January 18, 2023

So Long to Kate


So Long to Kate
Riding less-than-triumphantly: a contemporary portrait of a young Catherine. The Russian Life files.

In recent weeks Odesa, Ukraine has removed its public statues of Catherine the Great, the Russian empress instrumental in founding the city.

The move comes amid the continued "de-Russification" of Ukraine. Local authorities are distancing themselves from Russian influence amid a bloody and continuing conflict

The statues had been repeatedly vandalized since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Recently, an electronic poll conducted by the city found support for removing the monuments. Over the New Year holidays, city officials did just that.

Catherine II, known to history as "the Great," ruled Russia as empress from 1762 to 1796. Her campaigns into what is now Ukraine extended Russian influence in the Black Sea area and led to the founding of Odesa, Sevastopol, and Kherson.

Through this colonization of the area, Catherine also created the idea of "New Russia," "Novorossiya," a phrase often used in Kremlin propaganda to justify the invasion of Ukraine.

You Might Also Like

Odessa's Underground
  • August 27, 2019

Odessa's Underground

In which we explore the cats, catacombs, and contraband of a Russian imperial port.
A Memory Battle for Lubyanka Square
  • March 14, 2021

A Memory Battle for Lubyanka Square

The hoopla surrounding a new monument at a controversial location in central Moscow highlights the importance of history for Russia – and ourselves.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

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.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

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.

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. 

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.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

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