Russia has allowed the sale of lower-quality gasoline to avoid shortages, according to Kommersant.
Several refineries have been allowed to produce Euro-3 gasoline and diesel instead of Euro-5.
Experts say this fuel can contain dozens of times more sulfur, which may speed up wear on engines, catalytic converters, and exhaust systems in modern cars.
Lada Granta hearses have gone on sale in Russia.
Price: 2.8 million rubles — about $38,600.
Inside, the car has room for a coffin, wreaths, and shovels.
BMW and Audi cars have started being brought into Russia disguised as Chinese cars. They simply cover the badges with Chinese Changan logos before crossing the border.
The scheme helps simplify the export of cars from China amid restrictions and increased inspections. After the cars are imported into Russia, the stickers are removed, and the vehicles become BMWs and Audis again.
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.
Photo: Lada
The car airbag was invented in the early 1950s. But here in Russia, we like to stay traditional — Orthodox, even. For the first time, the Lada Niva will be equipped with an airbag.
But there’s a twist: the only one will protect not the driver, but the rear-seat passenger. The sporty Niva Sport, priced at around ₽1.7 million (≈ $18,500), is set to go on sale in December.
Because clearly, in a Niva, it’s the backseat that needs the most protection.
auto.ru
The cheapest village home in Russia is up for sale in Chuvashia for just ₽110,000 (≈ $1,200). Built in 1955, this 40 m² (430 sq ft) wooden house has a stove, sauna, well, and fruit trees — basically everything you need for a minimalist dacha life.
Wanna move in?
ki-news.ru
Forget dumbbells — meet the Putin kettlebell. This bizarre workout accessory, shaped like the president’s head, has been spotted on Russian marketplaces for ₽8,500 (≈ $90).
The seller claims it’s “impossible to slack off while working out, because Big Brother is watching you.”
Meanwhile, the EU’s 19th sanctions package has banned the export of toilets and bidets to Russia, sparking outrage and memes. The Kremlin promised that Europe would “pay a high price.” Apparently, even porcelain isn’t safe from geopolitics.
kommersant.ru
Russia is facing an acute shortage of clowns, according to veteran circus performer Anatoly Marchevsky. He says today’s audiences are too sophisticated — and it’s getting harder to make them laugh. Clown schools report low enrollment, while older performers are retiring.
If you’ve been thinking about a career change, this might be your sign (red nose optional).
lenta.ru
Sales of heel and insole lifts among Russian men have skyrocketed — up fivefold in a year. Each pair costs around ₽300 (≈ $3.20) and adds up to 5 cm (≈ 2 inches) of height. The trend reportedly stems from social-media dating standards, where women openly declare they only date men taller than 180 cm (≈ 5′11″).
At the same time, demand for penis extenders has soared by 90%. Psychologists say men feel increasing pressure from “sigma-male” culture and body-talk on social media. Doctors, meanwhile, warn that the devices can cause injuries or sexual dysfunction — a high price to pay for a few extra centimeters.
Coaching online games has become a booming business. Dota 2 tutors in Russia are now earning up to ₽120,000 a month (≈ $1,300). They usually teach 7–10 students weekly, helping them master lanes, item builds, and rankings.
Most clients are school or university students aged 14–25 who’d rather invest in gaming skills than math homework.
gazeta.ru
Single Russian women are heading to Turkey after binge-watching romantic Turkish TV dramas.
According to surveys, 77% admitted that soap operas inspired their travels — most of them women aged 31 to 44, hoping to find love worthy of a prime-time plot twist.
Travel agencies report a noticeable surge in solo female bookings to Istanbul and Antalya. Looks like love — or maybe Netflix — is the strongest visa motivation.
And that’s October for you — airbag miracles, kettlebell presidents, love migration, and a country running out of clowns. If the rest of the world ever feels too normal, you know where to look.
The VAZ-2801 (ВАЗ–2801) was a factory-produced electric LADA panel van. Around 40 units were built, and the few that remain have since been converted to run on gasoline.
The history of Soviet experiments with electric vehicles includes a wide range of passenger cars, trucks, and buses. Particularly notable progress occurred in the 1970s, thanks to advancements in electrical engineering, electronics, and chemical power sources. Institutions such as the Research Institute of Motor Transport (NIIAT), the All-Union Research Institute of Electromechanics (VNIIEM), the All-Union Research Institute of Electric Transport (VNIET), as well as automobile manufacturers like VAZ, ErAZ, RAF, and UAZ, were involved in creating prototypes and experimental models—some of which even earned international recognition and awards. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.
Shortly after World War II, the NAMI institute began developing electric postal vans: the NAMI-750 with a payload capacity of 500 kg, and the NAMI-751 with 1500 kg. Although identical in appearance and construction, the two models were equipped with different electric motors. The NAMI-750 had two 3.2 kW motors, while the NAMI-751 used two 6 kW motors. Each motor powered one of the rear wheels. The body was a space frame clad in aluminum sheets with wooden elements. These electric vehicles could reach speeds of 30–33 km/h and had a range of 70–85 km.
Electric van NAMI-750, 1948
One of the most interesting Soviet electric vehicles was the U-131, built on a UAZ chassis. Developed in 1974 as experimental models for the 34th Motor Depot of Mostorgtrans, five vans were produced with a load capacity of 500 kg. Charging was done using an external device, so the vehicles were recharged overnight in a special garage at the motor depot.
UAZ-451
In 1978, an experimental batch of UAZ-451mi electric vehicles arrived. These looked nearly identical to the standard UAZ-451 but featured onboard chargers and AC motors. The batteries were mounted beneath the frame, and the vehicle could be charged from nearly any power source—even during loading operations. The batteries charged up to 70% in just one hour.
At the 1978 World Electric Vehicle Exhibition in Philadelphia, the UAZ-451mi was the only alternating current (AC) — while all the others used direct current (DC) systems, which were more common at the time for electric vehicles.
The final version, labeled UAZ-3801, could carry 800 kg, had a top speed of 70 km/h, and offered a 75 km range with regenerative braking. It featured three pedals—for acceleration, regenerative braking, and conventional braking.
RAF 2203
In 1976, the Jelgava Auto Plant produced a batch of RAF-2203 electric minibuses. Each had a 23 kW motor, carried up to 9 passengers, and could reach 60 km/h with a range of around 70 km. These RAFs, equipped with solar panels, served as judge transport vehicles during the 1980 Olympics. In 1982, three of them were used as electric taxis in Moscow.
zaz-968
The ZAZ-968 electric vehicle featured a pulsed semiconductor converter—an innovation at the time. This electric “Zaporizhets” received a bronze medal, while its control system was awarded silver at the 1974 USSR Exhibition of Economic Achievements (VDNKh).
2102E
In 1976, VAZ created a department to handle all aspects of EV development. That same year, it built the 2102E electric station wagon, which passed government tests and was recommended for production. It was a two-door van with corrugated panels replacing the rear windows.
Between 1980 and 1981, 47 units of the 2801 model were produced. These used nickel-zinc batteries mounted on an aluminum frame and featured a charging hatch instead of the rear-right door. Some were used at the Tolyatti plant and for mail delivery. The main batch went to Ukraine, including units used at the “Garant” TV repair facility in Zaporizhzhia.
2801
The battery pack weighed 380 kg and powered a 25 kW (35 hp) motor. The van could carry 320 kg, had a top speed of 87 km/h, and a range of 130 km. Despite its promise, the model never entered mass production due to practical limitations.
2801
Tests showed that the body of the VAZ-2801 was too weak for such a load. The VAZ‑2801 version was therefore built on an aluminum frame. It had a range of 110 km, but the batteries lasted only three to four months under intensive use. Between 1981 and 1985, 47 of these electric vehicles were produced and, as part of an experiment, operated in various regions of the country.
The next step for the Volga plant was the VAZ-2802 “Pony” — a van and flatbed truck built on a unique tubular backbone frame with an original body design. The front suspension was retained from the Zhiguli, while the rear suspension was specially developed. Work began in 1982, and by 1988, a cooperative named “Orion” from the Kemerovo region even planned to purchase the documentation from VAZ and launch mass production. However, the economic turmoil of those years did not favor such an initiative.
The first version of the VAZ-2802 “Pony” electric vehicle.
VAZ-1801
2802-02
By the late 1980s, electric vehicle development in the USSR slowed dramatically as state funding dwindled during the perestroika reforms. Demand for this type of vehicle in our country was close to zero. The problem was not only the lack of charging infrastructure (though that was also an issue) but primarily the absence of suitable domestically produced batteries. All of our electric cars were equipped with lead-acid batteries — relatively inexpensive but heavy, bulky, with low lifespan and limited capacity. This solution was only viable within factory premises, where open cargo electric vehicles were successfully used (and continue to be used). But the use of such outdated technology for civilian applications on regular roads was out of the question.
Sources and further reading:
Reply