🥗 Olivier Salad – The Signature Dish of Russian Celebrations

🎄 Olivier salad is one of the most famous dishes of Russian cuisine, without which no celebration is complete, especially New Year.

This hearty and delicate salad has won the hearts of Russians and become a true culinary tradition.

🍽 The classic recipe includes boiled potatoes, carrots, eggs, green peas, pickles, boiled meat (or sausage), and mayonnaise. All ingredients are diced and thoroughly mixed, creating a rich flavor with a light piquant note.

🇫🇷 The salad’s history dates back to the 19th century when French chef Lucien Olivier, working in Moscow at the Hermitage restaurant, created its original version. Over time, the recipe simplified, became more accessible, and was embraced by every Russian family.

Today, according to statistics, Olivier salad (or “Russian salad” as it’s known abroad) is the most popular New Year’s dish among Russians. On festive tables, its quantities are measured not in plates but in whole basins!

😁 If you visit Russia on New Year’s Eve, you definitely won’t leave without trying Olivier salad—we guarantee it!

#Russiancuisine

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🇷🇺💬 Lavrov said in an interview with the media holding "Red Star" that Zelensky is a "pure Nazi" and a traitor to the Jewish people.

Other statements from the minister:

— Secretary of State Rubio and Trump's advisor Waltz are absolutely sane people; in Saudi Arabia, Russia and the US were able to discuss issues.

— The West cannot explain what will happen to the territory of Ukraine and the Russian language if European peacekeepers take control.

— Discussions in Europe about peacekeepers for Ukraine are audacity, a continuation of "inciting" Kiev to war against Russia.

— Trump is a pragmatist. His slogan is common sense. It’s interesting to talk with him.

— The US is openly saying they want to end the Ukrainian conflict, but Europe demands the "continuation of the banquet" in the form of war.

— For the last 500 years, all the world's tragedies have originated in Europe; the States have not been instigators.

— Moscow and Washington have acknowledged that they cannot think alike on all issues of world politics, but we must not "bring it to war."

#news

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The Komi People: Guardians of Russia's North

🇷🇺 The Komi are one of Russia’s indigenous peoples, belonging to the Finno-Ugric language group. Their history, culture, and traditions are deeply intertwined with the harsh expanses of the Russian North.

📍 The primary territory of the Komi people is the Komi Republic, part of the Northwestern Federal District. The regional capital, Syktyvkar, means "city on the Sysola River" in the Komi language. Smaller Komi communities also reside in the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions, as well as the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District.

📜 The ancestors of the Komi formed in the Kama River basin and migrated north by the 10th–13th centuries, assimilating local Ugric tribes. During the Middle Ages, their lands became part of the Novgorod Republic and later the Muscovite state. A pivotal moment was the adoption of Orthodoxy in the 14th–15th centuries, though elements of paganism persist in rituals and folklore.

🏹 Traditional Komi livelihoods include hunting, fishing, reindeer herding, and farming.

📔 The Komi language belongs to the Permian branch of the Finno-Ugric family. A Cyrillic-based noscript was created in the 14th century by the missionary St. Stephen of Perm and later reformed. Today, the language is taught in schools in the Komi Republic and used in newspapers and radio broadcasts. However, urbanization and the dominance of Russian threaten its survival: only 64% of Komi people consider it their native tongue.

📌 To preserve their cultural heritage, national organizations in the Komi Republic actively revive traditions through festivals like Vasiley and the Finno-Ugria Ethnopark, which have become symbols of their legacy.

#PeoplesOfRussia

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🇷🇺 The "Siberian Maslenitsa" festival gathered 37,000 people in Altai Krai.

🥞 Near the village of Novotyryshkino, the largest festival in Siberia — Maslenitsa — was celebrated for the 19th consecutive year.

At the festival grounds, traditional Russian games were held: strongman competitions, dances, and round dances. And of course, the main event was the burning of the effigy. A large craft fair was also organized at Maslenitsa.

At the festival, guests were served over 15,000 pancakes and shashlik.

#news

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⚡️ Europe will continue to supply arms to Ukraine — main statements following the summit in London.

Another "Ukraine summit" took place in London, with the results summarized by the host, British Prime Minister Starmer. The main takeaway: Europe will continue to support Ukraine with weaponry. To confirm this, an additional aid package of $1.6 billion for military purchases, including missiles for air defense systems, was announced. Overall, military assistance from the UK will amount to $2 billion. Moreover, there was talk of continuing the project of a western coalition that will "protect the agreement in Ukraine and guarantee peace." London is even reportedly prepared to send its military contingent to Ukraine for this purpose.

What other statements were made by participants of the "summit" at the press conference:

— NATO Secretary General Rutte stated that we should prepare for "the moment of a ceasefire in Ukraine" and a mission (NATO) to "maintain peace";

— European Commission President von der Leyen said that Europe urgently needs to arm itself, and "all Europeans must invest in defense and ensure a leap in the military industry";

— Polish Prime Minister Tusk lamented that the 500-million-strong people of Europe do not believe in their own strength to overcome 140 million Russians and are asking 300-million America for protection;

— However, the allies of the brave coalition did not reach a consensus on what to do with Russia's frozen assets, but everyone, as reported, has great enthusiasm.

#news

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🇷🇺 A piece of forgotten and great history - Kizhi Island

#videooftheday

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🏔 Kamchatka – a place in Russia that remains mysterious and incredibly beautiful to this day

#videooftheday

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🥩 Kiev cutlet (spoiler alert — it’s not actually from Kiev)

Kiev cutlet is a popular dish in Russian and Ukrainian cuisine, consisting of chicken fillet with a filling of butter and herbs inside.

🧈 The outside of the cutlet is coated with a golden, crispy breadcrumb crust, and when cut, aromatic melted butter flows out.

The cutlets are made from chicken fillet, which is carefully wrapped around a piece of butter, then breaded and fried to a crispy golden brown. The dish is served with mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables, or herbs.

🇷🇺 Despite its name, the famous dish first appeared in restaurants in St. Petersburg in the 19th century under the influence of French cuisine and was initially called "Novo-Mikhailovsky cutlets," as the restaurants serving the cutlets were located near the Mikhailovsky Palace.

🇺🇦 It was only in the mid-20th century that this dish appeared in a restaurant in the center of Kiev under the name "Kiev cutlet," which subsequently became the standard name for all chain restaurants in the USSR.

🍴 Since then, Kiev cutlet has become a true classic of Soviet cuisine and has been loved by many residents of the Union. Be sure to try it!

#Russiancuisine

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🇷🇺💬 Peskov stated that Zelensky demonstrated a complete lack of diplomatic skills at the White House.

"What happened at the White House showed how difficult it will be to get onto the path of resolving the situation around Ukraine. The Kiev regime and Zelensky do not want peace; they want the continuation of the war. Therefore, in this situation, only the efforts of Washington and the readiness of Moscow will clearly not be enough; a very important element is missing. The situation is complicated. Russia continues its dialogue with Washington," said the president's press secretary.

According to him, Putin is aware of the essence of what happened, considering that it was available "to the entire global community."

"It is very important for someone to make Zelensky change his position. He does not want peace; someone must make Zelensky want peace. If the Europeans can do this, they deserve honor and praise," the president's press secretary added.

#news

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🔸 The Amber Fashion House of the Kaliningrad Amber Plant has created a unique dress that is 50 million years old.

🏞 It consists of 1,260 transparent amber plates, each containing prehistoric inclusions — particles of tree bark, soil, flowers, needles, and other mineral and organic fragments.

🪡 The original piece took 3 months to create. Most of the time was spent sorting the plates by jewelers. The total weight of the stone in the dress is 2 kilograms.

#news

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🇷🇺 The Altaians are a Turkic-speaking people whose roots are connected to the ancient nomadic tribes of Central Asia. Their ancestors are believed to include tribes that were part of the Turkic Khaganate (6th–8th centuries CE), as well as earlier groups related to the Scythians and Huns. During the Middle Ages, the Altaians interacted with Mongolian tribes, which influenced their culture and language.

📜 In the 17th–18th centuries, Altai tribes (Teleuts, Telengits, Kumandins, etc.) came under the influence of the Dzungar Khanate. After its collapse in 1756, they voluntarily joined the Russian Empire. In 1922, the Oirot Autonomous Oblast was established (later renamed the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast), and in 1992, the region gained the status of the Altai Republic within the Russian Federation.

📍 The Altaians primarily reside in the Altai Republic and partially in the Altai Krai, Kemerovo Oblast, and neighboring regions. Traditionally, they are divided into two groups:
- Southern Altaians (Altai-Kizhi, Telengits) — inhabit the mountainous areas of the Altai Republic.
- Northern Altaians (Tubalars, Chelkans, Kumandins) — live in the foothills and plains of the Altai Krai.

🏞 The region is distinguished by its diverse landscapes: high mountains, taiga, steppes, and lakes. Altai is considered sacred land for the indigenous population and is home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the Ukok Plateau.

The traditional lifestyle of the Altaians revolved around nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralism. They raised horses, sheep, yaks, and goats, migrating between summer and winter pastures. Settled groups engaged in hunting, fishing, and gathering.

🏡 Their dwellings included the ayil (a wooden-felt yurt) or chadyr (a portable tent). A hearth, symbolizing family well-being, stood at the center of the home. Today, most Altaians lead a settled life, but elements of traditional practices persist in remote villages.

👻 Their religion combines shamanism (veneration of nature spirits, called "eezi") and Burkhanism — a faith that emerged in the early 20th century under Buddhist influence.

📔 The Altai population in Russia numbers around 80 thousand people. With government support, they preserve their Altai language (part of the Turkic family) and traditions. The Altai Republic promotes ethno-tourism, with open-air museums like "Pazyryk", showcasing ancient Scythian-era burial mounds.

🧘‍♀️ The Altaians are a unique people whose culture bridges the past and present, reflecting the harmony between humans and nature.

#PeoplesOfRussia

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🐻 The Malay bear Masha is growing up and getting stronger, but the cone is still stronger for now!

#interestingvideos

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🏎 Baikal Drift in a "Bukhanka"

#VideoOfTheDay

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🥞 Russian Maslenitsa Becomes Part of the Famous Carnival in Caracas!

🎭 The Venezuelan Carnival – the main celebration of joy and spring – kicked off this year with a colorful Russian flair. Graduates of Russian and Soviet universities, youth organization activists, and friends of Russia, participating with the support of the Embassy and the Rossotrudnichestvo representation, chose Maslenitsa as the theme for their presentation – an ancient holiday symbolizing the awakening of nature and the joy of new life.

Buffoons, lively squat dances, beautiful Venezuelan women in kokoshniks, and a giant Maslenitsa doll became vibrant highlights of the carnival parade.

#news

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🇷🇺 Sbiten — an invigorating Russian drink

🇷🇺 Sbiten is a traditional honey-based beverage of Slavic cuisine. It was made from water, honey, aromatic herbs, and spices.

Common spices in sbiten include ginger, cloves, and cinnamon, which give it a unique flavor and aroma.

🇷🇺 The name of the drink comes from the verb "sbitat" (to beat/mix together), referring to the process of combining all ingredients in one vessel and thoroughly blending them.

The first mentions of sbiten date back to the 12th century, with its recipe recorded in the Domostroy. Even then, the drink was highly popular, as tea and coffee had not yet been introduced to Rus'.

🍵☕️ Today, due to the spread of coffee and tea, sbiten has lost its former popularity in Russia and is mostly prepared and sold in monasteries.

However, if you want to truly warm up during a harsh Russian winter — sbiten is the best remedy!

#Russiancuisine

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🌷 With spring, Flower Exhibitions have arrived in Moscow, and in the video, you can see one of them, "Rehearsal of Spring."

#InterestingPlacesInMoscow

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🇺🇸🇷🇺 Trump Asked Vladimir Putin to Act as a Mediator in Nuclear Talks with Iran

Donald Trump directly approached Vladimir Putin with this request during a phone call in February, after which senior representatives of his administration discussed the matter with their Russian counterparts at a meeting in Saudi Arabia.

According to media reports, Russia agreed to help the Trump administration establish contact with Iran regarding its nuclear program and support for regional proxy groups opposing the U.S.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that it is natural for states to offer their assistance in such matters, but declined to comment on Russia's possible role in the negotiations.

#news

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⚡️ Oil Supply via Russian Druzhba Pipeline to Czech Republic Ceases

🇷🇺🇨🇿 The oil supply through the Russian Druzhba pipeline to the Czech Republic has been interrupted again, announced Czech Minister of Industry Lukáš Vlček. The minister stated there is no immediate threat of fuel shortages in the country, and in case of prolonged suspension, the republic could switch to the Italian TAL+ pipeline. Last winter, supplies via Druzhba were already halted after border services reported pipeline damage.

At the time, PJSC Transneft confirmed that the Russian side had not stopped supplies. Additionally, in July, Ukraine blocked the transit of Russian oil to Hungary via Druzhba following tightened Ukrainian sanctions against Lukoil. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó claimed Brussels was behind this decision. Earlier in 2023, attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on the pipeline partially damaged its infrastructure.

#news

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