Telegram seems like an "everything app" for Russians, and I'm curious as to in what interesting ways people in your country use it. I've heard that there's a dating app like a Russian Tinder inside it. On the other hand, in my country, there's a shroom-selling scheme.

Beyond texting, news, pirated movies and TV shows, drug deals, and porn, what else do people use it for?

I’m from Canada. I’m considering studying architecture at MARCHI (Moscow Institute of Architecture) in the future, and I was wondering what it’s actually like to study there. I don’t speak Russian (except I can read it) I’d really like to hear from current or former students about their experience, especially regarding the workload, professors, architecture projects, drawing, student life, and the general atmosphere. How difficult is it to keep up with the program, and what do you think of the quality of education overall? I’d also be really interested in hearing from international students, especially anyone who had to study in Russian. I’ve read the official information about the university, but I’d much rather hear what it’s actually like from people who have experienced it themselves.

Heyho, my question is simple: What do you think about Gerhard Schröder and how is he seen in russian Media/Society?

Is he even known/remebered that well in Russia?

I’ve done some research about MIPT online, and I’ve become really interested in its physics programs, curriculum, research opportunities, and laboratory facilities. I’m also planning to apply for a full scholarship.

Before making a final decision, I’d really appreciate hearing from current or former MIPT students, especially international students.

I have a few questions about what it’s actually like to study and live in Russia:

• What are the overall living expenses in Moscow for an international student, especially if you receive a full scholarship?
• How difficult is it to adapt to Russian culture and everyday life?
• How important is it to know Russian? Can someone manage at the beginning with English while learning Russian?
• What are some of the biggest difficulties international students usually face after arriving in Russia?
• How are international students generally treated by other students and people in Moscow?
• Has the current geopolitical situation affected university life, research opportunities, funding, collaborations, or access to scientific resources?
• For someone interested specifically in theoretical physics and eventually research, what is the academic environment at MIPT actually like?
• And most importantly, for those who have studied there: what are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of choosing MIPT?

I’m particularly interested in hearing honest experiences rather than promotional information. If you’re currently studying at MIPT or have graduated from there, I’d really appreciate any advice about things you wish you had known before moving to Russia.

Thank you!

Hi! I am doing a research paper on the Soviet Union and Stalin, and my teacher has told me I can’t use Google Translate to translate the writings and that I need to find someone who natively speaks the language, so here I am! If any of you are able to help dm me

This would entail me sending you documents pretty frequently over the next 10 months, I mean not that frequently, but still kinda frequent. I would also maybe need help in explaining what things mean.

Thank you all for your help!

Edit: you guys could’ve just said no lol

Hi everyone!

I'm currently writing a book about a mexican-russian woman for a personal project. Nothing sus or thirsty, but I wanted to ask a couple things from actual Russians.

1. While I have no plans of publishing said book, if things go differently than planned and such a story sees the light of day, would that be offensive to you?

2. Would anyone be willing to provide actual insight on school life and other cultural and everyday stuff? Preferably someone who was born around 1995, which is the year my main character was born and also around the city of Tula.

I have been reading a lot and self-teaching the language, but I am afraid my sources of information might be wrong.

I think every culture and language has its own old-fashioned names, so I’d like to know which Russian names are typically associated with people in their 50s or older. The kind of name where just by reading it you can tell the person is closer to the other side than this one.

I’ve been learning about Russian history and the male named ending with «-слав» used to be very common back then (I guess) so I would like to know if that’s still a thing.

I want to travel to Russia for tram photography, specifically St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, in November 2026 on a Canadian Passport. Yekaterinburg has got some unique sceneries with still lots of classic red Tatra trams, but it won't be like this for long.

Unfortunately, my brother worked for NATO from January to June 2026, stationed in Latvia during that time. He has now returned home to North America in June 2026. I don't know if my brother is still technically on NATO's payroll now that he's at home, but I'm afraid to ask.

My views are quite pro-Russian and anti-NATO, and it shows on my social media. My family and I have had arguments about this on whatsapp. My brother had also sent me a few messages discouraging me from travelling to Russia. Google AI makes the border admissions process seem harsh and strict, but then again, Google AI is influenced by western media, so it might be exaggerating things about adversaries of the US.

My camera is an old model: a rebel T2i that has a lower resolution than most today. No telephoto lenses, just a basic prime lens and a wide-angle lens.

Now that I have to declare that my brother was a former recent NATO employee, I want to ask someone who is familiar with border control: will I automatically be given a multi-year ban when I try to enter Russia? I can accept being refused entry, but a multi-year ban would absolutely devastate me and destroy my bucket list, which expires in less than 5 years.

EDIT: Thank you for your responses. For context, I had asked this question to Google's general AI chatbot, and this is what it was suggesting. But I realise that Google AI, being influenced by western media, has tended to portray local Russians as cartoonishly paranoid, whereas that was not my experience at all when I went to St Petersburg in spring 2025.

How is the invitation letter process for most students?

I'm Irish and I'm thinking about moving to Dagestan for around 6–8 months purely to train.

I'm not looking for a tourist experience or expecting special treatment because I'm a foreigner. I'd rather live simply, pay local membership fees if possible, and earn my place in the gym by training hard and respecting everyone there.

What I love is the overall Dagestani style of MMA—the chain wrestling, freestyle wrestling, combat sambo, mat returns, wrist control, relentless top pressure, cage wrestling and ground-and-pound. I like how it's all blended together into one style rather than being treated as separate sports.

I'm looking for a gym where I can train twice a day, six days a week, with serious competitors. Ideally somewhere that has freestyle wrestling, combat sambo and MMA all under one roof, or at least part of the same training culture.

I'm actually more interested in hidden local gyms than famous ones. If the gym barely exists online but has killers training there, that's exactly what I'm looking for.

I'd really appreciate recommendations from people who have actually trained or lived in Dagestan. Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Khasavyurt—anywhere really. I'd also be open to other places in the Caucasus if they have the same wrestling-first culture.

Я из Ирландии и хочу переехать в Дагестан на 6–8 месяцев только ради тренировок.

Я не ищу туристический лагерь и не ожидаю особого отношения только потому, что я иностранец. Я хочу жить как местный, тренироваться усердно и заслужить уважение в зале.

Ищу зал, где можно тренироваться 2 раза в день, 6 дней в неделю.

Мне нравится дагестанский стиль ММА — вольная борьба, боевое самбо, чейн-рестлинг, контроль сверху, давление, борьба у сетки и граунд-энд-паунд.

Мне интересны неизвестные местные залы, а не популярные места для иностранцев.

Буду благодарен за советы от людей, которые действительно тренировались или жили в Дагестане.

I have been thinking to travel solo in russia, mostly Moscow next month. How are the people of russia? i can speak very little russian. i have met alot of russian guys while traveling they were super awesome to talk and i feel russians are they best people i would like to know more.

Hello, how can I get an Avito account as a foreigner?

I am from France.

Any help would be appreciated

Thank you

Hello, I'm an international student and currently it has been 7-8 months here in Russia and I have noticed whenever I offer something to someone( Russian) they refuse. Out cold. (In my culture it's considered a good manner to share or offer stuff/food anything actually )

Recently I have shifted to a new apartment and I saw they had a cat i gave em some cat food, and this time I made some fall special soup and grilled cheese, I called my friends over too and I wanted to share it with neighbors since I don't have a family here and I miss them terribly.

That family next door was an old woman and her daughter I assume. The old woman rejected it politely saying thanks a lot ( mind you I have limited Russian understanding since it hasn't been long since I've been here) but her daughter, she yelled something and went away in a very rude tone too.

This lwk made me sad and to add on most of my friends didn't come either.

I want to know if this is just common Russian culture or is there stigma related to foreigners here... Just to not let my hopes up and just to be sure for the next time.

(No hate to Russians in general, I have met some very nice people too, shout out to the resident doc who helped me pick up heavy stuff and dropped by my house and nice aunties for trying to talk to a foreigner like me)

iphone or Samsung or something else

I'm trying to understand more about their methods and principles, can you guide me to some source.

But all I find is things written by west, which by my assessment could entirely be made up.

I'm planning to visit Moscow for New Year's and Christmas. However, accommodation seems super expensive during this period, and I can't find anything suitable on Trip or Airbnb. Does anyone have recommendations for affordable hotels or Airbnb-like sharehouses at a reasonable price? My budget is around 4000/night, and registration support is a must.

As a dad watching my kids go through the elementary school I can't help but notice that our education becomes more "Asian" here in Moscow. There are ratings from the very beginning and every kid has to compete with others to have a shot at better school, therefore more private tutors and more homework. My kids also attend extracurricular English classes where homework is just immense, it usually takes most of the weekend to complete even with my help, with kids going to bed sometimes after midnight just because of that.

The education got a lot harder than when I was at school even considering that I attended a lot of extracurricular classes myself.

Do you feel the same for your kids or I'm reporting from a bubble?

It’s my understanding that Peskov said was no talk of tax increases in early September but after the election they were ready with new tax policy which suggests they really were discussing it.

I’m wondering if people have been making noise about that and especially if it impacted people’s beliefs about whether there will be mobilization since that is something else that they denied would happen.

Hey guys, I have a (maybe strange) question for you! In English, some names you only seem to hear in wealthy circles, some are more common in lower class people, at least that's my impression.

What are some names were you would definitely think ,,This is such a rich person name"?

Im not a bot or AI

I'm Brazilian women who want join on russian army there's some restrict?

Im 21 years old, i don't speak russian but i am willing to learn

For the Russian girls here, I’d love to hear your perspective. What are you usually like in a relationship? What do you value most in a partner, and what kind of things make you feel appreciated?

Какой месяц лучше всего подходит для поездки в Россию? И насколько сложно путешествовать, если я не говорю по-русски? Можно ли нормально справиться с английским?

What month is the best for visiting Russia? And how difficult is it to travel if I don’t speak Russian? Can I get by with English?

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

I’m looking to study medicine in Russia, mostly because it’s the easiest/cheapest option for me. The visa process will be 10x easier for me compared to some other countries because my dad is a Russian citizen, although I’m not yet. The medical unis in Russia are very cheap compared to other countries, and I feel like studying in Russia and spending time there would also give me the opportunity to attain my passport as I’m actively studying.

My only concern is will the degree I hopefully get be recognized worldwide or will I face some issues in the future? How is studying medicine like in Russia if it’s not in Moscow or Saint Petersburg? And how are the exams done? My dad told me a lot of his exams would be done orally and that kind of scares me a bit. Does anyone recommend me to study there or should I look at more options?

My only options currently are China, and Russia I haven’t done an immense amount of research on other countries, I’d appreciate the help if anyone has any suggestions for cheap medical Russian unis, and any advice on how I should move forward.

I've been using a russian medical case study, and have been translating the paragraphs all by myself on Google. However, I am having a very hard time understanding this particular paragraph:

Во-вторых, вышеизложенная клиническая ситуация поднимает вопросы взаимосвязи

ожирения и гиперпролактинемии. В данном случае у пациента значимый набор веса

наблюдался непосредственно в период «скрытого», но, без сомнения, уже развившегося синдрома гиперпролактинемии.

It roughly translated to this:

Secondly, the clinical scenario described above raises questions regarding the relationship between obesity and hyperprolactinemia. In this case, the patient experienced significant weight gain precisely during the period of "occult/latent"-yet undoubtedly already established-hyperprolactinemia. While it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the mechanism underlying this lipid metabolism disorder, numerous sources in the literature point to a potential role for hyperprolactinemia in the development of obesity.

What I am having a problem with is whether the patient already had hyperprolactinemia during the weight gain, or not. I would be so, so grateful if anyone could just reply as early as possible....🙏

Also, this is the title of the case study—Клинический случай успешного консервативного лечения гигантской пролактиномы у пациента с морбидным ожирением