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Meanwhile in Russia

swim to your own beat

Russian Swimmer's Underwater Dances Take Over TikTok

Synchronized swimming champion Kristina Makushenko performs jaw-dropping underwater moves set to familiar tunes.
here comes the sun

Russians in Arctic Murmansk Welcome First Sunrise of 2021

The 45-minute sunrise ended more than a month of polar night.
bone-chilling feat

Russian Swimmer Claims New World Record With Baikal Under-Ice Swim

Yekaterina Nekrasova, 40, swam an 85-meter distance beneath the ice of Lake Baikal wearing only a bathing suit.
Let It Float

Russia's Frozen Ramen Challenge Returns in Below-Zero Temps

Russia's favorite instant ramen becomes a modern art object.
Lost Her Head

Mysterious Head Sculpture Captivates St. Petersburg

The origins of the mysterious art object were traced back to a local publication that used the head as a party decoration.
2020 IN REVIEW

Russia’s Oddest Stories of 2020

The headlines that brought some cheer to the pandemic-hit year.
2020 IN REVIEW

In 2020, Russia’s Memes Went Worldwide

In Putin’s case, with great power comes great meme-ability.
bundle up

Siberian Cows Wear Woolly Bras to Stay Warm

Nikolay Atlasov, a 70-year-old farmer in Russia's coldest village, made the bras for his herd of cows to protect them from the bitter winter.
Delicate Operation

Navalny's Underwear Poisoning Takes Over the Russian Internet

News that agents allegedly placed poison in Navalny's underwear sparked plenty of memes, many retweeted by the Kremlin critic himself. 
preserved legend

Taxidermied ‘Hitler’s Alligator’ Goes on Display in Moscow

“No reptile in the museum has such a rich biography,” the Darwin Museum said of Saturn, who survived World War II bombings on Berlin.
romantic rejection

Horse Bites Off St. Petersburg Man’s Nose After Attempted Kiss – Reports

A lesson in consent.
fairest of them all

Siberian Cows Compete in Bovine Beauty Pageant

Judged solely by their milk quality for years, the animals enjoyed a rare moment in the spotlight for their looks.
low risk

Russians Order 'Santas With Antibodies' for New Year Celebrations

Families are seeking a safe way to celebrate the most festive holiday of the year amid the pandemic.
War of Words

Who’s Afraid of Jennifer Psaki?

With the Obama-era spokeswoman set to return in the Biden administration, Russian state television gets ready to revisit its old obsession.
coincidental shape

Viral Penis-Shaped Ice Rink Returns to Novosibirsk

The city’s mayor continues to deny its suggestive shape was intentional. 
furry heirs

Frenchman Leaves Inheritance to St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Cats

Being cute pays off.
the cold never bothered me

Russian Holiday Characters Brave Arctic Blizzard to Light New Year’s Tree

Ded Moroz joined forces with Sakha's "Lord of the Cold" to light the tree in the name of the holiday spirit. 
hands off

Stop Touching Metro Sculptures for Luck, Moscow Metro Urges Riders

“We promise that the statues will be grateful and all your wishes will come true,” Moscow's Transport Department said.
robot chickens

Viral ‘Cyberpunk Farm’ Satirizes Russia’s High-Tech Future

The video has racked up over 3 million views for poking fun at rural Russian life and state corporations alike.
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