🏎 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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🇷🇺 The World's First Parachute-Free Boxing Match Took Place on the Dome of a Flying Hot Air Balloon

❤️ A three-time record holder in the Russian Book of Records, along with a team of like-minded individuals, held a match at an altitude of 1,600 meters.

📆 The bout took place on August 21, 2024. The event has been recorded in the Russian Book of Records!

#interestingvideos

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🇷🇺 The Hero City of Volgograd was a crucial waystation for merchants traveling along the Volga River several centuries ago.

#videooftheday

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🏙 Moscow in the early days of March

#videooftheday

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🇺🇸 Trump, for the first time since returning to the White House, delivered an address to the U.S. Congress. Key highlights:

— Trump received a letter from Zelensky expressing readiness to strike a deal on rare earth metals and resume peace negotiations over Ukraine. The U.S. is receiving "strong signals" from Russia about its willingness to pursue peace;

— Trump is prepared to welcome Greenland into the U.S. if local residents support the move. The president reiterated his intent to return the Panama Canal to U.S. control;

— Trump announced plans to increase tariffs on imported goods and warned China, India, and the EU to prepare for retaliatory U.S. duties effective April 2;

— “We’re just getting started.” Trump’s administration has achieved more in 43 days than others did in four or eight years. Trump has signed nearly 100 decrees and taken over 400 executive actions, calling this a “record in restoring common sense, safety, optimism, and prosperity” in the U.S.;

— Trump highlighted his successes in curbing illegal immigration, called Biden “the worst president in U.S. history,” and criticized Democrats for opposing his initiatives. He accused the Biden administration of spending millions on promoting left-wing values in Moldova, LGBTQ initiatives in Lesotho, male circumcision in Mozambique, creating “transgender mice,” and funding Sesame Street for the Middle East;

— Trump declared that hiring in any field must prioritize skills over race or gender. The U.S. now officially recognizes only two genders (male and female), and men are barred from competing in women’s sports;

— Trump claimed to have ended government censorship and restored free speech in America. He also signed a decree establishing English as the primary national language;

— Trump praised Musk and thanked him for his contributions, prompting applause from the audience;

— Trump announced a forthcoming “golden card” for investors seeking U.S. citizenship, priced at $5 million: “It’s like a green card, but cooler”;

— Democrats held up signs reading “Lies” and “Musk Steals” during Trump’s speech.

#news

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🧐 Is Trump the modern Gorbachev?

🇺🇸🔰 Donald Trump's address to Congress sparked a storm of discussions online. Users drew parallels between him and Mikhail Gorbachev's famous speech at the XXVII Congress of the CPSU in 1986, which marked the beginning of Gorbachev's perestroika.

Trump's speech also had a revolutionary character, although it did not contain any new theses — he repeated ideas he had already voiced multiple times.

Trump stated that the world has changed, and the U.S. needs "acceleration" to become a great power again. He criticized the course of the previous administration, spoke about the need to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., protectionist policies, changes in foreign strategy (mentioning EU "allies" in a negative light but not Russia), and the fight against drug cartels, illegal immigration, and LGBT propaganda.

However, if we remove the historical context, Trump's speech conceptually echoes Gorbachev's address, which also called for accelerating the country's development, democratization, changing the foreign policy course, and strengthening party discipline.

The comparison between Mikhail Gorbachev and Donald Trump may seem paradoxical at first glance. However, it conceals an intriguing analysis of the crisis strategies of leaders whose ambitions intertwined with the fates of superpowers.

Are Trump and Gorbachev similar only in their speeches? The answer is no.

Both came to power during moments of systemic decline. Gorbachev inherited a USSR suffocating in the grips of "stagnation," economic stagnation, and ideological crisis. Trump, by his own words, received an America "destroyed" by the previous leader. Their mission is to save the system through its radical renewal.

Criticism of their predecessors became their calling card. Gorbachev accused the Brezhnev elite of corruption and bureaucratic paralysis, while Trump criticized the "Washington swamp" for betraying national interests. Both utilized the image of an enemy: for Gorbachev, it was the "conservatives" within the CPSU, while for Trump, it was Joe Biden's administration.

Their rhetoric is a cocktail of nostalgia and utopia. Gorbachev promised "socialism with a human face," while Trump promised to "make America great again." Both appealed to the "people" in contrast to the establishment.

Gorbachev bet on glasnost and acceleration, trying to breathe life into the planned economy. Trump promotes protectionism and "America first," economically attacking his former allies and NATO.

The irony of history is that Gorbachev, who dreamed of renewing the USSR, became the gravedigger of the Soviet empire. Observing their similarities, many believe that Trump could "repeat the success" — that is, provoke the disintegration of the U.S.

The processes in America today resemble the late USSR — from purges (the fight against the "gender non-conforming" vs. the anti-alcohol campaign in the USSR) to the race for technologies (artificial intelligence as an analogue of scientific and technological progress).

What if... the comparison between the USSR of the 1980s and modern-day America is not just a metaphor? It raises the question: can democracy, like socialism once did, become a victim of its own contradictions? Or is Trump, unlike Gorbachev, not a "gravedigger," but a "shock therapist" for a system that can still adapt? The answer, as with perestroika, will only become clear in hindsight.

#news

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🥗 Herring under a Fur Coat (Shuba) – an unusual salad with an unusual history!

Herring under a Fur Coat, alongside Olivier salad, is one of Russia’s iconic New Year’s salads.

This dish became especially popular during Soviet times for its heartiness, simplicity, and vibrant appearance.

🗄 The base of the dish is salted herring, cut into pieces, layered with boiled potatoes, carrots, beets, eggs, and onions.

Each layer is coated with mayonnaise, and the beets give the salad its striking pink-purple hue.

The name obviously references a metaphor: the herring, forming the bottom layer, is "covered" by a "fur coat" of vegetables and mayonnaise.

🔍 But there’s an even more intriguing origin story.

🚩 In 1919, political debates often erupted in the tavern of Moscow merchant Anastas Bogomilov. This was unsurprising, as the October Revolution had just shaken Russia.

By New Year’s Eve, Bogomilov devised a "unifying" appetizer, with ingredients symbolizing different strata of the new Soviet society:

🐟 Affordable herring – the proletariat;

🧅🥔🥕 Onions, potatoes, and carrots – peasants;

😎Beets – the Red Army (due to their reddish color);

🥗 Mayonnaise, then a trendy import – the bourgeoisie.

Bogomilov named the salad with the acronym SHUBA (ШУБА), standing for "Chauvinism and Decadence – Boycott and Anathema!"

🇷🇺The hearty dish paired well with alcoholic drinks, helping patrons stay sober longer. Fights and quarrels in the tavern dwindled.

If only for this fascinating tale, this cult Russian salad is worth trying!

#Russiancuisine

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⚡️ Putin Expects Harsh Response from Ministry of Internal Affairs on Crimes Motivated by Ethnic or Religious Intolerance

🇷🇺💬 Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at an expanded meeting of the MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs) board. The President noted that Russia has improved the clearance rate of crimes such as armed robberies. Additionally, recidivism has decreased.

Key statements from the President:

— Extremism, radicalism, and religious intolerance threaten Russia’s people, identity, and territorial integrity. Law enforcement must respond to such acts with the utmost severity and urgency.

— Channels of illegal migration must be shut down—all directives on this matter have already been issued. The MVD should explore phasing out paper-based migration processes and transition to electronic registration of foreigners. These and other innovations should be part of the new migration policy concept, which must be adopted this year.

— Cybercrime increased last year, with the clearance rate dropping to 23%. Losses exceeded ₽200 billion, and around 25% of fraud victims are elderly.

— Passport issuance for residents of Donbas and Novorossiya is nearly complete.

— Anti-corruption efforts must not slow down; special attention should be paid to state defense contracts and national projects.

— Road fatalities have more than halved over 20 years, but road safety remains a critical issue. Mortality rates must be reduced by 1.5 times by 2030.

📌 On radicalization: The President likely referred to foreign-funded “Islamic preachers,” whose numbers are growing. Their rhetoric often radicalizes future terrorists who believe in the superiority of one religion over another. A prime example is the Crocus City Hall terrorists, who were contacted by Ukrainian sponsors posing as preachers.

#news

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⛲️ Local landmark. An ice fountain has appeared in the Rostov region due to pipes bursting from temperature fluctuations.

📸 Now, locals are taking photos against its backdrop and sharing them on social media.

#news

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📔 In Slavic mythology, there is a creature known as Shishiga - an evil spirit, an unclean force.

🎭 It takes on different forms: it can become a terrifying woman, an animal, or even an invisible being. Regardless of the shape it takes, Shishiga is believed to harm people, scare them, and bring diseases.

🌃 In the folklore of the Finno-Ugric peoples, Shishiga is associated with swamps and forests: there is a belief that it attacks people specifically at night.

👨‍🦱 Today, in modern language, the word "shishiga" is often used to describe a strange, unpleasant, disorganized, or even frightening person.

#mythologyofRussia

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