February 24, 2022

An Appalling, Illegal Act


An Appalling, Illegal Act

Russian Life magazine has zero connection with or affinity for the Russian government. Since 1995, Russian Life has been an independent, privately-owned magazine whose first allegiance is to its readers. Our mission is to tell interesting and illuminating stories on Russian culture, history, and society. We rarely concern ourselves with politics.

We are appalled by the Russian government’s aggression against Ukraine and its invasion of that independent, sovereign nation. It is an illegal, unjustified, unprovoked act that is in direct violation of international law. It will wreak untold suffering and death upon Ukrainians and Russians, crimes for which the Kremlin bears full responsibility.

We support the strongest of European and American economic and political sanctions against the Russian government, even if, sadly, they will bring hardship to the Russian people. Sanctions should employ every possible nonviolent measure to isolate, shame, and punish the Kremlin for this heinous act, including a public boycott of Russian goods, and banning international travel to and from Russia.

For the Russian people, who for hundreds upon hundreds of years have suffered countless indignities under authoritarian regimes such as the one now carrying out this inexcusable war, we have boundless sympathy. We will continue to tell their stories with empathy and curiosity for as long as there are readers willing to support what we do.


If you wish to help Ukraine and Ukrainians, NPR has compiled a nice list of organizations providing essential aid.

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Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
Moscow and Muscovites

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

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The Best of Russian Life

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Steppe / Степь

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Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar

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Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

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93 Untranslatable Russian Words

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A Taste of Russia

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