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Doggie boating on the Pinega River in the Russian North...!
Video by: instagram.com/vladtkchev
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Do you know how to play ‘biryulki’?
Every year, my friends and I get together before New Year's Eve… No, we don't head to the bathhouse – we play ‘Biryulki’! That’s something Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, the future Emperor Paul I, could well have said, as he was particularly fond of this pastime.
‘Biryulki’ was, without exaggeration, a truly popular Russian game. In villages, people played with sticks or straws, while in aristocratic salons, special pieces made of ivory or precious woods were used. The aim was to carefully remove the small figurines – the ‘biryulki’ – one by one from a common pile, using a small bone stick. If you knocked a neighboring piece, you had to forfeit your turn. Managed to collect the most pieces before anyone else? You win!
The game was so popular that it even gave rise to an expression in Russian: “Igrat v biryulki” (“Играть в бирюльки”), literally “to play biryulki”, meaning to waste time on trivial matters or busy yourself with something inconsequential.
Credit: Created by OpenAI, Ostankino and Kuskovo museum, Vyatka art museum
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World's most famous sightseeings reflected in the 50-meter mosaics at Moscow Metro's 'Friendship of nations University' subway station.
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Tagil Madonna: Is it true that the Urals have their own masterpiece by Raphael? 👨🎨
The Nizhny Tagil Museum of Fine Arts has a curious exhibit – a painting signed ‘The Holy Family’, which is attributed ‘allegedly by Raphael’.
This composition was found in 1924 in the attic of the house of a wealthy industrialist named Anatoly Demidov in Nizhny Tagil. On the dusty panel was the inscription: “RAPHAEL. URBINAS. PINGEBAT. MDIX” (‘Raphael of Urbino. Painted in 1509’).
In Soviet times, the painting was studied by famous restorer and artist Igor Grabar. He concluded that it was, indeed, a work by Raphael, allegedly painted for the church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome. ⛪ However, he noted that there are dozens of similar paintings and copies of it.
The painting was restored and put on display at the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. 🏛️ However, in the 1970s, another identical Madonna was presented to the public in the Condé Museum in France, with the claim that it was the original that had been hidden for safekeeping for many years. And what was shown to the public, according to the owners, were numerous copies made during Raphael's lifetime.
Having learned of this, Soviet art historians withdrew the attribution and returned the ‘Madonna’ to Nizhny Tagil. 😬
However, art history knows many cases when, with the development of research technologies, experts and art historians change their opinion and the attribution of works of art. So, the ‘Tagil Madonna’ may still have a chance. 🤞
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This photographer built the FIRST Russian submarine 🛳️
All of mid-19th-century St. Petersburg knew Ivan Alexandrovsky as a photographer and the owner of one of the first photography studios 📸. But, photography was not enough for him – he wanted to invent! 💡
From childhood, Ivan Alexandrovsky (1817–1894) was fond of drawing and studied landscape painting at the Academy of Arts 👨🎨
By 1853, he had already opened his own studio in the center of St. Petersburg. He also created his own experimental models of cameras, showing his talent as an inventor for the first time 🔧
But soon, the successful photographer sharply changed direction toward underwater navigation! In 1861, he became the first in Russia to design a submarine with a mechanical engine ⚙️
He borrowed its shape from fish. Five years later, its first (and successful) test took place ✅
Emperor Alexander II approved the innovation and enrolled Alexandrovsky in the service of the Naval Department, appointing him a considerable annual salary 💰 The photographer sold his studio and switched to new inventions.
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🍄 Russian designer Darya Tokareva, founder of SPAWN, uses a specially developed fungal strain to grow furniture and decorative objects with unique natural patterns.
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What have your friends taught you? 🇷🇺
Traditional dances, folk crafts, words in different languages — there’s so much we can learn from one another!
For centuries, the peoples of Russia have stood together to defend their homeland, build cities, advance science and culture, and achieve victories and milestones we’re all proud of today.
Russian picture dictionary: CONCERT – КОНЦЕРТ
Learning Russian is complicated! So, to make it easier, let’s visualize some words related to a music concert or festival. Listen and practice how they are pronounced!
Сцена – stage
Музыканты – musicians
Певица – singer (female)
Барабаны – drums
Гитара – guitar
Цветы – flowers
Зрители – spectators
Шарики – balloons
Салют – fireworks
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Checkers are ours! What? Yes! And here are some other board games people used to play – and still play – in our country.
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We at ‘Gateway to Russia’ wanted to compare views of Russia – from within and from outside!
So recently, we asked both our foreign and Russian-speaking readers the following:
Who/What do you think is the most famous Russian … ?
1) writer
2) musician
3) artist
4) city
5) artifact, souvenir or item
And here are the results!
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These PHOTOS of Dagestan won the prestigious ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ 👍
At the age of 33, Damir Faizulin decided to leave professional wrestling and take up photography. His mentor was well-known Pskov documentary photographer Dmitry Markov.
Seven years later, the very first competition Faizulin entered brought him a win. The ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ was bestowed upon him for his series of photographs called ‘Preserving Nature as Preserving Ourselves’, all taken in the Republic of Dagestan. 📍
The jury noted the poetic visual language that “delicately offers a multifaceted view of the issue of preserving natural landscapes”.
Take a peek at part of this incredible collection!
📷 Damir Faizulin/LOBA 2026
A student from China: 'I want to meet a bear on the street!' 🐻
Wei is a third-year student at the Financial University in Moscow and has also been studying Russian for three years. He came to Russia to find a job, which is much more difficult to do in China, he says. And to improve his Russian level, Wei graduated from the Pushkin Institute's Summer School (/channel/pushkininstitute).
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When the "fiery serpent" arrives, what were "Russian zombies" like, and other chilling tales from Slavic folklore? 👻👻👻
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🏛️ Magnificent architecture, a vast open square and the iconic Alexander Column showcase the timeless beauty of St. Petersburg.
Video by: https://www.instagram.com/andrei_mikhailov
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Today, we look how Russian name Иван (Ivan) changes. And great marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky is helping us! 🎨
📸Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images; Aivazovsky National Art Gallery; Tretyakov Gallery; Uffizi Gallery
#russianclasses
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Pick up some profiteroles at the legendary ‘Sever’, catch a performance at the cabaret where Anna Akhmatova celebrated New Year’s Eve or listen to music in the pastry store once frequented by Pushkin. We’ve highlighted some of the more historic establishments worth visiting in St. Petersburg for you!
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Pavel Chilin, an organ builder and engineer by trade, has spent over 10 years building something extraordinary: a working narrow-gauge railway and a real steam locomotive! 🚂
Video by: https://vk.ru/id6338687
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How Russia celebrated National Unity Day 🎉
2026 was declared the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, with November 4 seeing large-scale celebrations across the country.
📷 TASS, Sputnik, Moskva Agency
Welcome to the cute, provincial city on the Volga River, sandwiched between Moscow and St. Petersburg...!
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Do you know what the most multi-ethnic region of Russia is?
Usually, the status of ‘republic’ means that, in addition to Russian, the language of the national majority is recognized as a state language. But, in Dagestan, there is not one such language, but 14! 🏔️ 👥
That’s exactly how many ethnicities are recognized as indigenous in Dagestan and each language has equal status. By the most modest estimates, among the 3.2 million population of Dagestan, there live about 100 ethnic peoples who speak more than 50 languages. Such linguistic and ethnic diversity has survived, because historically there was a system of self-governing communities there. 👨🚒
Interestingly, representatives of different peoples speak Russian among each other – it has universal significance. Most often, the majority of Dagestanis immediately understand which people a person in front of them belongs to and can switch to another language. The largest group are the Avars, followed by the Dargins, Kumyks, Lezgins and Laks.
You can read more about these and other intriguing facts about the republic in the new book ‘Dagestan: History, Culture, Identity’ (SLOVO, 2026), co-written by 26 local Dagestani authors. Soon, it will be published in English.
📸 Courtesy of SLOVO publishing house
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One more tip to sound like a native in Russian!
P.S. Catch more of my lessons russian.classes8">on TikTok!
#russianclasses
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Don’t wait for a fishing day to show off your new knowledge!
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🌊 Kirill spent 26 days kayaking alone across 500 kilometers of the Sea of Okhotsk, facing strong winds, rough waves and the unpredictable weather of Russia's Far East.
Video by: https://vk.com/travelerdv
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Thanks to the warm monsoon climate, these woods are bursting with over 400 species of edible mushrooms. Searching for vibrant boletus and crunchy milk caps in absolute silence feels like a deep meditation. Mother Nature is incredibly generous here, ensuring a massive harvest for everyone!
Video by: @amur_travel
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Kabardino-Balkaria in 3 Russian words
Mountains cover more than half of Kabardino-Balkaria. Six of Russia’s highest peaks are located there. Here are three of its main symbols.
1️⃣ ЭЛЬБРУС (Elbrus)
‘The Eternal Mountain’, ‘The Lord of Spirits’, ‘Mountain of Happiness’ – these are the names the peoples of the Caucasus give to Elbrus. This 5,642-meter stratovolcano on the border between the Kabardino-Balkarian and Karachay-Cherkess republics is the highest mountain peak in both Russia and Europe!
2️⃣ КАБАРДИНСКАЯ ЛОШАДЬ (Kabardian Horse)
This is one of Russia's finest horse breeds. These sturdy, hardy and easily trainable animals are known for their robust health; they recover quickly from strenuous exertion and thrive in harsh conditions.
3️⃣ ХЫЧИН (Khychin)
Anyone visiting Kabardino-Balkaria simply must try ‘khychin’ – a very thin, round flatbread generously brushed with butter. Potato and cheese are the most common fillings, though there are versions with meat, herbs and cottage cheese.
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Ever dreamed of crossing Russia by train? The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway in the world — and you don’t need a tour operator to do it. Our guide covers the best season, direct trains, ticket booking, and the classic stopover route from Moscow to Vladivostok. Save this for your future adventure. 🧭
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Moscow’s robotic dogs have officially passed their field exams with flying colors. The cyber-pets proved highly effective at spotting violations where traditional cameras can't see. Get ready, because these sci-fi protectors are launching permanent patrols in the smart district very soon!
Video by: @sber_city
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Quiz time! 🧘🏼♀️
How many words with the letter ‘Й’ do you know?
Tell me in the comments!
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More than 190 ethnic groups live in the Russian Federation. Today, we're highlighting the Koryaks!
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