❄️ Art object "Balsag Wheel" in North Ossetia

☀️ It represents a fiery wheel that, according to Ossetian mythology, is the master of the all-destroying fire wheel.

#videooftheday

@From Russia with love

🇷🇺🧑‍⚖️ The State Duma has adopted a bill to protect the Russian language

Yesterday, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a bill on the protection of the Russian language in its first reading. Its main provisions are:

🔹 Protection of the Russian language as the state language;

🔹 Reduction of the use of foreign words in public spaces;

🔹 Ensuring compliance with the norms of modern literary language.

It is also reported that information for consumers displayed on signs, indicators, and in advertisements will now be presented in Russian without the use of words like "sale" or "shop."

📰 Furthermore, the document proposes to clarify the use of the Russian language in the media, excluding lexical errors and obscene expressions.

#news

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🥇 The Moscow Zoo has ranked first in the world in terms of the diversity of its inhabitants. It is home to over 1,200 species, as reported by the city's mayor, Sergey Sobyanin.

🌏 Among them are some of the rarest species that are nearly extinct in the wild, such as Amur leopards and Sumatran orangutans. Last year, the zoo welcomed 300 new residents from two dozen regions of Russia and other countries: three Malayan bear cubs, spotted hyenas, a black vulture, two bison, and more. The zoo also houses 37 dogs brought from shelters in the Kursk region, cared for by staff and volunteers.

🎉 Today, the Moscow Zoo is celebrating its 161st birthday.

#interestingfacts

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🇷🇺 The Bashkirs (bashqorttar) are a Turkic people historically formed in the Southern Ural region. Their self-designation is linked to legends about wolves (the term "bashqort" is interpreted as "chief wolf"), beekeeping, and the unification of tribes. Today, the Bashkirs are one of the largest indigenous peoples in Russia, preserving their unique traditions and language.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Approximately 1.7 million Bashkirs live in Russia, making up 1.2% of the country's total population. Notably, 74% of them reside in the Republic of Bashkortostan, where they constitute 29.5% of the population (1.19 million people). The Chelyabinsk region is the second most significant area, home to 10% of the Bashkir population. In the Orenburg and Tyumen regions, there are 2.9% representatives of this ethnic group.

📌 Interesting fact: The capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan is Ufa.

📜 The Bashkirs became part of Russia in the 16th century after the fall of the Kazan Khanate, but their history dates back to ancient times:

✅ They are mentioned in the works of Herodotus (5th century BC) as the Argippaei, who consumed "sour juice" from fruits.
✅ In Arab chronicles of the 9th and 10th centuries, they are described as warlike tribes with developed livestock farming and shamanism.
✅ In 922, the Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan noted their polytheism and totemism, which were later replaced by Sunni Islam.

💬 The Bashkir language (Turkic group) is spoken, alongside widespread use of Russian and Tatar. The predominant religion is Islam, although elements of pre-Islamic beliefs are still preserved.

🧩 The Bashkirs are an integral part of Russia's cultural mosaic. Despite demographic challenges, they maintain their identity, language, and traditions, remaining a living heritage of the Ural region.

#PeoplesOfRussia

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⚡️ Diplomacy Loves Silence

🇷🇺 The Russian Federation prefers to adhere to agreements on the confidentiality of contacts with the United States of America. This statement was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation while commenting on the release of American Mark Vogel, who was convicted in Russia for drug trafficking.

🇺🇸 According to the head of the foreign policy department, "the American colleagues decided to announce" the outcome of the agreements reached "through contact channels between Moscow and Washington."

"We have a different approach. For effective diplomacy, we prefer to uphold agreements on confidentiality," emphasized Sergey Lavrov.

📌 In turn, the official representative of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the release of the U.S. citizen was made possible due to intensive contacts between the relevant agencies of the two countries. The president's press secretary noted that the U.S. would, in turn, release a Russian citizen held in an American prison.

#news

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🍴 Syrniki – the best Russian breakfast dish!

This dish consists of thick, fried pancakes made from cottage cheese. They are prepared using cottage cheese, eggs, and a small amount of flour, then fried until golden brown.

☀️Syrniki have a slightly sweet taste and are often served for breakfast with sour cream, jam, honey, or condensed milk.

🧀 The name syrniki comes from the word syr, which was historically used in Russia for all dairy products, including cottage cheese.

Syrniki have been a part of Russian cuisine for centuries and remain one of the most popular breakfast dishes, especially among children!

#Russiancuisine

@From Russia with Love

🇷🇺🇺🇸 The leaders of Russia and the United States discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, energy issues, and the exchange of citizens between Russia and the U.S., reported Dmitry Peskov.

According to Donald Trump, he and Vladimir Putin agreed on the necessity to stop the conflict in Ukraine. Furthermore, as noted by the U.S. president, they agreed to instruct their teams to begin negotiations "immediately." The negotiations from the U.S. side will be led by the CIA director, the Secretary of State, and the National Security Advisor.

During the conversation, Putin advocated for addressing the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine.

The President of Russia invited his American counterpart to Moscow, and other future contacts were discussed.

Trump also stated that the topic of joint efforts on the battlefields of World War II was raised during his conversation with Putin.

Additionally, Putin and Trump discussed the Iranian nuclear program.

#news

@From Russia with love

☀️ Sunny Novorossiysk

#VideoOfTheDay

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❄️😮 Winter Mood of the Kola Peninsula

#VideoOfTheDay

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🎣 Sakhalin fishermen found themselves on a breaking ice floe. Again.

It seems that just yesterday, rescuers were evacuating fishermen from a drifting ice floe until late at night. But today, crowds of navaga enthusiasts rushed onto the ice in another location. Immediately, old cracks in the ice field began to "breathe" and spread apart.

The ice isn't breaking yet, but the crack that was "compressed" has started to move, witnesses note.

By the way, no one is planning to leave. Apparently, they want to make it into all the news.

😂 What are you willing to do for your favorite fish?

#news

@From Russia with love

💬 The Kremlin commented on a possible meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

"The heads of state agreed yesterday during a phone conversation that they themselves would continue contacts, they will be looking towards a separate meeting, and they also agreed that relevant assistants would be given immediate instructions to start the appropriate work. Now, of course, the work will begin quickly, and we will need to wait for certain developments; then we can talk about the location, the timing, and so on," said the president's press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

#news

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🇷🇺🇦🇪 Sirius and the UAE signed a memorandum of cooperation.

✍️ The head of the "Talent and Success" foundation, chairperson of the federal territory of Sirius, Elena Shmeleva, and the UAE Minister of Education, Sara Bint Yusuf Al Amiri, signed a memorandum to develop cooperation in the fields of education, science, technology, art, and sports.

According to the administration of Sirius, the document envisions the exchange of methodologies and cultural values.

Preparations for signing the memorandum began last November following a visit to Sirius by a delegation from the UAE.

ℹ️ For reference: "Sirius" is the largest Russian educational center supporting talented children.

In 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law establishing the federal territory of Sirius, making it a new type of public legal entity, economically independent with its own budget and property.

#news

@From Russia with love

🇷🇺 Shchi – the soul of Russian cuisine

🥣 Shchi, along with borscht, is the most famous soup in Russian cuisine.

Its history dates back to the 9th century when Russian peasants began to grow cabbage widely and use it in many dishes.

🥬🥕🧅 Classic shchi is made from fresh or fermented cabbage, carrots, onions, and meat (usually beef or pork).

Sometimes mushrooms, beans, or even sour apples are added for a special flavor. Shchi is most often enjoyed with sour cream and rye bread.

🇷🇺 The main secret to delicious shchi is long simmering, which makes the soup particularly rich. In ancient times, shchi was simmered in clay pots in a Russian stove, and in some corners of Russia, this tradition is still upheld.

Shchi can be "rich" (with meat) or "lean," "empty" (made with vegetable or mushroom broth).

🥩 This division has existed since time immemorial, as only the wealthiest segments of the population could afford meat, while peasants were content with the "lean" version of the soup.

🇷🇺 Thanks to its slightly sour and rich taste, shchi is a favorite soup among Russians during the winter months.

So, if you need to warm up on a cold winter day — you know which soup to make!

#Russiancuisine

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