Russia Beyond

Привет! Here's the second part of our ‘What’s your Russian name?’ post. Today we continue comparing popular Western and Russian names, and find pairs. ❓What’s your Russian name? P.S. In the pictures you can see famous Russian people: Evgeny Plushenko is a figure skater, Semyon Slepakov is a screenwriter and a show-runner, Pavel Durov is the founder of Telegram, Anna Peresild and Julia Snigir are actresses, and Varvara Vizbor is a singer and musician. 📷: Евгений Одиноков, Александр Вильф, Екатерина Чеснокова/Sputnik; Global Look Press #russianclasses

Why the Chukchi people were considered great warriors In the middle of the 17th century, Russians began to develop the Chukchi Peninsula, where they met fierce resistance from the local nomadic reindeer herders. For a century and a half, they fanatically fought against the tsar's authority. “The Chukchi are a strong, tall, brave, shoulders, strong-built people, judicious, fair, warlike, loving freedom and not tolerating deception, vengeful; during war, being in a dangerous situation, they kill themselves,” Russian officer Dmitry Pavlutsky once wrote. From early childhood, the Chukchi were taught to develop their bodies, easily endure hunger and sleep little. Almost every day, the nomads practiced wrestling or organized spear fights. In battle, the Chukchi skillfully wielded not only a spear, but also a bow, a knife, a lasso for reindeer, a spear-thrower with darts for hunting birds and even a shepherd's staff. The Chukchi did not use shields and their developed agility helped them to dodge arrows from their eternal enemy neighbors - the Koryaks, who became subjects of the Russian Empire. Nevertheless, the warriors' bodies were protected from head to knees by ‘lamellar’ (plate) armor made of iron, walrus tusk or whalebone. Warriors stealthily traveled many kilometers on reindeer and dog sleds to suddenly attack an enemy settlement and completely burn it down. Sometimes, whole Cossack detachments were killed in their ambushes. The nomads were not afraid of death. Once captured, they starved themselves until they died. In battles with the Russians, the Chukchi suffered heavy losses, but did not surrender. Eventually, the Russian authorities decided to negotiate with their chiefs - the Toyons. In 1779, Chukotka was officially annexed by the empire. At the same time, the Chukchi retained complete independence in internal affairs. Even at the beginning of the 20th century, many of them had no idea that they were Russian subjects. Credit: Paul Niedieck/Public Domain 🔔 Russia Beyond

How a Napoleonic general became a Russian hero of the war against... Napoleon! Brigadier General Antoine-Henri Jomini (Henry) served as governor of Vilna and Smolensk during the invasion of Russia by Bonaparte's Grande Armée in 1812. Thanks largely to the Swiss’s military talent, the remnants of the French forces were able to leave Russia in November of that year. In May 1813, Napoleon won the battle of Bautzen and Jomini played an important role in this. The commander hoped to be awarded the rank of division general, but his longtime detractor, the emperor’s chief of staff, Marshal Louis-Alexandre Berthier, prevented this. The offended Swiss decided to change sides. Back in 1810, he wanted to go into the service of Tsar Alexander I, but Napoleon then Napoleon did not let him go. During the so-called Truce of Pläswitz in August 1813, Jomini carried out his plan. The Russian autocrat warmly welcomed Antoine-Henri, made him adjutant general and involved in the planning of the military operations of the Allied forces. In addition, the military leader was in the retinue of the emperor and took part in the work of peace congresses after the fall of Napoleon. The Swiss made a great contribution to the development of military science and higher military education in Russia. He became one of the founders of the Imperial Military Academy (nowadays - the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation). Antoine-Henri Jomini's portrait can be seen today in the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, where the portraits of 332 Russian generals who participated in the Patriotic War of 1812 and the War of the Sixth Coalition in 1813-1814 hang. Credit: Public Domain 🔔 Russia Beyond

Evening light show from a Stalin skyscraper in Moscow Video by: instagram.com/exploremarie Russia Beyond

Numerous magnetic storms at the beginning of May added to the sufferings of meteorologists, but all the rest of us had an amazing opportunity to see the aurora borealis right above our heads. And those who were on Baikal at that moment, were able to make incredible shots. Check them out! Photo by Natalia Shaburova and siberian.travel ⛓️ Source: @irkru

Check out these sketches which were sent to us by a follower! He made them for Victory Day and dedicated them to the heroes of the Great Patriotic war. Thank you Dyutimay Banerjee! 🔔 Russia Beyond

Ahh, the sight of blooming poppies! 😍 Video by: instagram.com/a_cassiopeiae/ Russia Beyond

How Nikita Khrushchev's son fought in World War II Leonid Khrushchev tied his life with aviation back in 1933 and he was already an experienced pilot by the time the Wehrmacht invaded the USSR. During the Soviet-Finnish War, he completed more than 30 combat missions in an Ar-2 dive bomber. In the Summer of 1941, Lieutenant Khrushchev served as a crew commander of an SB bomber in the 134th High-Speed Bomber Aviation Regiment. At that difficult time, he had to make 3-4 combat sorties a day, often without fighter cover. On July 27, 1941, Khrushchev's plane was returning from a mission in the Pskov region, when it was attacked by a group of Luftwaffe fighters. Leonid reached his own troops and landed the riddled bomber, but badly injured his leg in the process. “The airplane crashed, that is, it flipped over. The radio operator climbed out through his blister, navigator Blinov was killed while still in the air and Leonid hung upside down in the compressed cockpit for about an hour. With the help of mechanics, he was barely pulled out of the cabin and sent to the hospital with a severe leg fracture...” Victor Fomin, his fellow serviceman, recalled this episode. In the Winter of 1942, Khrushchev returned to service and was awarded the ‘Order of the Red Banner’ for the courage and bravery shown in battle. However, he did not want to stay in bomber aviation and, having retrained, joined the fighter one. Tragically, Guard Senior Lieutenant Leonid Khrushchev went missing in action on March 11, 1943, after an air battle in the Kaluga region. Credit: Archive photo 🔔 Russia Beyond

Stunning shots of North Ossetia Video by: instagram.com/toyjke Russia Beyond

You don't need a visa to Russia to enjoy Russian art. There may be priceless masterpieces by Russian authors in a national museum or cathedral near you! They found themselves abroad in different ways: some were sold by the Bolsheviks, some were taken away by fleeing Russian nobles after the revolution, while others were collected by Western art connoisseurs over time. Romanov jewelry, Faberge eggs, icons and paintings of the Russian avant-garde. All of this can be found in the main art museums around the world. 🔔 Russia Beyond