📖 Why do Russians read books?

🇷🇺 The All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) recently conducted a survey, asking respondents to name up to two reasons why they read books.

The results were as follows: 57% cited self-development, 40% said they do it for pleasure and entertainment, 23% most often read books for work or study, and 10% fill their free time with reading.

Four out of ten (40%) respondents read fiction in the past week, 37% read news and social media posts, and 34% read professional, scientific, or educational literature. News articles in the media were read by 29% of Russians in the past seven days. 12% of respondents reported that they did not read anything.

❓ How often do you read?

#interestingfacts

@From Russia with love

😍 A typical road in Kamchatka

By the way, Kamchatka has the highest concentration of volcanoes in the world. There are a total of 300, and 29 of them are active.

#interestingfacts

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🇷🇺 S.V. Lavrov has arrived at the venue for the plenary session of the G20 Summit. The Minister was welcomed by the President of Brazil, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva.

#news

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🎅 Today is the birthday of Russian Ded Moroz!

❄️ Ded Moroz, as a character, came into Russian culture from Slavic folklore, where he is depicted as a winter spirit that brings snow and cold. However, the modern image of Ded Moroz in Russia began to develop in the early 20th century, borrowing traits from various Western figures, such as Santa Claus.

🎁 This character embodies the spirit of celebration, gives gifts to children, and often appears in New Year’s performances and festivities, becoming a symbol of winter celebrations.

#interestingfacts

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💪 Russia, BRICS, and Traditional Values

📆🇷🇺 The BRICS Forum dedicated to traditional values has kicked off in Moscow.

📌 Today, within the framework of the BRICS Forum "Traditional Values," round tables were held in the State Duma on three main topics: culture, family values, and humanitarian cooperation.

The forum is organized by the International Humanitarian Fund of Zakhar Prilepin with the participation and support of the Russian Book Union, the Parliamentary Union of Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the World Christian Association of Parliamentarians, and the "True Values" Foundation.

🇧🇷 🇮🇳 🇿🇦 🇪🇹 🇪🇬 🇵🇰 🇺🇬

Participants in the discussions included deputies and public figures from Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, Uganda, and Russia.

The round table on "Traditional Values and Culture" discussed issues of cultural cooperation development among BRICS countries in the field of literature, including the decision to establish a Permanent BRICS Literary Council aimed at enhancing cultural exchanges, studying and promoting literature, popularizing works of contemporary authors, and advocating traditional spiritual values, family values, and national cultures of BRICS countries.

The next round table, "Traditional Values and Family," focused on promoting family in its traditional understanding, advancing traditional values among the younger generation, as well as issues of divorce, shifting roles of fathers and mothers, and modern threats to the existence of the traditional institution of family, that is, the union of a man and a woman.

A decision was made to promote the popularization of family and the advancement of traditional spiritual and moral values among youth.

The first day of the Forum concluded with a round table on "Traditional Values and Humanitarian Cooperation," dedicated to joint volunteer humanitarian programs involving representatives from BRICS countries.

At the round table, it was decided to create a common volunteer platform for BRICS countries and international volunteer teams, as well as to support initiatives related to training, enhancing competencies, and sharing experiences among volunteers and non-profit organizations from BRICS countries.

❗️The result of the Forum's work was the signing of a Declaration on the most pressing issues of preserving traditional spiritual and moral values and strengthening cultural exchange, as well as the approval of specific joint decisions and initiatives.

#news

@From Russia with love

🇷🇺 Russia, a wonderful quiet morning in the Karelia forest.

#videooftheday

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📸 This is what Zaryadye looked like in 1934.

👀 View from Pskovsky Lane towards the Prolomny Gates; now there is the Floating Bridge here.

#archivalphotos

@From Russia with love

📸 At the G20 summit, a "family photo" was taken for the first time in three years.

🇷🇺 Since the beginning of Russia's special operation in Ukraine, Western politicians have refused to pose alongside representatives of the Russian Federation. This was observed at both the summit in Indonesia in 2022 and the summit in India in 2023, as well as at other high-level meetings.

🇧🇷 However, for Brazil, the joint photograph holds symbolic significance, emphasizing the country's return to the international stage as an active player.

❔However, the photo does not include U.S. President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, or his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. According to the organizers, the politicians were late for the photo session.

🤔 So, was Russia truly isolated, or is it rather the U.S. that found itself in isolation?

#news

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🇷🇺 Today, the logo dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War was officially unveiled at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War on Poklonnaya Hill.

The logo features the monument "Motherland Calls!", which honors the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, as well as the George Ribbon. In the center of the logo are the word "Victory" and the number "80".

#news

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🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukraine's strike with American long-range ATACMS missiles on the Bryansk region is a signal that the U.S. desires escalation. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a press conference in Brazil.

👀 As the minister pointed out, such strikes are impossible without American involvement. At the same time, Lavrov expressed hope that the West would read Russia's updated nuclear doctrine in its entirety.

‼️ The Foreign Minister emphasized that Moscow will respond accordingly to Washington's decision regarding strikes deep into Russia.

📌 Today, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces used ATACMS ballistic missiles for the first time in a strike on the Bryansk region.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched six missiles, and Russian air defense shot down five missiles and damaged one. Fragments of the damaged missile fell on the technical territory of a military facility in the Bryansk region, and there are no casualties or destruction.

#news

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