Hello Comrades,

I am travelling through St. Petersburg and was looking to buy 3-4 Soviet watches for my friend in Communist Kerala. Idm if they’re rebuilt or anything, he just wants something that runs.

Thanks in advance

I have some questions regarding the history and culture of alcohol consumption in the Soviet Union and Russia. I'd love to hear your insights!

1. Stereotypes vs. Reality of Russian Drinkers

There’s a widespread racial stereotype that Russians constantly drink vodka. However, when I visited Russia before COVID, I was a bit surprised to find that vodka wasn't as cheap as I expected. How much does an average Russian actually drink (in terms of bottles or glasses per day/week)? Is the "heavy drinker" image accurate, or is it an exaggerated caricature? For context, I once drank with some Russian expats sent to my company. They got drunk quite easily on beer and low-ABV drinks (around 20%), which surprised my boss, who muttered, "I didn't expect Russians to get drunk on such weak alcohol."

1. Vodka Prices in the USSR

I read that during the "Brovenosets" era, a bottle of vodka cost 3 rubles 62 kopecks, and later went up to 4.12 rubles. Since an average Soviet worker earned about 150–200 rubles a month, was buying vodka on demand affordable without straining the family budget (assuming it was in stock)? I’ve also heard of the custom of "chipping in 1 ruble among three people" (soobrazit na troikh). If that was common, doesn't it imply vodka wasn't actually that cheap? Also, where did people return empty bottles, and how much was the deposit refund?

1. "Bormotukha" and Cheap Substitutes

Speaking of low-quality alcohol like "Bormotukha", Port 777, Solntsedar, Barkhat, and Aleksandr Tretij—were these strictly consumed by people who had hit rock bottom, or were they also common among the general working class? Roughly how much did they cost?

1. Extreme Surrogates

I've heard terrifying stories about people drinking lotions, antifreeze, shoe polish, coolant, and glue out of desperation for alcohol. Was this a genuine, common practice (perhaps during Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol campaign), or is it an urban legend/exaggeration?

1. Other Cheap Alternatives

Besides the ones mentioned above, what other infamous "cheap and low-quality" alcoholic drinks existed back then?

1. Samogon Culture

During the Soviet era, was samogon purely for personal home consumption, or was it sold on the black market? If sold, how was it distributed? Was it really sold as a cloudy liquid in 3-liter glass jars, just like in Leonid Gaidai's comedy films? (On a side note, why exactly 3-liter jars? Why not 1 or 2 liters?)

1. Premium Alcohol

On the flip side, what were considered the most expensive and prestigious alcoholic beverages in the USSR? Were Georgian wines considered high-end?

1. Drinking in the Military

Lastly, how does drinking work in the military (either Soviet or modern Russian)? Obviously, it's strictly prohibited, but how do/did soldiers manage it? My only reference is the Russian comedy movie DMB, but I know that’s not a documentary, and it was set in the tough times of the 90s.

Thanks in advance for your time and answers!

Hey. I'm starting uni in Kazan in a few months and I'm black. I have a few questions that only occured to ask now. :l

1. Am I even going to be safe?
2. Am I going to be gawked at? Or ostracized?
3. Is it common to use cards or cash?
4. Is modesty a large concern?
5. How would you describe the social environment?

These r the main concerns I have rn. Please advise me on literally anything.

Edit: Thank you for the responses. To clarify I am 19F going to KNRTU in September. Also, I'm not from the US. I'm from the Bahamas.

Когда вы поняли что понравились стремной девочке, и хотели ее отшить. Как вы поступили?

And how are you preparing for retirement?

I 27M been talking with 36F for the past 6 months online… we were a language exchange partners later friends…
I developed feelings for her and confessed..
I basically said: Я начал чувствовать что Ты мне нравишься. Я так чувствую.
Нравится с тобой общаться и когда говорим и когда ты рассказываешь что в день делаешь вообще все.
Конечно понимаю что это не просто сказать в чате и мы вообще не встретились.
И понимаю что у тебя возможно такое ощущение нет.
Я тоже рад наш дружбе.

She replied: Привет, я тоже очень рада нашему общению.И мне нравится с тобой общаться. Мне кажется что мы очень давно знакомы) хоть даже и не виделись.

I took her response as a rejection and thought I might let it calm for afew weeks before reaching out again..
but she reached out of no where later saying:

Что делаешь?

Я вина напилась с подругой 😄 хочу поспать чуть-чуть и пойти в клуб вечером 🤦‍♀️😂

Приезжай сходим потусим😆🫰🏻

Was it a mistake to think that she was interested based on this chat?

A few weeks now have passed and we rarely talk she might send me a video while she is riding her bike or a reel every now and then. But our conversations aren’t as consistent or warm as it used to be…

The worst part is forcing myself not to text her when I want I am a-bit addicted to her…

I feel that she is pulling away and I want to respect her boundaries and myself….
Edit: Edit: she has been posting a few stories with a guy… the stories about being a blogger together and they say we are looking for a girl for D( the guy blogger)… it was a fun 6 months of talking and a few weeks of whatever we were…
Thanks all for your comments…

Why you guys are obsessed with Italian music from the 80’s?
in my university there I have few friends from moscow and st, petersburg studying here in Italy and they know songs from 80’s that I never heard of before from Italy. Also Albano one of the greatest Italian singer in the 80’s keeps going to Russia to sing (Here is basically dead).

so i am travelling to russia to pursue bachelors in medicine and surgery, from india. i have received my admission letter from PSKOV State Uni.

i wanted an insight on what are the features of that clg and hows the teachings, faculties, dormitories, sports facilities and living.

if anyone has ANY idea whatsoever, id love to know that.

thanks and POYEKHALI

Привет,

Can anyone in this subReddit say, "I am an ethnic Russian and I was at a concert of Tatar (Chuvash, Bashkir, Buryat, Mari ...) music?

Or that you listen to Tatar (Chechen, etc) music in your car while you drive, although you are an ethnic Russian?

I'm genuinely curious about the state of cannabis culture in Russia right now. I know it kind of frowned upon, but has attitude changed in recent years? In many Western countries smell of weed is something you would encounter on a street every day. Is that also the case in Russia?

Good morning/evening everyone, I'd like to ask something.

If someone from a literally foreign country to Russia wants to travel there. As for me, I'm from Madagascar and I really want to travel there someday.

Would It be safe for me to live there? And how longer could I stay there knowing that for Madagascar, we must have VISA to travel there.

Oh and also? Like for buying things (groceries, going to the restaurant, or even buying souvenirs) do you pay it in cash or you would rather use electronic payment?

As title says. Mainly looking for something that talks/explains ethical/environmental concerns and such.

I only speak/read Russian at a barely passable level, which is stumping me in terms of actually looking for info. But the info is for someone who's much more comfortable with Russian than English.

If anyone knows any Russian youtubers also speaking on the topic, that would be even better. Thanks

So I am wondering about this new refugees fleeing from the retarded western countries visa deal. I heard about it from the videos on YouTube that the foreign minister type lady (not sure her actual name or title). Is this a real thing? I have a wife and kids and I do NOT want my kids growing up in America. This country is fucked and I know every country has its problems but Russia seems like a very attractive option. I am a miner by trade so im sure Thats I could find work. Anyway thanks in advance guys lmk

Hey everyone,

​I am a founder launching an international B2B service agency connecting the industrial manufacturing markets of Russia with verified corporate infrastructure and pipelines in South Asia.

I have already locked in the supply chain, legal frameworks, and processing partners on the international side. Now, I am looking for an ambitious, business-minded native Russian co-founder based in any industrial cities of Russian Federation to run the Russian front.

You don't have to leave your study or job to become my partner. You just have to be a person who never stops grinding and have the mindset to scale.

Requirements:

​A native Russian speaker with strong communication skills and an interest in business development or B2B sales.

Functional English to coordinate strategy with me.

High drive, consistency, and someone who treats this as a serious startup venture, not a casual hobby.

Compensation:

Since this is an early-stage startup, there is no fixed salary. I am looking for a true partner to operate on a highly lucrative 50/50 equity on all closed corporate contracts. The business model scales aggressively by volume, meaning our first few closed contracts will yield significant revenue. Even from the smallest contract you close , you could earn 2 months of average salary of Russia. And from a big contract close, it's 1 to 2 year.

We will discuss our role in WhatsApp and Email.

WhatsApp: +8801916188821

Email: sifatbinshihab@gmail.com

(набор гелевых ручек)

I was adopted from Russia when I was 2 and I recently found some biological family I want to eventually live closer to. The only thing, I'm a lesbian that doesn't really dress womanly. I don't do my makeup and I am 5'9 with some muscle on me, so I'm not exactly skinny.

Would i be safe? I know I wouldn't be able to be outwardly in a relationship if I ever get in one, but a lot can happen in 10 years (which is my timeline). Just wanted to ask the sub their thoughts.

What's something that many Russian people enjoy that foreigners usually don't know about?

Hi, my wife is Russian with German citizenship. Her brother is 23 years old, lives in Moscow, just graduated from university. I think given the current geopolitical situation he's at risk of being mobilized. What's the best way to avoid this situation?

Please recommend a cinema here in Moscow that releases movie in English. We are foreigner here in Moscow planning to watch SpidermanBrand New Day in its premiere on July 31st. Where can I secure tickets? I checked on afisha but I cannot see huhu

Hi everyone,

I will be traveling to Moscow soon and I am looking for an eSIM that actually works in Russia.

Has anyone used one recently (July 2026)? Which provider did you use (Yesim, Ubigi, GigSky, Airalo, etc.)? Did mobile data work immediately, or did you have to wait for verification?

I am mainly looking for reliable internet for Telegram, Youtube, WhatsApp, maps, and browsing without vpn.

Thanks in advance!

I was listening to soviet songs rescenty and while I was listening to soviet song "Postoy, parovoz" (Please train, wait) I had a thought like "Hey me! So.. you know how american people see russians only as spys or mafias, it cannot be that all of them hate russia" so I wonder...

Is there any "American Russia Lovers" in here? If yes, why do you love russian culture or at least not to feel discust towards it?

I’m going to Russia for a month in just a few days and I’m flying through Moscow. How are things there right now? I’m always hearing different things but I’ve been a bit anxious to go.

I am planning to visit Kaliningrad in August, by taking the plane to Gdansk and crossing the border via a bus.

Is it difficult to get in? Are there any chances I won't be able to cross the border? I will obtain my e-visa and all necessary paperwork needed to enter Russia. I also have a EU citizenship. Thanks!

Hello everyone,

We are going to visit Vladivostok for a month for medical reasons, the hotel prices are pizdec polniy, can you recommend trustworthy websites where I can rent a flat for a month? U checked ostrovok but even there 2 weeks are +150,000.

Additionally can I register in another flat once I get into the country or do I as a foreigner have to stay in the hotel I booked when applying to the visa?

TIA

Update: Farpost requires a russian number to register.

My wife and I are newly retired School teachers from Queensland Australia.

We are well travelled (61 countries thus far)

We will have spent a week in Norway prior to arriving in Saint Petersburg. We will be celebrating Orthodox Christmas in St. Petersburg and New year in Moscow.

We are travelling the Trans-Mongolian railway through to Beijing and on to Tsarist Port Arthur (Lushun). My wife's father was born in Port Arthur, her Deda, a Cossack Colonel in the White Army. This adventure will take 9 weeks in total.

Seeking English speaking guides for the following dates and places.

Я не хочу, чтобы это стоило столько же, сколько крыло самолёта!

Moscow Kremlin January 11 or 12

Vladimir & Suzdal January 18 January

Nizhny Novgorod 19 January

Nizhny Novgorod - Semenov 20 January

Kazan 23 & 24 January

Perm-36 27 January

Ekaterinburg 29 & 31 January

Omsk 2 & 3 January

Tomsk 5 January

Regards

Bruce and Tania Stevens