May 06, 2024

Small Things Can Fix Everything


Small Things Can Fix Everything
A presidential election protest in 2021.  Sergey Korneev, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

After a particularly difficult four years since the start of the pandemic and two years since the start of Russia's full-blown War on Ukraine, many Russians not surprisingly report higher levels of loneliness, isolation, and hopelessness. Takie Dela interviewed Russians who have fought against  despair by becoming active in their communities

Elena, a 30-year-old new to Kirov, joined in the efforts to find Twix the cat, who had been thrown off a train passing through to St. Petersburg. Although Twix unfortunately met his end before rescue squads assembled by the community could find him, Elena felt inspired by their teamwork and dedication to the cause. This experience reminded Elena of her ability to empathize: “There is something humane in us – at least in relation to our smaller brothers [animals], and this is already important."

For Irina, 57, collecting signatures for Boris Nadezhdin to appear on the presidential ballot represented a way to safely oppose the war in Ukraine. Irina, who had rarely voted in the past and had little interest in politics, saw support of Nadezhdin in her town of Tula as a way to build a community of like-minded people, both for political good and to make new friends.

Lev, 34, a Muscovite who emigrated abroad in 2022, also found that supporting Nadezhdin by gathering signatures among Russian emigres gave him a newfound sense of purpose and hope for Russia, even from beyond its borders. 

Others interviewed by Takie Dela mentioned the benefits of environmental and civic volunteering. Anna, 39, is fighting to prevent a landfill from being built near her small town in Arkhangelsk Oblast, while Liza, 30, hopes to stop the destruction of an eighteenth-century house in Yekaterinburg.

As Liza told Takie Dela, "I don't feel powerless anymore."

You Might Also Like

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

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.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, 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