Manul, the most expressive cat on the planet
You've probably seen this face before. A round, as if inflated, ball of gray fur, tiny pressed ears, and a gaze full of such universal discontent,...
July 13, 2026
Amur tiger, the biggest cat in the world
The mere mention of the word "tiger" conjures up images of a sweltering tropical forest, vines, heat, and a striped predator stalking through the tall grass...
July 13, 2026
Vodka. History, myths, and facts about the Russian drink
Every year, on January 31st, Russian vodka is congratulated on its birthday on the internet. The date is tied to Mendeleev's dissertation, which supposedly...
July 12, 2026
Tolstoy twice made it into the top ten best novels according to The Guardian.
It's difficult to crack the top ten novels of all time, even with one book. Leo Tolstoy managed it with two right off the bat...
July 12, 2026
Okroshka on kvass and kefir. Recipe and history of the summer soup
In the July heat, the kitchen smells of dill, a dewy pitcher sits on the table, and six-year-old Grisha points a finger at a bowl of sliced items and...
July 11, 2026
Baikal seal, the only freshwater seal on Earth
Imagine Lake Baikal in winter. The vastest, deepest lake on the planet is frozen over, with hundreds of kilometers of silence, snow, and frosty...
July 11, 2026
What is a Russian patronymic and how is it formed?
Open almost any Russian novel, and on the first few pages, your head will spin from the names. Here's a character named Ivan....
July 11, 2026
Why is Russian humor so dark and absurd
Russian culture has one curious paradox. A country known for being harsh, perpetually freezing, and living a difficult life has given the world...
July 10, 2026
Russian Names, Most Popular Male and Female
Ask what the most Russian name is, and almost certainly they'll say Alexander or Maria, or even Ivan, the one from the fairy tales...
July 10, 2026
Kikoriki and Masha and the Bear, cartoons that conquered the world
Somewhere in Rome or Jakarta, a toddler freezes in front of the screen, giggles, and hums a song, while on the screen a mischievous girl in...
July 9, 2026
