blog
Stalingrad, a turning point in World War II
In the autumn of 1942, the front line in Stalingrad sometimes ran through a single house. The Germans occupied the first floor, and our soldiers the second,...
Russian hockey, history, traditions, and great players
Cue up an old black and white recording from September 1972, and you'll see a strange sight. Canadian professionals, the best hockey players on the planet, looking around in confusion on their own...
Figure skating in Russia, why are Russians so good at it
Saturday morning somewhere far from Russia. On the screen, a figure skater in the spotlight approaches a jump, hanging in the air for an imperceptible moment...
The Internet and Social Media in Russia, from VKontakte to Telegram
Fly to Moscow, connect to the local internet, and peek at your bus neighbor's phone. Half of the familiar icons are gone. Not even...
Colors in Russian. Table with pronunciation and facts
Emma, who is learning Russian while living in Boston, once complimented her friend's blue dress, but called it "синее" (a darker blue). Her friend gently corrected her, saying the dress was "голубое" (a lighter blue)...
Body Parts in Russian. Table with pronunciation and phrases
During one of his first Russian lessons, Mark, who had come to Moscow from Chicago, pointed to his hand and asked what it was called.
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,...
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...
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...
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...