Top 10: Most POPULAR content in 2025 by ‘Gateway to Russia’
1. Your Russian Course
We launched our free online ‘Russian as a Foreign Language’ course for beginners – and the response has been overwhelming! The numbers show real enthusiasm and thousands have already started learning. If you haven't yet, it’s never too late to join!
2. 7 free online Russian courses
In partnership with Russia’s leading institution for teaching Russian – the Pushkin Institute – we've collected some of the most useful and widely used free online courses in one place.
3. Top 5 European movies about the Eastern Front of World War II
World War II remains one of our most popular and discussed topics. This list features Western movies that avoid your typical cliches and historical distortions and portray the Red Army’s fight against Nazi Germany with respect and accuracy.
4. Path to victory – a video series
The year 2025 also marked the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II. Our author and military historian Boris Egorov created a video series tracing the war year by year and telling the stories of lesser-known heroes.
5. 100 MAIN Russian books everyone should read
Together with the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Pushkin House), we compiled a definitive list of 100 must-read classics of Russian literature – a ready-made reading plan for the year ahead!
6. Why do Pallas's cats put their paws on their tails?
Yes, we proudly cover Pallas’s cats (aka manuls). Russians love following these fluffy creatures – especially their pre-winter weight gain routine, now so legendary that it even got its own word officially included in the Russian dictionary this year: ‘зажировка’ (‘zazhirovka’; ‘fattening up’).
7. Useful information for tourists
This year, we launched a practical hub with everything you need to know about visas, money and even relocating to Russia. This guide is a must-read if you are planning a trip soon!
8. ‘Sigma Boy’: a record-breaking song by Russian teens
In January, two teenage Russian girls broke onto the ‘Billboard Hot Dance/Pop Songs’ chart with their track 'Sigma Boy'. If you haven't heard it, you've missed a whole new wave of Russian pop!
9. 10 Soviet servicemen awarded by the U.S.
A fascinating chapter of shared Soviet-American history! This article reveals the stories of Soviet officers – from generals to privates – who received U.S. military awards for bravery during World War II.
10. The most Russian American
Our friend and regular contributor Tim Kirby makes videos about life in Russia, interviews foreigners and repatriated Russians – and even started helping with your Russian along the way!