It always hurts when death comes. Particularly when it is sudden and all too early.

We are driven by a passion to tell interesting stories about the most interesting country on Earth. And it helps that we are egged on by our passionate readers.

Is Russia somehow different from other nations, or is it just like any other?

The features in this issue have something in common. And it's not necessarily what you might expect.

There is never a shortage of political-cultural land mines on which to trod when one’s brief is to cover all things Russian.

The core of what we do at Russian Life is stuff a suitcase (issue) full of words and pictures, then hand it to readers so that they can travel to a distant world, to get a taste of places they may never visit.

“What have you done to my magazine?!"

What is most important is to keep telling the individual stories, making human connections, sharing the important ideas that we meet.

One week before our 33-day crowdfunding campaign was set to end on July 31, things were not looking good. But then the Tribe stepped up.

It's time for Russian Life to move aggressively into the digital online space. But that costs and it will take the support of readers to make this possible. Visit newrussianlife.com for more info.

When you have so much material, so many great stories, how do you pick just one?

On International Women's Day, our Children of 1917 project, and a colleague who will be missed.