Buzz
The most frequently shared advice is often to stay true to oneself, regardless of others' opinions or judgments. Societal norms and expectations about behavior have caused anxiety for many who strive to conform. Yet, one nation has consistently distinguished itself from the rest.
Russia is renowned for its unique individuals, events, and customs. Even without alcohol, Russians appear more inclined to defy societal norms compared to other cultures. Consequently, their country is brimming with bizarre and astonishing tales—here are just a few instances.
10. Winnie-The-Pooh Robs Tourist in Moscow
Russia boasts its own rendition of Winnie-the-Pooh, a cherished cartoon figure for many years. Strolling through Central Moscow, one is likely to encounter individuals dressed as iconic Russian characters and cartoon favorites.
In 2017, a tourist from Ulyanovsk visiting Moscow encountered a group of these costumed performers and eagerly seized the opportunity for group photos. However, the photos weren’t complimentary. She handed over 5,000 rubles (approximately $79) to a man dressed as Winnie-the-Pooh, who assured her he’d return with smaller bills for her change. Unfortunately, he vanished without fulfilling his promise.
9. Town Appoints Cat Chief to Manage Stray Felines
In 2018, Zelenogradsk received around 80 applications for a unique position: a cat chief. The role involved caring for the town’s roughly 70 stray cats. This small town in the Kaliningrad region even installed a cat statue and incorporated a feline into its emblem, rebranding itself as Russia’s leading cat-loving destination.
Svetlana Logunova, a local resident, was eventually chosen as the caretaker of the town’s felines. She received a monthly budget of 5,700 rubles (about $90) to ensure the well-being of all the community’s cats, keeping them content, fed, and well-petted. Logunova was also equipped with a bicycle and a uniform, complete with a vibrant green jacket, black bow tie, and hat. Her duties included offering the cats free rides in her bike’s basket.
“I can’t manage all of them alone, and some assistance would make a huge difference,” Logunova remarked.
8. Russian Orthodox Church Considers Halting Blessings for Nuclear Weapons
In June 2019, a committee on ecclesial law convened in Moscow and proposed discontinuing the practice of blessing missiles and warheads. Instead, they recommended that priests bless only individual soldiers and their personal weapons. The tradition of blessing nuclear weapons, seen as a spiritual safeguard for the nation, has been a longstanding Russian custom. Bishop Savva Tutunov of the Moscow Patriarchate advocated for ending this practice, stating:
It is appropriate to discuss blessing a soldier on military duty defending the homeland. At the conclusion of the ritual, the soldier’s personal weapon is also blessed—specifically because it is tied to the individual receiving the blessing. By the same logic, weapons of mass destruction should not be sanctified.
However, Tutunov’s perspective isn’t universally accepted within the Orthodox Church. Vsevolod Chaplin, a former spokesperson for the Patriarch of Moscow, compared Russia’s nuclear arsenal to “guardian angels” essential for safeguarding Orthodoxy. As reported by Religion News Service, Chaplin once remarked, “Only nuclear weapons shield Russia from Western enslavement.”
Another reason the proposal to cease blessing nuclear weapons encounters resistance among clergy is Saint Seraphim. Allegedly, St. Seraphim’s remains were found in a Russian town near multiple nuclear facilities. He is now regarded as the patron saint of Russia’s nuclear arsenal and holds significant religious importance.
7. Police Extinguish Fire Using Snowballs
In November 2018, two police officers in Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk region were praised for preventing a disaster by using snowballs to combat a fire. Lieutenants Yevgeny Lunin and Pavel Istomin, while patrolling the village of Kuragino, spotted thick smoke billowing from a garage adjacent to a house. They alerted the fire brigade and assisted residents in evacuating before the fire could escalate.
The fire ignited when a car in the garage experienced a short circuit. The Krasnoyarsk regional branch of the Interior Ministry stated, “The officers continued to throw snow at the blazing fence and garage doors until firefighters arrived.” The statement also noted that the officers would be honored for their role in averting a potential disaster.
6. Intoxicated Man Steals Car, Only to Discover He Can’t Drive
In 2014, authorities observed a man acting suspiciously in a car parked outside a cafe in the Kemerovo region. Upon questioning, the man lacked any identification—no driver’s license or vehicle registration. Police noted clear signs of intoxication in their official report.
The man was taken to the local police station, where another resident soon arrived to report his car stolen. Investigators quickly linked the intoxicated individual to the crime, discovering he had drilled a hole in the garage roof to steal the vehicle.
However, the thief’s plan hit a snag when he realized he didn’t know how to operate the car. He ended up pushing the stolen vehicle 1 kilometer (0.6 mi) before being caught. The unidentified thief faced a potential six-year prison sentence.
5. Woman Takes Live Fox on Moscow Subway Ride
In late 2018, a video of a woman casually riding the Moscow subway with a live fox perched on her shoulder went viral on Russian social media. Passengers on the crowded platform cast curious glances at the fox as they waited for the train.
The fox appeared unfazed by the bustling subway environment or the approaching train, suggesting it might have been accustomed to such rides. As the doors opened, the woman boarded the train, maintaining her posture to ensure the fox remained balanced on her shoulder.
While the sight was unusual, pet foxes are not uncommon in Russia. Geneticist Dmitry K. Belyaev initiated a domestication program for these animals in the 1950s, and a small number of domesticated red foxes still thrive today.
4. Man Drives Armored Vehicle Into Store, Steals Wine Bottle
In early 2018, a man in Russia was apprehended after stealing an armored vehicle and ramming it into a store in Apatity, a town near the Arctic Circle. Reports indicate he took the vehicle from a driving school, struggled to control it, collided with a parked car, and ultimately crashed into the shop’s entrance.
Russian TV channel Vesti reported that the man, allegedly bored, stole the tracked vehicle from a DOSAAF-operated driving school, an organization that collaborates with the military. Witnesses claimed the thief appeared intoxicated. After the crash, he climbed out through the vehicle’s hatch, briefly surveyed the damage, and entered the shop through the shattered window.
The man, in his late twenties, was arrested shortly after and found with a stolen bottle of wine. According to RIA news agency, he offered no resistance during the arrest. The agency also noted that the shop was not authorized to sell alcohol at that early hour.
3. Four Men Disguise Themselves as a Bus to Cross Vehicle-Only Bridge
In 2018, a perplexed driver captured footage of a group of Russian men attempting to cross Vladivostok’s Golden Bridge while concealed inside a yellow cardboard bus costume. However, a traffic officer quickly spotted their ruse and instructed them to turn back.
The Golden Bridge, a massive cable-stayed structure completed in 2012, connects Vladivostok’s city center to the Pervomaiskyi district. Although a tourist attraction, the bridge was closed to pedestrians in 2015. Locals have since voiced complaints, arguing the ban denies them the quickest route to the city center.
2. Authorities Paint Snow White to Conceal Pollution
In late 2018, media circulated footage of a woman’s hands turning white after touching snow, sparking allegations that officials in Kemerovo’s coal-mining region were using white paint to mask pollution.
Dmitry Ivanov, the town’s leader, ordered the paint’s removal and reprimanded those responsible. “I apologize to residents whose New Year’s spirit was dampened by this incident,” Ivanov stated.
The Prague Civil Society Centre, an organization advocating for social change across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, highlighted that black snow is a frequent occurrence in certain Russian regions. On their website, they noted: “Coal is a major industry in Russia’s Far East. While coal trade boosts the region’s struggling economy, it severely impacts the environment and the health of local residents.”
Russia ranks among the world’s top coal producers, with production expected to grow. The Ministry of Energy forecasts annual production to reach approximately 480 million tons by 2030.
1. Russian Official Faces Backlash After Wife’s Twerking Triggers Major Traffic Jam
In 2018, the wife of a Moscow region deputy filmed a music video in the middle lane of one of the capital’s busiest highways. The video, featuring three women dancing choreographed moves while blocking traffic with an SUV, quickly went viral on Russian social media.
Oksana Yakovleva, 29, known by her stage name Yaxana, shared on Instagram: “I’m still shaken. My cameraman was nearly hit by a car—it was terrifying.” Moscow’s traffic control center reported that the performance delayed multiple ambulances, and local police filed a traffic violation report against Yakovleva.
The incident also caused complications for Yakovleva’s politician spouse, Alexei Yakovlev, a member of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party. Yakovlev mentioned he intended to “reprimand” Yaxana upon his return from a trip. “I don’t need this kind of publicity. I believe there are more appropriate locations for filming such performances,” he remarked.
However, while reviewing Yaxana’s Instagram profile, Moscow Times journalists found that Yakovlev had previously participated in street dancing with his wife. Yaxana claimed the controversy was a necessary step for her pop music career. “The entertainment industry is so competitive that breaking in without financial resources or connections is nearly impossible,” she explained. “I have neither.”
