Gateway to Russia

Русский English Español Français Português 日本語

Culture & History

Culture Lifestyle Science & Tech Travel History Russian Kitchen The Most Russian American

Learn Russian

Your Russian Course Russian Language Playground

Useful information

Basic facts Plan your trip Visa help

Lifestyle Why were exactly 6 ares allocated for dachas in the USSR?

Many Soviet families received land plots from the state, on which they could build a ‘dacha’ country house and grow vegetables and fruits. However, their size ended up becoming strictly regulated.

Culture Why do parishioners stand in a Russian church instead of sitting, like in Catholic churches?

You won’t see rows of benches in Russian Orthodox churches – one is supposed to stand during services. And the tradition has ancient roots.

Culture What is going on in the painting ‘Folk Festivities During Shrovetide on Admiralteyskaya Square in St. Petersburg’?

In this painting by artist Konstantin Makovsky, the whole city is having a good time, without exaggeration!

Russian Kitchen 5 ways to fold pancakes like a Russian!

Right now, Russia is celebrating Maslenitsa, which is essentially a whole week of baking ‘bliny’ (pancakes, crepes) with the most incredible fillings and toppings, from red caviar to condensed milk and cottage cheese. And they become no less creative when serving them!

Culture The CMEA Building: What you need to know about the monument of Soviet modernism (PHOTOS)

This building in the center of Moscow was built in the 1960s. Resembling an open book, it connected the old and modern buildings of the capital for several decades.

Culture What did Russian classic writers think about SHROVETIDE?

Anyone can offend a writer – all you need to do is not to go to their place for pancakes. On Maslenitsa, aka Shrovetide, even the most serious writers turned into children and plunged into a festive carnival of dinners, balls and other entertainment.

Russian Kitchen Russian pancakes as Leo Tolstoy liked them (RECIPE)

Every housewife in Russia has her own recipe of ‘bliny’. Let's find out how Tolstoy's wife cooked them for him.

Visa help What is a Russian 'golden visa' & how to obtain one?

Foreigners who invest in Russian companies can receive a residence permit in a simplified manner. So, how much does one need to invest in the Russian economy?

Travel What do scientists do on the remote Commander Islands & how do you get there?

Storms rage there more often than supply ships arrive. Every day can be a challenge, but it also brings great inspiration.

Russian Language Playground

Why ‘BLIN’ ('pancake') is the most popular Russian swear word!

Education

Why ‘BLIN’ ('pancake') is the most popular Russian swear word!

Hilal from Türkiye: ‘My soul is close to the Russian language’

Education

Hilal from Türkiye: ‘My soul is close to the Russian language’

What does the expression “Who goes to the forest, who goes for firewood” mean?

Education

What does the expression “Who goes to the forest, who goes for firewood” mean?

Russian picture dictionary: Currency exchange

Education

Russian picture dictionary: Currency exchange

Russian Travel Alphabet: Yasnaya Polyana

Education

Russian Travel Alphabet: Yasnaya Polyana

Voronezh in 3 Russian words

History

Voronezh in 3 Russian words

Russian Literature

100 MAIN Russian books that everyone should read

100 MAIN Russian books that everyone should read

The USSR's most popular magazine & how it bypassed censorship

The USSR's most popular magazine & how it bypassed censorship

5 reasons to read ‘Doctor Zhivago’ by Boris Pasternak

5 reasons to read ‘Doctor Zhivago’ by Boris Pasternak

Retracing the timeline of Alexander Pushkin’s last duel

Retracing the timeline of Alexander Pushkin’s last duel

Why Vladimir Mayakovsky signed his letters as ‘Puppy’

Why Vladimir Mayakovsky signed his letters as ‘Puppy’

Best of Russia

10 reasons to visit Russia this spring

Travel

10 reasons to visit Russia this spring

5 fantastic reasons to visit the Pushkin Museum

Culture

5 fantastic reasons to visit the Pushkin Museum

33 incredible UNESCO sites located in Russia (PHOTOS)

Basic facts

33 incredible UNESCO sites located in Russia (PHOTOS)

Travel

What you can see along the brand new M12 highway (PHOTOS)

5 things you can ONLY do in Russia!

Lifestyle

5 things you can ONLY do in Russia!

10 international masterpieces you can see only in Russia

Culture

10 international masterpieces you can see only in Russia

Russian Cinema

How Soviet movies were shown abroad

How Soviet movies were shown abroad

Meet ‘Game of Thrones’ & ‘White Lotus’ star Yuri Kolokolnikov

Meet ‘Game of Thrones’ & ‘White Lotus’ star Yuri Kolokolnikov

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

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

TOP 10 Soviet detective movies you can watch free ONLINE

10 underrated Soviet movies to watch ONLINE FOR FREE!

10 underrated Soviet movies to watch ONLINE FOR FREE!

Russia 101

How to get a Russian visa in 2025?

Visa help

How to get a Russian visa in 2025?

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

Visa help

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

How to visit Russia by train

Plan your trip

How to visit Russia by train

How to find & book a hotel in Russia

Plan your trip

How to find & book a hotel in Russia

Russia & Belarus begin mutual visa recognition

Visa help

Russia & Belarus begin mutual visa recognition

How a foreigner can bring money & pay in Russia

Plan your trip

How a foreigner can bring money & pay in Russia

History

California was once almost colonized by Russia! (VIDEO)

California was once almost colonized by Russia! (VIDEO)

Every Soviet woman hunted for these fashion items (VIDEO)

Every Soviet woman hunted for these fashion items (VIDEO)

Propaganda posters of the early Soviet Moscow (PICS)

Propaganda posters of the early Soviet Moscow (PICS)

This Soviet scientist decoded the Mayan writing system (VIDEO)

This Soviet scientist decoded the Mayan writing system (VIDEO)

The iconic Russian terems were PRISONS for women? (VIDEO)

The iconic Russian terems were PRISONS for women? (VIDEO)

The Most Russian American

How Tim Kirby became ‘the most Russian American’

How Tim Kirby became ‘the most Russian American’

The Must Sees of Vladivostok, Russia’s big city in the very Far East (VIDEO)

The Must Sees of Vladivostok, Russia’s big city in the very Far East (VIDEO)

Gee Baller: he fled Nigeria to become a star in Russia (VIDEO)

Gee Baller: he fled Nigeria to become a star in Russia (VIDEO)

An American cheesemaker found himself in the Russian countryside (VIDEO)

An American cheesemaker found himself in the Russian countryside (VIDEO)

More stories

What Russia was like in 1905 (PHOTOS)

What Russia was like in 1905 (PHOTOS)

Maslenitsa 2025 in Moscow (PHOTOS)

Maslenitsa 2025 in Moscow (PHOTOS)

One of the main attractions of winter is dog sledding! (VIDEO)

One of the main attractions of winter is dog sledding! (VIDEO)

Why ‘BLIN’ ('pancake') is the most popular Russian swear word!

Why ‘BLIN’ ('pancake') is the most popular Russian swear word!

Social media acronyms Vol.2 (VIDEO)

Social media acronyms Vol.2 (VIDEO)

Raccoon at Maslenitsa (VIDEO)

Raccoon at Maslenitsa (VIDEO)

‘Patchenny’, ‘tseoo’, ‘frigan’: 281 new words have been added to the dictionary of the Institute of the Russian Language in 2025

‘Patchenny’, ‘tseoo’, ‘frigan’: 281 new words have been added to the dictionary of the Institute of the Russian Language in 2025

Why were exactly 6 ares allocated for dachas in the USSR?

Why were exactly 6 ares allocated for dachas in the USSR?

Hilal from Türkiye: ‘My soul is close to the Russian language’

Hilal from Türkiye: ‘My soul is close to the Russian language’

Meet crepe cake: A delicious dessert if you are fan of Russian blini (pancakes)

Meet crepe cake: A delicious dessert if you are fan of Russian blini (pancakes)

A swan hugs a volunteer in Anapa (VIDEO)

A swan hugs a volunteer in Anapa (VIDEO)

Why do parishioners stand in a Russian church instead of sitting, like in Catholic churches?

Why do parishioners stand in a Russian church instead of sitting, like in Catholic churches?

California was once almost colonized by Russia! (VIDEO)

California was once almost colonized by Russia! (VIDEO)

Every Soviet woman hunted for these fashion items (VIDEO)

Every Soviet woman hunted for these fashion items (VIDEO)

What does the expression “Who goes to the forest, who goes for firewood” mean?

What does the expression “Who goes to the forest, who goes for firewood” mean?

Beautiful winter day in Kirov Region! (VIDEO)

Beautiful winter day in Kirov Region! (VIDEO)

The Himalayas? Nope, this is Russia!

The Himalayas? Nope, this is Russia!

Russian picture dictionary: Currency exchange

Russian picture dictionary: Currency exchange

All of St. Petersburg can be seen from this observation deck!

All of St. Petersburg can be seen from this observation deck!

What is the most frivolous Shrovetide (Maslenitsa) rite?

What is the most frivolous Shrovetide (Maslenitsa) rite?

About the project Terms of Use

"Gateway to Russia” - a project by ANO “TV-Novosti,” 2025. © All rights reserved.
Created with the financial support of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media of the Russian Federation.

16+