Anti-War Playlist: Russian Music Against the War

DDT – Little death The legendary rock band that was especially popular during the 80s and 90s and its frontman Yuri Shevchuk have repeatedly spoken out against the war in Ukraine.  On May 18, Shevchuk told an 8,000-strong crowd at DDT’s concert in Ufa that “the motherland, my friends, is not the president’s ass that has to…

Russian ‘McDonald’s’ Runs Short of French Fries

Former McDonald’s restaurants in Russia are facing a shortage of French fries due to a poor harvest and Western sanctions over Ukraine, a business newspaper reported on Friday. The US fast-food giant announced in May that it would exit Russia in the wake of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine. A Russian businessman bought the 850-restaurant operation,…

Stop In, Go Behind and Lose Your Mind

Ум за разум заходит: I don’t know if I’m coming or going! I have been remiss. It has been months since I’ve tested everyone’s patience with verbs that have 12 meanings and prepositions that use different cases. To be honest, I actually love this part of Russian. I like to try to figure out conceptual…

Lavrov Walks Out of G20 Talks as West Presses Moscow on Ukraine

Russia’s top diplomat stormed out of talks with G20 foreign ministers meeting in Indonesia on Friday as Western powers criticized Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Washington and allies condemned Russia’s assault ahead of the meeting before Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov faced what U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called a barrage of Western criticism…