Russia has unveiled its first human-like robot powered by artificial intelligence, TASS reported on November 11, citing the New Technology Coalition. During the presentation, the robot — named Idol — unexpectedly collapsed. According to the Moscow Agency, video from the event shows the robot slowly walking onto the stage accompanied by two people, with “Gonna…
While life in Russia is already tough enough as it is, some lawmakers seem determined to make it even more dramatically miserable for ordinary people. In recent months, officials and public activists have been pumping out bizarre legislative ideas at full speed — each stranger than the last. Below is a roundup of the latest…
If you thought the world had calmed down, think again. October in Russia brought us everything from bizarre inventions to psychological trends and international bathroom drama. Buckle up — here’s your monthly digest of the weirdest, most wonderfully absurd headlines. Soviet Spirit Meets Modern Safety: Niva Finally Gets an Airbag The car airbag was invented…
Every culture has its hidden codes, and in Russia that secret language is known as Fenya — the criminal slang born in prisons, back alleys, and underworld dealings. More than just words, Fenya is a mirror of history: a mix of old peddlers’ speech, Yiddish borrowings, and Odessa street talk. Today, many Fenya expressions have…
A woman has, for the first time in history, been appointed captain of a nuclear-powered icebreaker. Marina Starovoitova has taken command of the Yamal: the fourth largest icebreaker in the world, equipped with two nuclear reactors whose combined power would be enough to supply a city of 150,000 people. Cold waters, warm progress. rbc.ru Pets…
August 14 marks Honey Savior Day (Medovy Spas) in Russia and in many Orthodox Christian communities—the first of the three “Savior” feasts and the start of the Dormition Fast. Honey and a Wish for Love According to old folklore, women smear a little honey on their shoe soles to attract marriage within a year. A…
In Russia, 195 ethnic groups live side by side. Each has its own traditions, passed down since ancient times. Some customs, however, are enough to make your blood run cold. Hard as it is to believe, some of them aren’t legends from the distant past but are very much part of 21st-century Russian reality. Here’s…
🥟 Putin, Steve Witkoff, and the Legendary Cheburek We kick things off with the Kremlin’s latest high-profile guest: American real estate developer Steve Witkoff. Before meeting Vladimir Putin, Russian media breathlessly reported on what was clearly the real diplomatic headline of the day — Witkoff’s breakfast. Not just any breakfast, mind you, but a cheburek…
Khakassia, Altai, Kamchatka — Where to Find Real Shamans in Russia Shamanism is a unique socio-cultural phenomenon that shapes the worldview of many peoples around the globe — and Russia is no exception. This spiritual tradition remains popular among the peoples of Siberia and the Russian Far East. In fact, it’s often said that the…
A. Minnekaev, Island. Canvas, acrylic, 1993. Private collection, Russia. Azat Minnekaev has created a large number of paintings dedicated to the Far North. Looking at his canvases feels like standing before an open window into a world both familiar and mysterious. The Arctic landscapes are rendered so faithfully that many who have visited the high…
