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Culture Why does every Russian fairy tale begin with trouble?

"A bad beginning is a bad beginning." This can be said not only about any new business, but also about Russian fairy tales. Because, the plot of most of them is built on trouble. Trouble, misfortune, tragedy and catastrophe all serve as catalysts for action.

Plan your trip When & where does a foreigner need to present their passport in Russia?

The passport is the main identity document for both citizens of the country and its visitors. It must be presented in a variety of situations. We’ve listed the most common cases below.

Russian Kitchen 10 BEST places for gastro tourism in Russia in 2025

Exotic dishes from different regions, delicious local wines and cheeses, authentic ice cream and apple pastila. Where can you try these and other main specialties of Russian cuisine and, at the same time, have a nice relaxing time? Below, we’ve picked out the main places from ‘The 50 Best Tastes of Russia’ travel guide’s latest ranking and guide.

Russian Kitchen 10 foods that Russians can't stop eating (PHOTOS)

Always having bread with lunch, cracking sunflower seeds, cooking dozens of dishes from cottage cheese or potatoes… There are some culinary things that Russians never get bored of.

Lifestyle Why don’t Russians smile?

An American living in St. Petersburg experienced all shades of the Russian smile. And you know what? He proves that the stereotype about grumpy Russians is wrong!

Travel 5 barefoot trails where you can merge with nature (PHOTOS)

Forget about fashionable shoes and comfortable Crocs – these routes are for barefoot walking!

History Why did Nazi Germany attack the USSR on June 22, 1941?

The start of the military campaign against the Soviet Union had to be postponed due to events in the Balkans.

Culture Why Malevich’s ‘Black Square’ is REALLY important

The painting is one of the most popular works of art, it’s quoted and parodied all over the world. Irina Vakar, chief researcher at the Tretyakov Gallery's Painting Department of the First Half of the 20th Century, reflects with us on the secret of the long-term attention to the canvas.

Travel 8 must-visit places in Dagestan (PHOTOS)

Russia's republic in the North Caucasus amazes tourists with its variety of attractions, breathtaking mountain sceneries, local life and traditional cuisine. To get everything from Dagestan, we recommend visiting at least these places!

Russian Language Playground

Kira Lisitskaya (Photo: Cavan Images, Rudmer Zwerver/Getty Images; Archive photo)

Education

10 Russian proverbs with conventional wisdom

Legion Media

Education

Russian kitchen ABCs: Pelmeni

Alexandra Guzeva

Education

Rollando from Madagascar: ‘Learning to speak Russian is a feat!’

Alexander Kislov, Natalya Nosova

Education

There are three MAIN dialects in the Russian language

Kira Lisitskaya (Photo: shishigami/Getty Images; Azerbaijan_stockers/freepik.com; Public domain)

Education

How the Russians came up with their own word for ‘art’

Artaxerxes Longhand/Getty Images

Education

Ulyanovsk in 3 Russian words

Russian Literature

Illustration by Sergei Kobuladze «Eclipse of the Sun» for the poem «The Tale of Igor's Campaign». - - - -Sverdlov/Sputnik / Sputnik

Why is the legendary epic ‘The Tale of Igor's Campaign’ a ‘Russian Shakespeare’?

Gateway to Russia / Legion Media

5 reasons to read Pushkin's poems in Russian

Gateway To Russia (Photo: Digr; Public domain)

Why did Leo Tolstoy run away from home?

Kira Lisitskaya (Photo: A.Savin, Wikipedia; Public domain; Yuri Belinsky/TASS)

Pushkin House: A place where Russian literature lives

Gateway to Russia (Photo: State Historical Museum; Leo Tolstoy Museum)

15 MOST famous quotes by Russian writers

Kira Lisitskaya (Photo: Public domain; CSA Images/Getty Images; Tretyakov Gallery)

100 MAIN Russian books that everyone should read

Best of Russia

Gateway to Russia (Photo: Polinmr/Getty Images)

Lifestyle

Where to find 'Gateway to Russia' on social media

Anton Balashov / Sputnik

Travel

Where to see the blooming lotus in Russia (PHOTOS)

Alexei Danichev / Sputnik

Culture

5 most FAMOUS male Russian ballet dancers (PHOTOS)

Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts

Culture

30 masterpieces of the Pushkin Museum's Gallery of European & American Countries that you must see (PHOTOS)

Gateway to Russia (Photo: Russian Classes; TimKirbysTravel; Think Slavic)

Lifestyle

4 social media accounts recommended by ‘Gateway to Russia’

Getty Images

Basic facts

33 incredible UNESCO sites located in Russia (PHOTOS)

Russian Cinema

Sputnik

How a French director helped the movie ‘The Cranes Are Flying’ get to Cannes

Ekaterina Сhesnokova / Sputnik

Meet ‘White Lotus’ star Yuri Kolokolnikov

Dia Dipasupil/WireImage/ / Getty Images

Meet actor Mark Eidelstein, the Russian star of the TV show ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ (PHOTOS)

TOP 10 Soviet detective movies you can watch free ONLINE

Legion Media

10 underrated Soviet movies to watch ONLINE FOR FREE!

Russia 101

Youngoldman / Getty Images

Plan your trip

How to get a driver's license in Russia as a foreigner

lvinst / Getty Images

Plan your trip

How to get from Pulkovo Airport (LED) to central St. Petersburg

ampueroleonardo / Getty Images

Plan your trip

How to travel across Russia: A guide for foreign tourists

Gateway to Russia (Photo: JulPo/Getty Images; Yandex)

Plan your trip

10 useful APPS for travelling across Russia in 2025

AnnaStills / Getty Images

Visa help

How to get a Russian visa in 2025?

Davide Zanin/Getty Images

Visa help

Russian e-visa: FAQ & handy guide (PICS)

History

Public domain

4 Russian cities lost forever! (VIDEO)

‘The Billion Dollar Spy’ by David E. Hoffman/Corpus, 2017

This Soviet traitor cost the country BILLIONS in leaked secrets! (VIDEO)

Sputnik

Why was this Bolshevik nicknamed the ‘Black Devil’?

Israel Ozersky/Sputnik

This Soviet general was killed by Ukrainian nationalists

Gateway to Russia (Photo: The Library for Foreign Literature, J Wheeler and Co/Toronto Stars/Getty Images, Klipartz)

How a Russian princess became a heroine of the French Resistance

The Most Russian American

Love and dance: the story of a Brazilian in Moscow (VIDEO)

A Cameroonian in Russia: being yourself and inspiring others (VIDEO)

Love for ballet led a Japanese girl to Russia (VIDEO)

Tim Kirby; Litres

How Tim Kirby became ‘the most Russian American’

More stories

Ruptly

Aftermath of a volcanic eruption in Kamchatka (VIDEO)

AleksandarGeorgiev / Getty Images

Your complete guide to ALL State Hermitage Museum buildings & branches

vengerof / Getty Images

10 BEST Russian vodka side-dishes

Kira Lisitskaya (Photo: Vasnetsov Memorial Museum Moscow; Buyenlarge/Getty Images) / Getty Images

Why does every Russian fairy tale begin with trouble?

paleometro.ru

Prehistoric fossils can be found in the Moscow Metro! (PHOTOS)

VK/nikolay_lauhin_mariinsky

Check out how decorations for the Mariinsky Theater are made! (VIDEO)

beast01 / Getty Images

When & where does a foreigner need to present their passport in Russia?

Puerta a Rusia

How the Yakuts also celebrate New Year in summer! (VIDEO)

Rio’s Second Life (VIDEO)

Postcard-Perfect Views (VIDEO)

Kira Lisitskaya (Photo: Cavan Images, Rudmer Zwerver/Getty Images; Archive photo)

10 Russian proverbs with conventional wisdom

Sputnik

Who was the only Generalissimo of the Soviet Union?

Press photo

10 BEST places for gastro tourism in Russia in 2025

Press photo

The Cossack Museum opens in Moscow (PHOTOS)

Дети Арктики

Sinsk: A forgotten corner of the Russian Far East with soul (VIDEO)

Legion Media

Russian kitchen ABCs: Pelmeni

Sputnik

How the USSR participated in the Korean War

Downtown Moscow in miniature (VIDEO)

Why Russians love the «banya» so much? (VIDEO)

Gateway to Russia (Photo: Lacheev; Sorin Amanar/500px; Elenathewise; Ami6/500px; john shepherd; Casiana Nita; gorchittza2012; Westend61/Getty Images, Klipartz)

10 foods that Russians can't stop eating (PHOTOS)

About the project Terms of Use

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Created with the financial support of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media of the Russian Federation.

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