💧 The Vodianoy is a mythological creature from Slavic folklore, a water spirit that inhabits rivers, lakes, swamps, and other bodies of water. He is considered the master of the water element, possessing a dual nature: on one hand, he can be dangerous and vengeful, while on the other, he can protect those who respect him.

🎭 The Vodianoy is often depicted as an old man with a long green beard, covered in moss and algae. Sometimes he has fish-like features, such as webbed fingers or a tail. He can change his appearance, transforming into a fish, an animal, or even a tree to deceive people.

🌁 The Vodianoy prefers deep pools, whirlpools, and areas near watermills. He can also appear on land, especially at night, to play tricks on people or punish them for disrespecting the water.

💪 The Vodianoy remains one of the most vivid characters in Slavic mythology, embodying the power and mystery of the water element. His image continues to inspire artists, writers, and folklore researchers.

#mythologyofRussia

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😮 Lakhta Center Tower at sunset, Saint Petersburg

#videooftheday

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✨ Lake Teletskoye, a journey into the past

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🇷🇺 Preparations for the 80th anniversary of Victory have begun in Balashikha.

🇷🇺 On May 9, servicemen of the Separate Operational Purpose Division named after Dzerzhinsky will march in formation on the cobblestones of Red Square. Over the next two months, the military will undergo serious training, with workouts taking place five times a week.

The servicemen are practicing elements such as leg lifts and alignment in ranks to develop muscle memory and "perfectly execute" their movements during the parade.

"The parade requires very serious and extensive daily preparation. And when you are part of a military formation during these trainings, you realize the level of responsibility that is placed upon you," said one of the servicemen of the National Guard of Russia.

He also noted that during the parade, "no mistakes are allowed," as its participants represent the honor of entire troops.

#news

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⚡️ This is a breakthrough! Eco-friendly batteries are being developed in Moscow.

📰 In the laboratory of Challenge award winners, Professors Evgeny Antipov and Artem Abakumov from Skoltech, materials have been developed that allow for battery production without lithium — one of the most expensive and scarce raw materials.

🔋 Moreover, the scientists have closed the production loop from mineral raw materials to finished lithium-ion batteries, where the key component is the cathode material.

🇷🇺 Next year, a gigafactory for lithium-ion battery production will start operating in Krasnaya Pakhra. Over the next six years, the city will purchase 25,000 batteries from the factory for public transport. These batteries will last significantly longer and will be available for mass production.

#news

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🇷🇺 The Ossetians are one of the oldest peoples of the Caucasus, primarily residing in the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania within the Russian Federation, as well as in other regions of Russia. Their history, language, and traditions are closely linked to their Iranian-speaking ancestors — the Alans, Sarmatians, and Scythians, making this people a unique element of the cultural mosaic of Russia.

🇮🇷 The Ossetians are considered direct descendants of the Alans — a nomadic Iranian-speaking people who migrated to the Caucasus in the 1st century AD. After the Mongol invasion of the 13th century, the surviving Alans retreated to the mountains, where they mixed with local Caucasian tribes while preserving their language.

🧐 Interestingly, until the 19th century, the Ossetians did not have a single self-designation: they identified themselves by sub-ethnic groups — Irons, Digors, Tuals, and Kudars. In the 1990s, a movement began to restore the historical name "Alans," and in 2017, North Ossetia officially added "Alania" to its name.

📔 The Ossetian language belongs to the northeast subgroup of Iranian languages and is the only living descendant of the Scytho-Sarmatian language branch. It is divided into two dialects: Iron (literary) and Digor. In the 1920s, an alphabet based on Cyrillic was created, consisting of 43 letters to convey specific sounds.

✝️ Most Ossetians practice Orthodoxy, adopted in the 10th century under the influence of Byzantium and Georgia. However, elements of pre-Christian beliefs have remained in the culture: the veneration of nature spirits, ancestral shrines, and protectors.

🥧 Ossetian cuisine is famous for its hearty dishes adapted to the mountain lifestyle. The main symbol is pies ("chapit," "fyjyn") filled with cheese, meat, or pumpkin, which are traditionally presented in groups of three, symbolizing the unity of earth, sky, and sun.

💪 Today, North Ossetia is a synthesis of tradition and modernity: education and tourism are developing, and national holidays are becoming part of the federal cultural landscape. The Ossetians continue to carefully preserve their ancestral heritage, remaining an important part of multiethnic Russia.

#peoplesOfRussia

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🇷🇺 Russia is ready to return to negotiations on Ukraine, Putin announced. Other statements from the president:

— The head of state highly appreciated the results of the talks in Riyadh. Their goal was to build trust.

— Putin would gladly meet with Trump, but it needs to be prepared.

— No one is excluding Ukraine from the negotiation process. Talks will be conducted with the participation of both Moscow and Kyiv.

— Mediators in the dialogue between Russia and the USA are not needed.

— During the negotiations, representatives of the United States did not show bias and did not demonstrate condemnation.

— The work of the diplomatic missions of Russia and the USA will be established.

— The Russian leader noted that Trump is reserved regarding European allies who have behaved rudely.

— The president was informed today about the crossing of the border with Ukraine by the Russian army in the Kursk region.

— The Armed Forces of Ukraine could not independently organize a strike on the KTK facility in the Krasnodar region; Ukraine receives satellite intelligence data only from Western countries. There were no Russian air defense systems there because it is an international facility. The Russian Federation receives only "five kopecks" for transit through KTK; all this oil belongs to American and European companies.

#news

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⚡️ Russia and the USA have agreed to immediately begin substantive preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump, announced the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation.

Peskov also added that not everyone in the world is pleased with the dialogue between Russia and the USA; some forces will try to undermine it!

#news

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🍝 Fleet-style pasta — simple and delicious!

Fleet-style pasta is a simple yet very tasty and hearty dish loved by more than one generation of Russians.

It consists of ordinary pasta mixed with juicy minced meat and onions. It doesn't sound very sophisticated, does it?

⚓️ But let’s turn to the name. As you might guess, this dish was often served in the navy, and due to its simplicity, it could easily be prepared for the entire crew, ensuring that no one would go hungry.

📢 There is a well-known case when a mutiny occurred on the battleship "Gangut" in 1915. The reason? The sailors were served porridge instead of their beloved fleet-style pasta!

Thanks to its simplicity and accessibility, fleet-style pasta has won the hearts of a huge number of Russians!

#Russiancuisine

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🦚 The Firebird is a character from East Slavic folklore, symbolizing light, fire, and the sun. This mythical bird often becomes the object of complex quests in Russian folk tales, where heroes strive to catch it or obtain its feathers, which possess magical properties.

🌞 The Firebird is described as a bird with golden feathers that shine so brightly they can illuminate a dark room like many candles. Its eyes are compared to Eastern crystal, and its plumage shimmers with red and orange hues, reminiscent of a campfire. The feathers of the Firebird, even when they fall, continue to glow and bring happiness to whoever possesses them.

🪶 The Firebird embodies not only fire and light but also transformation, rebirth, and hope. It is often compared to the Phoenix, although in Slavic mythology, it has its unique traits. According to legends, the song of the Firebird can heal ailments and impart wisdom, while its feathers bring luck and wealth.

#mythologyofRussia

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🇷🇺 Sergey Lavrov has arrived for the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting.

🇿🇦 The Russian Foreign Minister has landed in South Africa. The plane carrying the head of the Russian foreign ministry touched down at a military base near Johannesburg. The city will host a meeting of the foreign ministers of the G20 countries and organizations today and tomorrow.

📌 For the first time, G20 events are taking place on the African continent, despite the fact that the Group of Twenty has existed in its current form for over 20 years.

💬 It is expected that the Russian Foreign Minister will call for the maintenance of an open global economy, the rejection of trade wars, illegitimate sanctions, and other forms of unfair competition in his speech.

🤝 In addition to participating in official events, Sergey Lavrov has a series of bilateral meetings planned.

#news

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🐻 Masha and her favorite morning orange

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🤌 Beef Stroganoff – an exquisite dish of Russian cuisine

Beef Stroganoff is one of the most famous Russian dishes, known far beyond the borders of Russia. It consists of tender pieces of beef sautéed in a creamy tomato sauce with onions and spices.

👨‍🍳 The history of Beef Stroganoff dates back to the 19th century. A French chef created it specifically for the Russian Count Alexander Stroganov, who found it difficult to chew food in his old age.

🔪 Therefore, the chef decided to cut the count's favorite beef into small pieces, make them as tender as possible, and add his signature sauce.

The key to preparing Beef Stroganoff is to cut the meat against the grain and not to overcook the beef pieces, ensuring they remain tender and juicy. And, of course, allow the meat to simmer for at least 25 minutes.

🥔🍄‍🟫 Beef Stroganoff is usually served with mashed potatoes, and sometimes with pasta or rice. White mushrooms are also added to the sauce, although they are not included in the traditional recipe.

If you want to explore the delicacies of Russian cuisine, try Beef Stroganoff – a dish with a history that combines the traditions of Russia and European sophistication!

#Russiancuisine

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is holding a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi "on the sidelines" of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

#news

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🇷🇺 The Mari people (self-designation - mari), known in ancient Russian chronicles as cheremis, are one of the indigenous Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia. Their history, culture, and traditions have been shaped through close interaction with nature and neighboring peoples, preserving their uniqueness to this day.

📜 The ancestors of the Mari, who belonged to the Volga Finns, began to settle in the Middle Volga region in the 1st millennium AD, displacing and assimilating local tribes. By the 7th-8th centuries, they had divided into groups:
- Mountain Mari (right bank of the Volga, contacts with the Chuvash and Russians);
- Meadow Mari (left bank of the Volga, the main group);
- Eastern Mari (migrants to Bashkortostan and the Ural region).

In the Middle Ages, the Mari were influenced by Volga Bulgaria, the Golden Horde, and the Kazan Khanate while maintaining autonomy. After the fall of Kazan in 1552, they became part of the Russian state.

😒 The Mari are known as the "last pagans of Europe," whose traditional religion (Mari Yumin yÿla) combines nature worship, ancestor spirits, and syncretism with Orthodoxy. Many Mari have formally adopted Christianity but retain pagan practices. In the 19th century, the Kugu Sorta ("Big Candle") sect emerged, uniting all the people's pagan traditions.

📔 The Mari language belongs to the Finno-Ugric family and is divided into dialects: Meadow (the main one in Mari El), Mountain, Eastern, and Northwestern.

📝 A written form based on Cyrillic appeared in the 18th century, and the modern alphabet was established in 1938. About 77% of the Mari speak their native language, but Russian dominates in everyday communication.

📍 Today, the Mari live in the Mari El Republic (capital - Yoshkar-Ola), Bashkortostan, Kirov Oblast, and other regions. Their population is around 424,000, but there is a decline due to assimilation.

🐣 Interesting fact: Among the Mari, there is a legend that the first humans were born from the eggs of a duck that flew in from the constellation Nest.

✔️ The Mari are a people who have managed to preserve their identity despite centuries of challenges. Their culture, imbued with a connection to nature, continues to inspire researchers and artists, remaining a living heritage of the Finno-Ugric world.

#peoplesofRussia

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⚡️ Three oil tankers were damaged in explosions in the Mediterranean Sea over the past month — all vessels had recently visited Russian ports.

📰 In the last month, three oil tankers have been affected by explosions in the Mediterranean Sea — these are the first cases of damage to non-military vessels in decades.

💥 The first explosion occurred at the end of January near the Turkish port of Ceyhan on a vessel owned by the Greek company Thenamaris. The tanker was carrying crude oil. On February 15, another tanker from the same Greek company was damaged in an explosion at a port in northern Italy — it also carried "black gold." Twenty minutes later, a second explosion occurred on the same ship. The Italian prosecutor's office has launched an investigation following the incident.

⛴ Another incident also took place in February, but off the coast of Libya. The Grace Ferrum tanker, flying the Liberian flag, sustained significant damage from an explosion, after which a rescue operation was conducted.

🇷🇺 According to Reuters, all three damaged tankers had recently visited Russian ports. Additionally, in December of last year, the Russian cargo ship "Ursa Major" sank off the coast of Spain due to an explosion in its engine room.

I wonder who is so bothered by Russian oil?

#news

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🧛‍♂️ A Upyr is a mythological creature from Slavic folklore, often associated with evil spirits and vampires.

🧛 In Slavic mythology, a Upyr is a reanimated corpse that rises from the grave and feeds on the blood of living people or animals. It possesses supernatural strength, the ability to transform into animals (such as a wolf or bat), and is often linked to curses or sins committed by the person during their lifetime.

⚠️ Upyrs were considered dangerous and malevolent beings that could bring disease, death, and destruction. To protect themselves from them, Slavs used various rituals and amulets, such as garlic, aspen stakes (which were driven into the Upyr's heart), and conducted burial rituals to prevent the deceased from returning.

🌏 Interestingly, the image of the Upyr has influenced the development of vampire mythology in other cultures, including the well-known portrayal of vampires in Western literature and cinema.

#mythologyofRussia

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🐴 You never know what you might see in the Moscow Metro in the evening.

#interestingvideos

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