Dostoyevsky spent ten years of his life exiled to Russia's Eastern hinterlands. Beyond the Urals, there are several places that shaped Dostoyevsky and influenced many of his greatest works of literature.

When they turn the electricity off in the village, everybody promptly shows up at Granny Shura’s.

Due to a gas shortage, one former Soviet city has been forced to shut off a war memorial: an "eternal" flame that was never supposed to stop burning.

One Russian city is taking moonshine off the streets by offering a trade: groceries in exchange for booze.

As policy dictates, election staff must now dispose of unused ballots in Russia's State Duma elections – and you’ll find that some have been cutting corners. Chainsaw, anyone?

“They are different projects, but they have the same goal: to create a high-quality urban environment and new opportunities for recreation and sports close to home.”

– Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, announcing plans to improve Moscow’s public spaces.

In which we visit a rather unique store in the Karelian village of Vedlozero. Which of course is far more than a store.

A shawarma shop accidentally delves into urban agriculture, much to the delight of city residents. 

“Today, the city bath house needs support because, due to last year's lengthy six-month shutdown associated with the coronavirus, the banya cannot pull itself out of debt."

– Mikhail Valov, Mayor of Sayanogorsk, inviting citizens to save his city’s municipal bathhouse from the economic ravages of the Coronavirus on August 23.

Yandex.Maps has completed a surprising study of all the places in Russia, and they even figured out how to get from the Moon to Mars. 

Look out NFL – the Russian Super Bowl was held in the Moscow region last weekend.

“These people do not go to relax in other resorts, they settle in neighboring hotels: the more restrictions are imposed on legal business, the more it plays into the hands of those who work in the dark.”

– Natalia Stambulnikova, Chairman of the Association of Small Hotels of Crimea, warning of the ominous nature of coronavirus restrictions that impede tourism.