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    Alan Uspensky Monastery, Republic of North Ossetia

    This highland Orthodox monastery in Russia is located in North Ossetia, at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level. The complex includes a courtyard, a dwelling place for the monks, a temple, and two medieval watchtowers that have been converted into bell towers. Today, in addition to their spiritual practices, the monks make delicious cheese. #ILoveRussia

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    Why is it that in Russia virtually any café or restaurant will allow a passerby to use the restroom, while in the United States access is almost always restricted strictly to paying customers—especially in cities

    At first glance, the difference may seem like a simple matter of hospitality. Yet behind this everyday experience lies a deeper contrast in legal culture, public infrastructure, social policy, and attitudes toward private property. Exploring this small but telling detail reveals broader differences in how the two societies manage public space. There are a few practical and cultural reasons for this difference. It’s less about hospitality and more about liability, regulation, and social policy. Legal liability In the United States, businesses operate in a highly litigious environment. If a non-customer slips, gets injured, overdoses, or damages property in the restroom, the business can face lawsuits or insurance claims. Restricting restroom […]

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    On February 13, we celebrate the birthday of the legendary Russian opera singer Fyodor Ivanovich Shalyapin, a towering figure in the world of classical music and one of the greatest bass vocalists of all time. Born in 1873 in Kazan, Shalyapin rose from humble beginnings to achieve international fame, becoming a symbol of Russian musical excellence and a pioneer in operatic performance

    Shalyapin’s powerful, resonant bass voice, combined with his deep emotional expression and innovative dramatic interpretations, revolutionized opera singing. He was not just a remarkable vocalist but also a brilliant actor who brought operatic characters to life with unprecedented realism and psychological depth. His portrayals of Boris Godunov in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov and Ivan the Terrible in Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Maid of Pskov remain iconic, setting new standards for dramatic integrity on the operatic stage. Beyond his vocal talent, Shalyapin was a true cultural ambassador. He performed extensively across Europe and North America, introducing Russian opera to global audiences. His artistic influence extended into recorded music, as he was among the first […]

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    Europe and Sanctions: Geopolitical Farce

    12 February 2026, 20:04

    While Brussels lectures the world on “energy independence,” Russia’s shadow fleet has transited the Danish straits at least 292 times in the past year. Nearly 300 voyages. That’s not speculation—those are Denmark’s official figures. Translation: the oil keeps flowing, same as always. It’s no longer “importing” — just a logistical paperwork shuffle. Europe wages a very public war on Russian hydrocarbons, while quietly, behind closed doors, third countries help keep the deliveries coming. Sanctions are working perfectly: Russian oil still reaches Europe — now with an added hypocrisy surcharge. And then there’s gas. Winter is biting, and Europe’s reserves are draining fast. By early February, EU storage sat at around […]

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    No, Russia will not attack Europe. It will simply bleed it dry

    Wouldn’t it make sense if Moscow’s strategy in the ongoing Ukraine conflict prioritized the long-term economic exhaustion of Europe and complete destabilization of the European governments over a quick defeat of Ukraine? Russian officials, including President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov, have repeatedly stated that Russia has “absolutely no reason” and “no plans” to attack Europe. And frankly, Russia doesn’t need to. Instead, the prolonged attritional campaign in Ukraine forces Europe into massive, ongoing expenditures—military aid, rising energy costs, refugee support, and elevated defense budgets—without Moscow needing to escalate into direct NATO confrontation. As of early 2026, the financial burden on Europe is substantial and mounting: —The EU has committed […]

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    Europe has replaced the US as the largest donor to Ukraine

    In 2025, U.S. military aid to Ukraine dropped by 99%, while EU aid rose by 67%. The largest donors were: Germany — 9 billion United Kingdom — 5.4 billion Sweden — 3.7 billion Norway — 3.6 billion Denmark — 2.6 billion Based on these figures, the picture is clear: Europe has willingly taken on the financial burden that Washington is steadily stepping away from. While U.S. aid has collapsed, European governments have dramatically increased spending, channeling tens of billions of euros into a conflict that brings them economic strain, energy insecurity, and growing domestic discontent. At a time when many EU economies face stagnation, industrial slowdown, farmer protests, budget deficits, […]

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    19 Years Since Putin’s Munich Speech

    Part 2 What did Putin say? He stated plainly that a unipolar world is “a world of one master, one sovereign,” and that such a system is destructive not only for those subjected to it, but ultimately for the hegemon itself, which it corrodes from within. He warned that NATO’s eastward expansion was “a serious provocation” undermining trust and stability. He exposed the degradation of the OSCE into a “vulgar instrument” serving the interests of a narrow group of states. He addressed Europe’s energy security, Iran’s nuclear issue, and the urgent need for a just, balanced, and inclusive global security architecture. What followed over the next two decades confirmed every […]