/r/AskARussian

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Ask a Russian!

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This place is meant to be a Q&A subreddit for everyone who wants to pose questions and requests to Russian speakers.

It's Russian speakers, not just Russians, because Russia is a multinational and multiethnic state and because there are many other countries where people speak the Russian language. The sub was created by a Russian speaker from Ukraine. We also have some people from Belarus, Kazakhstan and other ex-USSR countries where Russian is widely spoken. All of them will be glad to answer your questions. Question from Russians to Russians are allowed too.

And hey, if you're into instant messengers, check out our Discord! Contents include: language learning, expat talk, edgy memes, anime, videogames, and flame wars from time to time.

Other 'Ask...' subreddits:

/r/AskARussian

134,904 Subscribers

2

I will be staying in a hostel in Peter.

What is the cheapest way to feed myself? What markets are the cheapest? Preaparing or ordering is cheaper?

0 Comments
2024/12/01
18:02 UTC

1

Ancestral Lands

We are watching this series on YouTube. What do Russians think of it? It’s a brutal depiction of the Germans in WWII. Would be interested in interviews with the writers and director but can’t find anything.

0 Comments
2024/12/01
13:40 UTC

1

What is Russia's role and strategic interests in the Syrian Civil War?

I'm asking this without any pre-held convictions or bias.

0 Comments
2024/12/01
15:39 UTC

1

Представим некую отмену санкций

Скажем, вдруг, открываются снова Ауди, Мерседес, БМВ, Пежо, Рено и другие.
Будете ли снова покупать? Да? Нет? Почему?

3 Comments
2024/12/01
16:33 UTC

1

Retired Americans, how do you collect Social Security in Russia

I know this is a niche question, but I'm unsure where to ask. The Social Security website isn't very helpful. Given the disconnect between our banking systems, Im guessing direct deposit isnt happening.

0 Comments
2024/12/01
17:18 UTC

0

Do you believe that Russia could be a part of the West?

Let's say the West would like to include Russia in it's geopolitical sphere. It's lands, it's people, it's natural resources and it's military might, all would be great contribution to the overall Western power. Could Russia join the West? Is there a will amongst Russians to be part of the West? If yes, why? If not, why?

6 Comments
2024/12/01
16:55 UTC

1

I need some recommendation from the local in st petersburg

Where can I find the best hot Chocolate and the best donut.

1 Comment
2024/12/01
15:31 UTC

0

Confused if I'm entitled to russian citizenship

Hopefully someone here understands russian law on naturalization. My mother was born in Nizhni Novgorod in 1966 and father in Kharkiv in 1962 and I was born in USSR specifically Kharkiv in 1990. Can I derive citizenship through my mother ? I'm reading both parents need to be born on russian territory. I speak russian etc so that's not a problem...

If it helps both my parents have Ukrainian citizenship as well as canadian as do i.

8 Comments
2024/12/01
15:54 UTC

0

Earning remotely in USD and transfering to Russian bank

Hey there,

I saw a lot of topics about how to transfer money using T-Bank, ByBit etc.

I love Moscow and would love to move to the city but as there is so much anti russian sentiment in Europe and ever more sanctions (my friend who works at Gazprom bank in my country, Switzerland, just asked me to pay her hotel as she couldn’t pay anything anymore with the new US sanctions against her bank) I was wondering if this is even possible or would I just bring cash several times a year to Russia? I don’t want to tell my employer that I live in Russia and I get my salary in stablecoins anyway working in crypto.

Is there anyone in the same situation and could line out the steps needed that work without big issues?

Thanks a lot!

4 Comments
2024/12/01
13:49 UTC

14

What’s your take on the cartoon “nu pogodi”?

I did heard about this phrase a couple of times and this morning I watched a video (an episode maybe? I’m still learning russian) for the first time. Let’s just say, as a non-russian, I liked it. So, what’s your take on that and can I continue watching to understand the culture?

57 Comments
2024/12/01
12:15 UTC

0

Do Kremlin officials live in the Kremlin? What do they do when they not working? Do they have private parties on a Saturday night there?

5 Comments
2024/12/01
12:31 UTC

0

What does Putin do during the weekends? Any information about his more non-work related habits?

15 Comments
2024/12/01
12:26 UTC

0

Why are Westerners online saying Russia is on the verge of Collapse because the rubles' value went down?

So my algorithm is going nuts and I seem to be getting recommended allot of Anti-Russia hysteria lately. But it seems like they think the currency's value is worthless internally.

223 Comments
2024/12/01
09:17 UTC

6

Kinopoisk

Hello, I have just subscribed to kinopoisk and amediateka. Is there a way to filter content by subtitle language? I'd like to see only content with English subtitles (or French if there are any).

8 Comments
2024/12/01
10:01 UTC

3

Work / internship at Yandex without speaking russian ?

Hello, does anyone know if it's possible to work at yandex in their saint-petersburg / moscow offices without speaking russian? I'd like to do an internship with them if possible, but I don't know if it would be good for them if I speak English (I'm not very good in Russian).

11 Comments
2024/12/01
10:08 UTC

0

How much does it cost to send an international letter from Russia?

An ordinary letter under 20g. How much more to register it with a tracking number? What about for airmail? What about for a postcard?

Has the prices changed a lot in the last 5 years?

1 Comment
2024/11/30
13:37 UTC

10

Is Кызыл really as dangerous as people make it out to be?

I wanna visit the Republic of Tuva one day and its capital city is Кызыл. I heard that this city is the most dangerous one out of the entire Russian Federation. But one question kept lingering in my mind: “How true is this statement?” So this is why I’m asking everyone who has visited or lives in Tuva, especially in this city in particular, to tell me how dangerous (or safe) this city actually is. I saw a video from Bald and Bankrupt when he visited this city and he said that he had no issues with the locals, but that one positive experience doesn’t define the whole safety of the city. So finally, how safe is Кызыл in fact?

9 Comments
2024/11/30
14:05 UTC

0

Всем привет, помогите вспомнить историю про то как человека загазлайтили всем городом

Вроде как он был мэром или вроде того и его заставили думать что он некий криминальный авторитет Видел ее где-то на ютубе, а где не помню, видос был что-то вроде: три человека сидят и рассказывают трэшовые истории, а на экране мелькают фотки и записи об этом Заранее спасибо

0 Comments
2024/11/30
15:00 UTC

1

Home internee problems in Moscow

Просто хочу спросить, пользовался ли кто-нибудь из вас, ребята, домашним интернетом от akado. В последнее время соединение постоянно пропадало, и на восстановление ушло несколько дней. Следует ли мне переключиться на другой домашний интернет или оставить его?

3 Comments
2024/11/30
18:03 UTC

0

What do you think about the protests in Georgia?

96 Comments
2024/11/30
19:08 UTC

0

It sounds like things could be going down in Syria, how will that effect Russia?

33 Comments
2024/11/30
23:38 UTC

0

Legal term translation help?

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone here is interested in helping me translate some legal definitions from “simple” English to Russian. Thank you !

3 Comments
2024/12/01
01:43 UTC

0

Why does most military vehicle games come from Russia/Eastern Europe?

Hello guys.

This is a question I've been concerned for a long time, but why does most advanced (in terms of details, player engagement) vehicle military games come from Russia/Eastern Europe or at least originated from there?

The top of my head I can think of are War Thunder, World of Tanks/planes/warships, IL-2, DCS, and so on.

There are also less known games like SABOW, T-34 vs Tiger, T-72 Balkans on fire in which their developers are Eastern Europe, even if some of their dev's offices may not be in Russia/Eastern Europe itself.

Thanks!

9 Comments
2024/12/01
02:42 UTC

6

Which western products are most in demand post-war?

34 Comments
2024/12/01
03:34 UTC

0

Did the Russian public disappoint, despise, or even anger Trump for his foreign policies towards Russia, without difference between him and Obama, soon after the 1st election of him in 2016?

32 Comments
2024/12/01
04:58 UTC

2

Videogames In Russia

So we all know the memes of Russian playing Counter Strike and Dota, but how true are they? Do Russians play the same games as the west like Alan Wake, Fallout, Skyrim, Witcher, FIFA, etc...?

I would like to share my love for videogames with people from other countries, but I'm concerned that just because I don't play CS or Dota, I would have a hard time making friends to game with

126 Comments
2024/12/01
07:56 UTC

2

Jewelry

We’re in the US and this might sound like a silly question. My father is older and found his way on social media and came across some jewelry pieces he was very interested in, in Russia, but he said he can’t order jewelry from Russia. Is there a way to make that happen, or no?

3 Comments
2024/12/01
06:08 UTC

1

What are the things that “must buy” in Moscow?

Since I am in the city, I want to know the things a turist should buy. I can buy from Ozon as well. I bought an adidas sneaker for 1900 rubles which is 3/1 of the price in my country.

3 Comments
2024/11/30
17:46 UTC

0

Can someone please explain how taxes on cars work in Russia?

I was recently watching a video from the YouTuber 808 and he was talking about the car market in Russia and the trends there. He noted on the video that lots of cars get imported to Russia via other EAEU members like Kyrgyzstan. He also mentioned that a new law has been passed to close the Kyrgyzstan loophole now due to the restriction of importing a car from Kyrgyzstan from a new decree from April.

My question is that people who import cars via Kyrgyzstan and other EAEU countries, what taxes are paid both when importing the cars into the customs union and Russia? From what I’ve understood is that once a car enters the customs union, you VAT and import duty and then that car can be sold anywhere within the territory of the customs union without needing to pay additional VAT. My other question is once you have cleared a car in Kyrgyzstan, what other fees are needed to be paid when taking the car into Russia? I know that Russia has introduced a scrap fee which varies on the vehicle being imported but they also said that you can’t import an electric or hybrid vehicle anymore from Kyrgyzstan.

Could someone please explain what taxes you pay on cars in Russia?

12 Comments
2024/11/30
18:24 UTC

0

How many of y'all listen to western music?

For context, I'm a Canadian, who can neither speak, nor understand russian, but recently I have found myself listening to a lot of 80s Russian rock (mostly kino and sektor gaza) which is obviously a bit weird here. But I'm wondering how popular western music is in Russia.

27 Comments
2024/11/30
20:39 UTC

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