October 06, 2021

Devil-May-Care or Crazy Like a Fox?


Devil-May-Care or Crazy Like a Fox?

“We did not have a fox in the monastery, definitely not ours, but it’s probably someone’s pet. They write that someone [at the monastery] was scared, but the fox was the most scared of all – a hundred people chased after her with their phones; she is the main victim.”

– A resident of the Srtensky Monastery in Moscow speaking to Russia’s news service RIA Novosti

On September 28, a sleek young fox was seen flitting around the territory of Moscow’s Srtensky Monastery. Monks claimed that the fox had been “running the show” since that morning and terrorizing parishioners, so the priests called the city’s Ministry of Emergency Situations to come haul off the little red scare.

Telegram channel Baza published a video of three responders attempting to corral the beast. It had made its way up to a higher floor of the monastery, where it flitted along an exterior ledge, scurried partway up a wall as a rescuer attempted to capture it by its neck scruff, then evaded capture as it made its way around the side of the building.

It is unknown whether the fox has been apprehended, but the lost little devil was surely having one hell of a time.

 

 

 

You Might Also Like

What Lies Beneath
  • May 01, 2021

What Lies Beneath

On the architectural heritage of Moscow that is being lost, bit by bit, though not without some resistance by dedicated scientists and activists.
Funny Little Characters
  • March 01, 2019

Funny Little Characters

If a Russian fox met an American fox, would they get along? If Russian folklore is to be trusted, the answer is a definite нет (no).
A Soviet Fox for Post-Soviet Man
  • March 01, 2019

A Soviet Fox for Post-Soviet Man

An uptick in fox domestications leads us to consider a landmark experiment in Novosibirsk that upended assumptions about evolution.
What's Inside of Fox's Mouth?
  • September 15, 2021

What's Inside of Fox's Mouth?

“Snrrf.” *crunching sound* *laughter* “Pant, pant…” – A fox as it thieves a camera from tourists in Kamchatka on September 8.
Intrigue at the Monastery
  • March 11, 2021

Intrigue at the Monastery

Sredneuralsk Monastery becomes an action-packed place as police enter in search of a murder suspect.
Hot Fox Tips
  • November 10, 2020

Hot Fox Tips

Moscow Region's Ecology Ministry tells residents not to smile at foxes.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

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.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

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.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

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...

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.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

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