agriculture at risk for lack of pollinators. Russian bees might be part of a solution.
TBT: The Treaty of Rapallo This little-known treaty actually set the stage for the devastation of Europe that was to come.
The Outcasts Join Forces Pariahs Germany and Soviet Russia make a pact in 1922 that sets the stage for decades of suffering.
Tracking Coronavirus Patients... With Ankle Bracelets One region is finding the funds to buy tracking bracelets for certain coronavirus patients.
Why So Mean? “You know, it got to the point that they give such nasty information on [channel] Rossiya 1. Ah, the old man treats his people there with a tractor, vodka, a bath... But why are you making fools of us in Russia? Why should a Russian person get it into their head that there, in the West, our Belarusans, they’re some kind of crazy?" - President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on bias in Russian media against Belarusans
Meet Russia's Newest Meme: Pechenegs Putin's comparison of coronavirus to medieval nomadic invaders has tickled the internet.
Russians Share Window Views Have you been looking our your window more now that you’re spending more time at home? What do you see? Why not show the world?
Less Than Cat-Like Reflexes In which cats prove to be dangerous creatures (as if we didn't know that).
Ready the Space Force! The US President's decree on lunar resource extraction has the Russian space community crying foul.
"Working From Home" Caught on Video What exactly does “Working from Home” look like? This film captures the truth.
A Little Bit of Plague Music Music soothes the plague-bothered soul. Here are some recent tracks worth listening to.
Coronavirus Statement We have been in business for 30 years, weathering recessions, coups, bubbles, and a myriad of crises. But, of course, we have seen nothing like what we are seeing now with the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Unified Exams and Import Supply Chains "Because of the coronavirus, I voiced the idea of considering the possibility of not conducting the Unified State Exam this year…” - Oleg Smolin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science
Mark C. Medish Mark C. Medish was a White House adviser on Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs to President Bill Clinton, a fellow alumnus of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
A Russian Eiffel Tower If you build it, they will come. Well, they would, if they weren't all practicing social distancing.
Even Reindeer Get the Blues! Everyone's favorite yearly tundra jubilee has been postponed, perhaps until April.
TBT: Ivan Susanin Does His Thing On this day in 1613, a peasant saved the tsar by leading Polish troops into the woods. Or did he?
It May Seem Harsh “I understand that unpopular measures are being taken, but they are necessary in today's situation. This will allow us to avoid an outbreak of the disease. Measures are temporary: as soon as the peak of the epidemic passes, they will be canceled.” – Governor Evgeny Kuyvashev on new self-isolation measures being undertaken in his region
Performing for Empty Halls: Online Cultural Resources Since many people are stuck at home, cultural activities have to adapt.
Life-Changing Moments “This is war. The enemy is invisible, but some lines of the front are clear. Today's difficulties, of course, are far from the horrors known to our history, and that includes the Blockade. That was much worse than today, and scarier.... The noble experience and mysticism of the besieged Hermitage remains with us always and serves as an example.” - General Director of the State Hermitage Museum Mikhail Piotrovsky, in a Facebook post on how the Hermitage is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic
Alexander Herzen He was a poet, revolutionary, memoirist, publisher and emigre. He was a scion of the Bolsheviks, but he would have wanted nothing to do with them.
A Putin a Day Keeps Coronavirus Away Russia's president discovers ancient pottery, goes spearfishing, and visits a coronavirus hospital.
A Modest Proposal If Russia has its way, NATO training would be postponed. Not because of coronavirus, but to preserve the memory of the dead of World War II.
Bulgakov's Post Horses Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky have translated Bulgakov's most "difficult" work: The Master and Margarita, as well as many of Russia's msot famous works of fiction. Editor Mikhail Ivanov sat down with them in Paris to talk about Bulgakov, the translator's art, and Russian literature.
Stocking Up and Getting Tested “Should I stock up on buckwheat?” – Headline of an interview with Mikhail Delyagin, Director of the Institute for Globalization
Russian San Francisco Ever since the late 18th-century, when Russian fur trappers from Alaska first hunted along North America’s Pacific coast, there has been a Russian presence in Northern California.
The Government Inspector Gets a Monument A town in Volgograd Oblast prepares to welcome Gogol's Inspector... again.
Mapping Russia A map can be such a vivid, descriptive portal into a nation’s history. We asked a map collector and Russophile to share with us some of the most interesting historic maps of Russia.
Bid for the Best Backfires A decade before the fall of tsarism, a little-known auction was held to sell off some of the crown jewels. Was it rigged?
Little Big's Big Shot “I believe Little Big is the group that will capture Europe's ears. This is the smartest choice. I'm sure they will tear everyone else apart! A lot of respect to Pervyi Kanal.” - Musical producer Yana Rudkovskaya
History of Tattoos on Exhibit A new exhibit dedicated to the history of tattoos is opening in Moscow.
Vote for Oleg, Not Olga A public opinion survey reveals that Russians are averse to a woman holding Putin's office.
Russian Photographer Landscape Photog of the Year Moscow Photographer Oleg Ershov won the International Landscape Photographer of the Year prize, sponsored by Momento Pro.
Finally, Justice for Teachers If the All-Russian Teachers' Union gets their way, a fine could take the place of detention.
Bedside Manner, Barrels, and Big Bangs “Maybe we should change our perspective on how to communicate with patients? What technologies and working methods should we use?” – Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko
March/April 2020 A Chekhov story, a visit to a village school, a story of another school in decline, and preservationists who are hard at work in the Russian North. Also, language of dissent, a spring soup, birches, churches, and all sundry of things Russian.
Punk Rock and Klotsvog Reviews of a history of punk rock and a novel about a not very likeable woman.
Whatever it is, we're against it If you believe the papers, Russia is in the grips of протестное настроение, which literally means a mood for protest, but which might be better translated as “loaded for bear.”
A Village School As if trapped in a time warp, a remote village school in the Mari El Republic preserves a largely forgotten style of schooling, mostly cut off from the twenty-first century.
Birch An excerpt from Darra Goldstein's new cookbook, Beyond the North Wind, in which she ruminates on the place of birch in Russian culture, food, and history.
Memory Fades Here’s the thing about history: you can’t see everything that is going on when you are living it, and then, when you try to dredge up what really happened, all you’ve got is your frail memories.
Winter Ferry Tale If a vessel is unlucky enough to be berthed as a river ferry in Yakutsk, it will spend most of its life frozen into the surface of the Lena River.
Cooking with Nettle Ah, spring, when nature wakes from its winter slumber, and the farmers markets come alive with fresh greens like spinach, sorrel, and green onions.
Northern Wood A group of intrepid preservationists toil quietly in Russia’s northern realms to preserve old wooden churches and izbas that are just a snowstorm away from perishing.
Petrov Goes Back to School Guard duty sends an old villager back to school, and down a broad and dusty lane full of memories.
The Beauties On the occasion of the great writer’s 160th birthday, we offer up one of his lesser-known classics, newly translated.
The Case Against Foreign Lit 300 years of book burnings, banishments, and censorship in Russian books.
Crowdfunded $2.3 Million Will Save a Child A family in Yekaterinburg raised 153 million rubles ($2.3 million) to save their five-month-old daughter's life.
Victory Train: Coming Soon to a Hero-City Near You Russia's "Echelon of Victory" train-borne museum prepares to educate this spring.
Frescoes, Graves and a new PM In which Russia discovers old frescoes, a lost grave, and a new PM. Among other news.
Policing the Police Something virtually unprecedented happened this winter: five Russian policemen were arrested and charged with framing up an innocent man.
Should the Duma Broadcast in the Bathroom? Funny You Should Ask. “I noticed that there are places here, shall we say, for contemplation.” said a Duma deputy, referring to… the bathroom. He continued: “And when important issues are being discussed, they should broadcast it there.”
#TBT Russian Literature is Born 195 years ago today Russian literature was born when a certain Yevgeny showed up.
It's Incredible What $43,000 of Flowers Can Do A Siberian city looks to beautify itself with an excessive amount of flowers.
The Dangers of Overeating and Tattoos “Maslenitsa week is usually accompanied by all sorts of food excesses, including plentiful blini eating. And in this regard, any overeating is harmful to the body.” – Member of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection Dr. Boris Mendelevich on the potential pitfalls of eating too many blini
Oh, Deer. Sakhalin Island deputies introduce legislation to revive a shrinking livestock trade: reindeer herding.
#TBT Mir Space Station Launched Thirty-four years ago this week, the Mir Space Station was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Better Policy for Children? No Kidding. Five Russian oblasts have schooled the rest in good socio-economic policy, according to recent awards from the Expert Institute of Social Research.
Antiviral Amulets and Charmed Vitamin-C The threat of coronavirus is not funny, but advertisements for tongue-in-cheek “remedies” are catching on among entrepreneurial Russians.
From Russia With Love, and Coronavirus Two young Russians fall in love in the midst of a Coronavirus quarantine.
Better Take This Seriously “We wanted to draw attention to the problem: a lack of medical masks in pharmacies, the lack of information on the coronavirus. We were not trying to scare our compatriots or laugh at a hot topic. We just set up a social experiment.” – One of two men fined for their video pranking the coronavirus
#TBT Russian Architecture's Master 283 years ago today, Vassily Bazhenov was born. Russian architecture would never be the same.
What Seems to Be the Problem, Officer? Moscow police have finally arrested a traffic-ticket fugitive.
Competing for Leadership Prizes is a Family Affair Russia’s latest power couple, from Kaliningrad, is headed to the semifinals of the Leaders of Russia contest.
St. Petersburg Hold-'em, or Russian Roulette? A St. Petersburg municipal politician has resigned after the discovery of an underground casino in his apartment.
Paul I: Russian Hamlet Tsar Paul I, son of Catherine the Great, may hold the title to Russia's least understood tsar. On the 200th anniversary of Paul's murder, we probe the peculiarities of his life and work.
From the Russian Office With Love Over half of respondents on a recent Russian survey indicated that they aren’t opposed to office romances.
Statistics Highlight Vodka Hotspots Curious about vodka stats? Russia's Research Center for the Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets has you covered.
Lev Berdnikov Lev Berdnikov was born in Moscow and graduated from the Russian Language Department of Moscow Pedagogical University. He worked for a few years as a reporter for Uchitelskaya Gazeta (Teachers Newspaper), and from 1980 to 1990 worked as a senior researcher in the Department of Rare Books (Museum of Books) at Lenin Library (now known as the Russian State Library). Since 1990, he has lived in Los Angeles. He is the author of multiple books, including Jews in Service to the Tsar, published by Russian Life books, and more than 60 essays published in Russia, the U.S., Israel, Germany and Latvia. He is also the member of the editorial board of magazines in Denmark and Germany, and is deputy editor of the journal Слово/Word.
Leave your Gloves at Home “Accordingly, the temperature will be seven to eight degrees higher than the climatic norm, which gives reason to say that the current winter will turn out to be the warmest over the last 140 years of instrumental observations in Moscow.” - Chief Specialist of the Moscow Weather Bureau Tatyana Pozdnyakova
War-Separated Sisters Reunited after 78 Years Two sisters lost contact as teenagers in 1942, during their evacuation from the Battle of Stalingrad. They never lost hope they would find each other.
Hell on Wheels Russian priests in Sverdlovsk Oblast are upset that they could start seeing local license plates numbered 666, a number often associated with Satan.
Down and Duty-Free Online duty-free purchasing is taking over Russian airports. Rejoice, fans of designer cologne.
Don't Drink that Beer! “Alcohol is the most harmless component of beer. The remaining minor components that give the beer its properties - foam, color, taste - are extremely unhealthy compounds for human health.” - Expert in narcology, Daniil Pokrovsky
#TBT Yalta Conference Tuesday was 75th anniversary of the start of the Yalta Conference, the first step in rebuilding the post-War world.
Enriching the Russian Language On November 22, 1887, Samuil Marshak was born. A poet, translator, playright, dramatist, literary critic and editor, Marshak was born in Voronezh and began writing poetry at a very early age.
Russian Bears, Language, and Tomato Paste Bear with us: this week's Odder News lacks a theme. Instead, we have tomato paste, emotion workshops, and Russian pandas.
Floating Fishermen Approximately 600 fishermen were stuck on an ice floe, despite being warned about the dangerous ice.
The Mayor Departs Yury Luzhkov, who died in December from complications during routine heart surgery, is difficult to pin to a particular pantheon of Russian political figures.
The Motherland Calls... Reenactors Military reenactors mark the 76th anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad with plenty of pyrotechnics.
Joke about God Drives Comedian to God's Homeland A Russian comedian made a joke and then decided he needed to flee the country to avoid arrest.
The Actor-Agents of the KGB A former KGB agent recently claimed that many Soviet celebrities, including multiple famous actors, were agents of the “special services."
Do Russians Dream of Electric Sheep? A study finds that the majority of Russians don't understand AI, just like the rest of us.
No problem too small “We creatively solve any problems: from opening a bottle to paying taxes.” – Russian musician Sergei Shnurov, on the Russian people.
18: Other Worlds This issue focuses on the rich array of worlds we populate, from those immediately apparent to those less obvious. Selections include everything from science fiction to poetry to fiction centered in Central Asia and Khrushchev's Moscow.
17: Sport This issue devoted to the theme of sport is far from what you'd normally expect of sports writing, including memoirs, history, the most famous horse race in Russian literature, and a scifi tale.
Big Banks Are Watching You Russian banks to start testing biometric ATMs. This is probably a good idea.
Time to Hit the Slopes! “For now I’m going skiing for a couple days, I’ll return and will work." – Dmitri Medvedev, on his relaxation plans now that he’s no longer prime minister.
Returning (Legally) to Her Mother's Land The wealthiest woman on the African continent is, apparently, a Russian citizen.
Russians Celebrate Epiphany in Ice-Cold Water This popular holiday tradition has believers plunging into ice-cold water… voluntarily!
Moscow's December Was Light on Sunshine Muscovites are no longer in the dark about the amount of sunlight they got in December: just eight hours.
Panda Becomes Moscow Grinch A panda in the Moscow zoo destroyed a pine tree. It was anything but an accident.
The Skinny on Fat Pets on Flights Does that cat fit in your carry on? Russia mulls flying fat cat regs.
Baby, It's Cold Inside Every autumn, Russians only have one question: Когда начнётся отопительный сезон!? (When are they going to turn on the heat?)
Michele A. Berdy Michele Berdy, a part- or full-time resident of Moscow since 1978, is the author of a popular weekly column called "The Word's Worth" in The Moscow Times. Following careers in documentary film and health communication, she currently writes on culture, current events and various aspects of intercultural communication for the Russian and English-language press. Her collection of columns, The Russian Word's Worth, was published in 2010. In addition, she has co-authored a Russian-English dictionary and been the lead or sole writer of four guidebooks to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Russia. She speaks on intercultural relations to Russian and American audiences and conducts master classes in communication and translation.
#TBT: Two Vladimirs, One Country They could not have been more different, but both these Vladimirs had a huge impact on Russian history.
#TBT: Sofia the Mathematician 170 years ago this week, January 15, 1850, the mathematician Sofia Kovalevskaya was born.
#TBT: Retribution for a Rebel 245 years ago this week, on January 10, 1775, the rebel Yemelyan Pugachev was executed in Moscow.
How to Become a Millionaire: Go Postal The Russian Postal Service made more than 170 millionaires in 2019.
Long Live Valeriy I! Ivan the Terrible, notorious not only for being terrible, but also for killing his eldest son, may have finally found his heir.
On the Limits of Grading “My personal opinion: any child loves running, jumping, drawing, singing, And maybe not everyone can do it ‘perfectly,’ but to give a student a ‘C’ (‘troika’) just because they lack a musical ear is, in my opinion, not right.” – Education Minister Olga Vasilyeva
Stampede for Sales and Sweets Looks like Black Friday isn’t the only dangerous shopping day: a Kazan stampede over... bananas.
The One About the Pigeon and the Hole In the latest of many "active animal" stories, we learn of a pigeon home invasion.
"Kindergarten" for Senior Citizens Everyone’s a kid at Christmastime, and, beginning this holiday season, pensioners in Kostroma Oblast can be kids year-round at Russia’s first “kindergarten” for pensioners.
Statistics are Stubborn “Statistics are a stubborn thing, and even with my diagnosis you have a chance to get better! Just believe in it! I was just unlucky :)" – A beloved and influential Russian oncologist, in his last Facebook post before he died of cancer.
Talk about Inflation! You won't believe how much a woman in Chelyabinsk is asking for her 1000R bill.
Fate can be ironic “People discussed whether Nadya and Ippolit had sex.” – One of the FAQ’s about the beloved Soviet New Year’s film Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!, according to the daughter of the director.
The Irony of Weather Desperate times, and the need to create a festive atmosphere, call for desperate measures.
Okunevo: Place of Power The Siberian village of Okunevo is a "place of power." For literally hundreds of years, people have visited here, convinced that the lake has healing power, among other things.
Iconic Tagging Artist Aleksandr Tsypkov and a handful of other artists feel everyone, not just church-goers, should be able to see religious art. So naturally they are tagging bridges and underpasses with "iconic" images.
Snowboarder v. Snowbird Snowboarder and filmmaker Igor Popelyukh was enjoying himself off-piste at Sheregesh Ski Resort in Kemerovo Region when a large grouse got seriously pissed off.
Putin's Front Opens Tik-Tok Account The All-Russia People’s Front, an organization founded by Russian President Vladimir Putin, apparently counts teenagers as part of all Russian people.
Kazan Witnesses Transgender Marriage The bride said that they encountered no problems because they had already changed their appearance to look like a traditional man and woman, and had received new documents that reflect their gender identity.
Sushi Russia's Most Popular Delivery Food Nothing says the Russian holiday season like rolling up to an office party with… sushi rolls?
Happy New Year! Enjoy Your Bath! Russian Life wishes you a happy new year, complete with movies and marriages.
A Very Russian Christmas For a few Muscovites, Christmas came early, in the form of free Metro rides.
Mystical Mystery in Chelyabinsk Museum Is a meteorite fragment from the 2013 Cheyabinsk incident attempting to phone home? Not clear. But Stranger Things are definitely afoot.
News and Views A collection of news items, quotes, and tidbits of interest from around the Russia space.
The Patty Shop In Russia, a bus ride is always more than a bus ride, especially when it stops over at Klava’s patty shop.
January/February 2020 Lighthouse keepers, after the lighthouses are shut * A northern photographer 120 years ago * Space Dogs * The village patty shop * Winter of 1920 * Noted mathematician * Forgotten writer * Words for snow and dieting * Kutya for all seasons * Yuri Luzhkov * Saying goodbye to one of our own
Vsevolod Ivanov Vsevolod Ivanov’s books have long since been largely forgotten, and today it is hard to decide whether or not his current obscurity is deserved.
A Dish for All Seasons January 7 is Russian Orthodox Christmas, which calls for a Christmas dish. But the chosen one, kutya, is much more than a winter holiday treat.
Documentarian of the North He was a talented artist but an even more gifted itinerate photographer. What he captured 120 years ago is remarkable.
Nikolai Shabunin Born the son of a priest in Arkhangelsk gubernia on April 6, 1866, Nikolai Shabunin became an accomplished painter and an extremely prolific documentary photographer, though his work is little known.
Space Dogs The first earthling to perish in space was the Soviet space dog Laika. Soon thereafter, the first earthlings to orbit the planet – 60 years ago this summer – were Belka and Strelka.
Not the End of the World After being made redundant as a lighthouse keeper on a remote White Sea island, Lyudmila has taken it upon herself to defend her dying village from government indifference.
Как снег на голову! An effective way to accumulate new vocabulary is to learn words and phrases that have the same root.
Ringing in the Plump New Year It’s that time of year: Americans are busy making — and breaking — their New Year’s resolutions. Russians are too smart to put themselves through such torture.
Sofia Kovalevskaya Poor, unfortunate Vasily Vasilyevich Korvin-Krukovsky. He worked so hard to help his family flourish, and, at least in his eyes, it all went to waste.
The Winter of 1920 The first months of 1920 was a dark time in Russia. The Civil War was grinding to its grim conclusion and intellectuals were in the crosshairs.
Domestic Violence Debate Turns Ugly Discussion in Russia about domestic violence has gotten more serious over the past few years, and a showdown seems to be on the horizon.
Protecting Miners Norilsk is home to Eurasia’s deepest mine and richest nickel and copper ores. We tag along with a mine inspector and rescuer, descending over 200 meters below ground.
November/December 2019 The Last Soviet-Americans * What Russian Women Carry in Their Purses * Two Little-Known Fighters Against Anti-Semitism * Grampa Cuckoo * Trumping Up Charges Against Dissenters * The End of WWI * Kalashnikov * The Winter War * The Language of Cold Weather * The Evening Cartoons * Soviet Fruitcake * Alexei Leonov
Soviet Fruit Cake Since the return of cooler weather again permits the use of ovens, let’s talk about cakes.
Pale Horse and Remembering Leningrad A review of two books: one work of fiction, and one labor of love.
The Story Behind an Inscription An unexpected discovery in a library sends the author on an enthralling historical excursion.
The Things They Carry In which a photographer convinces 12 women to share the contents of their magical purses, revealing mysteries of the Russian Soul.
Grandpa Cuckoo What do you do with a thief and miscreant who just won’t stop thieving? Why, send him off to St. Petersburg of course.
The Last Soviet-Americans They fled the USSR, only to recreate a Soviet enclave on the outskirts of New York City. And now fewer and fewer of them remain. We visit Brighton Beach.
The Winter War November 30, 1939, marked the start of a war that has been all but forgotten in Russia: the war between the Soviet Union and Finland, commonly referred to in English as “The Winter War.”
The Gunmaker The whole world knows the word “Kalashnikov.” What kind of a man was Mikhail Kalashnikov? And can we ever separate the man from the legends that surround him and his AK-47?
The War to End All Wars Ends The final shots of the First World War (“The War to End All Wars”) were fired on November 11, 1918. In Russia, this event went largely unnoticed.
Mud and Stars Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was a lubricious, bawdy, impetuous, whoring gambler who seldom missed an opportunity to pick a fight.
A Brief History of Political Insults News of Russian courts punishing people for what they write or comment online is no longer anything out of the ordinary.
Alligators and Email We are driven by a passion to tell interesting stories about the most interesting country on Earth. And it helps that we are egged on by our passionate readers.
Meat, Choppers, and Catherine the Great A wrap up of the news and news-like items from in and around Russia.
Kaluga's Rocket Scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was the father of Russian space travel. A quirky, half-deaf teacher, he inspired generations with his idealistic views of the age to come.
Scout's Honor Scouting has had a long and complicated history in Russia. And, not surprisingly, it gets a bit political.
A Perfect Dacha Day Some off-the-cuff dacha recipes for you (summer seems like too relaxed a time for exacting recipes).
French Treat This year marks the 235th anniversary of the birth of Antonin Carême, a French chef who left his mark on Russian cuisine in the form of the dessert known in Russia as sharlotka and everywhere else as charlotte Russe.
A Mythical Dessert Explore a rich dessert named after the gourmand and minister of finance under Tsar Alexander I: Guriev Kasha.
September/October 2019 Mysteries of the Altai * History of Russian Scouting * A Private Farmer * Lyonushka and Ruble Bill * Mushrooms * The Language of Fall and Trees * Yeltsin's Notorious Bridge Incident * Ivan the Terrible's Second Wife
Russian Life EBooks We have been publishing books, magazines, journals and maps with ink and pulp for 25 years. But for those who like their books in bits, a number of our titles are also available for Kindle, Nook, iPad and via other digital platforms. Below is a list of all our books that have digital incarnations.
Lyonushka and Ruble Bill How do you win over the village beauty who has a thing for animals? Kolya is determined to find out.
Into the Breach Vladimir left the big city to set up a farm in rural Lipetsk Oblast. And he doesn’t regret it one bit.
The Mysteries and Labyrinths of Altai Known as “Russia’s Tibet,” the Altai region is vast, unpeopled, and brimming with energy centers.
A Double Life An excerpt from the new translation of a novel by Karolina Pavlova (1807-1893), translated by Barbara Heldt.
Returning from Afar An excerpt from Benson Bobrick’s new book, a memoir of his life and work as a writer.
In Tolstoy's Footsteps One hundred and twenty-five years ago, Lev Tolstoy made the first of several walking journeys from Moscow to Tula – a distance of nearly 200 kilometers. A pair of Americans retrace the great writer’s journey, in a considerably different Russia.
The Guns of Autumn On the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II, we review the final events leading to its outbreak in 1939.
Yeltsin's Notorious Bridge Incident On September 28, 1989 – just a few months after Boris Yeltsin's triumph at the Congress of People’s Deputies – the police found a muddied and wet Yeltsin near a dacha community outside Moscow.
Maria Temryukovna Among “the Terrible’s” unfortunate wives, Maria Temryukovna, his second, is an interesting case.
Fire in the Forest In the public mind, Russian forests have always been an unlimited resource. Not any longer.
Anonymous "Of course, it's been 20 years, but we had several memorable Russian/Soviet train trips. Our advice – take it easy; enjoy the scenery both near the train and off in the distance; be kind; be grateful; appreciate the history."
Walt Wess "Unless you are a woman traveling alone, try and get a two person room. Take food with you and bottled water. Conceal valuables before you get to the vokzal."
Walt Wess "Know the three stations before the one where you will exit. It gives you time to prepare to get off, unless they are far apart. If far apart, one or two will be enough."
Geff McCarthy "DO NOT fly into LEN, the St. Petersburg airport, [it has] the most onerous security on the planet. Take the Alllegro train from Helsinki, and all customs and passport checks are done en route. Get off at Finlandski Voksal, and be careful of the expensive, unlicensed taxis. Then do ride the trams around, they are not crowded."
Larry Hanna "Be careful to stow valuables in hard class carriage so that anyone attempting at night to rifle through them is apt to wake you up, e.g. tying them to your wrist or toe with a cord or a scarf. This happens more often than you might expect. It happened to me far more often in Western European Russia than in the Far East or Central parts. I've crossed the country several times over by train, a little in Ukraine and Belarus too, since 1987, last in 2008. Lost cameras, clothing, and sporting gear mainly; I slept with cash inside layers of clothing."
Walking the Volga An office worker gives up his job to walk all 3,645 kilometers of Europe’s longest river. This is his story.
The City of Chagall Just over Russia’s border in Belarus is the remarkable city of Vitebsk, birthplace for a surprisingly influential artistic community that flourished just before and after the Revolution.
Catherine Ascends; Peter Falls We read history through the eyes of the victors, and in June 1762, the victor was a German-born princess newly ascended to the throne with her husband, Peter III. To history she became known as Catherine the Great.
The Couture of Power Elizabeth I (1741-1761) loved horseback riding, carousing and building palaces, but not ruling. Meet the daughter of Peter the Great.
Stalingrad This is a short excerpt from the first-ever English translation (by Robert and Elizabeth Chandler) of Grossman’s epic novel of the turning point in World War II.
July/August 2019 Precious Water * Siberia's Primordial Colors * A Birthday Party Gone Wrong * A New Symbol of Russia * Lunar Landing * Patriarch Filaret * Magazine * How to Say "No" in Russian * A Summer Dacha Feast * The Russian Notion of Time
People Like Us The features in this issue have something in common. And it's not necessarily what you might expect.
Khodasevich and Vodolazkin Two recently published works of fiction that we liked and wanted to share with you.
Just a Second... Russians have a sense of time that can often leave foreigners puzzling. So we decided to look at some colloquial expressions about time.
Magadan On July 14, 2019, Magadan will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its founding. Alas, this date, like so much else in the city’s history, is a lie.
Castle of Concrete In this new novel, set in the final year of the Soviet Union, young Sonya is reunited with her once-dissident mother, and they are on their way to navigating a new life together.
Talking Trash For several months, there has been a steady trickle of news reports from Shiyes, a nondescript railway station nestled amid forests and lakes not far from Syktyvkar, that sound as if they are coming from a war zone.
Siberia's Primordial Colors A journalist meets a painter in the distant outback of Siberia. They share a love for the untamed wilderness, and we learn a thing or two about the challenges of painting in the wild.
Precious Water A shortage of clean drinking water threatens to become the main ecological problem of our time.
Filaret Rises The exceptional life story of the father of the first Romanov tsar, the reluctant Patriarch, Filaret.
Hogweed instead of Birches The Caucasus had a fast-growing plant that the Soviets wanted to plant up north to use for animal feed. What could possibly go wrong?
Robert Chandler Robert Chandler is a British poet and literary translator. He is the editor of Russian Short Stories from Pushkin to Buida (Penguin) and the author of Alexander Pushkin (Hesperus). He is also the editor of the literary magazine Cardinal Points. His translations include numerous works by Andrei Platonov, Vasily Grossman's Stalingrad (For a Just Cause) and Life and Fate, and Pushkin's The Captain's Daughter. Chandler's co-translation of Platonov's Soul was chosen in 2004 as “best translation of the year from a Slavonic language” by the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages (AATSEEL). His translation of Hamid Ismailov’s The Railway won the AATSEEL prize for Best Translation into English in 2007, and received a special commendation from the judges of the 2007 Rossica Translation Prize. Chandler’s translations of Sappho and Guillaume Apollinaire are published in the Everyman’s Poetry series.
Vasily Grossman VASILY GROSSMAN (1905-1964) has been called "the only example, or at least the most significant one, of an established and leading Soviet writer changing his spots completely. The slave in him died, and a free man arose." He covered WWII as a correspondent, creating some of the most impressive and literary reporting on the war. His novel, Life and Fate, was a masterful portrayal of all aspects of society under Stalin and was banned from publication throughout the Soviet era.
Nikolayev's Birthday It was Nikolayev’s birthday, which in ordinary years would always start bright and early... but this was no ordinary year...
Chapayev Civil War hero and Commander of the 25th Rifle Division, Vasily Chapayev (right), with his subordinate, Ivan Bubenets.
No, Nicely If it’s hard to gracefully say “no” in English, how much harder is it in Russian, where dissembling requires linguistic gifts that you might not have yet developed?
You Be the Judge There is never a shortage of political-cultural land mines on which to trod when one’s brief is to cover all things Russian.
Spring has (Not) Sprung In early March, when Moscow is still buried under more than a meter of snow and people are buried under many inches of fur and heavy wool, there is nothing more annoying than Instagram photos of daffodils, forsythia and cherry blossom buds.
17 Myths of the Revolution Every revolution needs its myths. The faithful must be inspired; successive generations must be enthused. We explore some myths about the “Great October Revolution” that persist even now, 100 years later.
The Museum of Freedom On St. Petersburg’s Revolution Highway there is a museum devoted to collecting and preserving the elusive and controversial art forms of graffiti and street art.
Treasures a la Russe In a Washington DC suburb, a retired diplomat and self-professed Russophile has collected a treasure-trove of pre-revolutionary Russian delights.
The Abandoned A family of animal defenders gets burned out of their home. All they want is to return, to help more animals.
Seal Healers Lori Beloivan and her husband were planning to move to Moscow. Then they discovered an injured seal on a beach near Vladivostok and their lives were changed.
Making His Mark Among the Living Forced to retire from the entertainer’s life at an early age, Victor turned the world into his stage.
Ivan Kupala A look back at the pagan holiday which was assimilated into the Orthodox tradition as John the Baptist's day.
The Real Last Tsar History tends to record Nicholas II as the last Tsar of all the Russias. Not to put too fine a point on it, but History is wrong. There was one more, and this is his fascinating story.
Russians on the Border Nestled up against the US border with Canada there is an unusually high concentration of Russian- Americans. This requires some investigation...
Andrea Provenzano Andrea Provenzano is an Italian documentary photographer and researcher. His projects focus on people assembled in groups, their behavior, and how they are influenced by things such as consumerism, environmental issues, and the acceleration of in society produced by technology. His long-term documentary stories have been exhibited in Royal Geographic Society (London) and Cortona on the Move (Italy), and he was runner up in the Canon Young Photographers Award in 2018. Currently he is working on in-depth stories on VR technology in medicine and China’s presence in the Arctic.
Daria Klimasheva Daria Klimasheva is a photo-based artist and researcher from Moscow. She received a degree in photojournalism from Moscow State University and studied Advanced Visual Storytelling at the Danish Media and Journalism School in Aarhus. She has worked with a variety of national and international media, including Russian Reporter, the Associated Press, Børsen newspaper, and The Washington Post, and was a participant in The New York Times Portfolio Reviews of 2016 and 2019. Currently she is developing work on the visual and tangible explorations of human touch: its nature, history, cultural and psychological meaning, as well as the consequences of its absence and abuse.
Pushkin Was Here (Perhaps) “Pushkin is our everything,” Russians like to say. And sometimes it seems like he was everywhere.
Pushkin is a Meme In which an artist tries to get out of a job illustrating a brochure and ends up getting sucked into a Pushkin meme vortex.
Two Roads from Urzhum A good mystery begins unexpectedly in the unlikeliest of places. And then it takes you where you never imagined. This one took the author halfway around the world and more than a hundred years back in time.
The Visitation In 1947, on the 17th day of February, one of the largest meteorites to strike the Earth in the twentieth century fell in the Russian Far East. Its landing site was a perfect spot from which to watch the Geminid meteor showers.
A Winter's Tale (mostly about valenki) In Russia, valenki are as near as you can get to the country's number-one footwear after regular leather boots.
Looking for Tolstoy An American writer consumed by Anna Karenina goes in search of the great writer’s little-known refuge beyond the Volga, near Samara.
The White Émigré Epic Thousands of war refugees are flooding Europe from the East. No, this is not a story of today, but of the world a century ago.
