October 18, 2022

Ded Moroz Is Still Comin' to Town


Ded Moroz Is Still Comin' to Town
Not even guns and tanks can stop the most wonderful time of the year. Haly Bader, Russian Life

A Russian Ministry of Defense official has assured local leaders that they don't need to cancel New Years' celebrations in their cities because of the mobilization of citizens and ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“I would like to emphasize that there is no need to cancel festive New Year events in the Russian regions in order to use the saved funds to provide for our military personnel, including those called up during partial mobilization,” said Viktor Goremykin, Deputy Minister of Defense.

The announcement comes after the cities of St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod, as well as the authorities of the Leningrad Region (which includes St. Petersburg), declared that they would cancel planned celebrations and instead divert the funds to support troops, especially mobilized citizens.

As the armed forces are supposedly well-equipped and -supplied, the decisions are, according to state media, "premature and unnecessary."

You Might Also Like

Lenin Claus Is Coming to Town
  • December 19, 2021

Lenin Claus Is Coming to Town

A delightful Soviet winter tale about children, a big holiday tree, and the true meaning of Christmas: communism.
The New Year's Fairytale Nobody Asked For
  • January 04, 2022

The New Year's Fairytale Nobody Asked For

A little girl from Moscow just asked for a robotic toy dog, but instead, she got a rather unusual tale from one of Russia's head political leaders. 
Party Like It's Belarus
  • January 06, 2021

Party Like It's Belarus

The president of Russia's neighbor Belarus ended 2020 the same way he started it: in denial over the coronavirus pandemic.
Moscow's Merry Measures
  • November 20, 2020

Moscow's Merry Measures

As the New Year approaches, Moscow’s mayor has announced new restrictions on holiday events, while the government considers extending the New Year’s holidays.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

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.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955