The events of 1917 marked the end of a Royal Family in Russia and the fate of the last Tsar has been well documented ever since. But what do we know about the last Tsarina, Alexandra Romanov? It is often said that she...
Archive - August 2011
AndyWhat year did the Cold War start
Anybody who lived through the Cold War years will remember a continuing state of tension between the Soviet Union and the West but how and when did it all start? Historians may differ on this point to some extent and...
Siberian spruce
While we’ve often argued that Siberia is a land rich in natural beauty, it is hard sometimes to get away from the image of a harsh, frozen landscape. In fact, there are many fine examples of flora and fauna in the...
Svetlana Stalin
While the cruel reign of Josef Stalin marked a grim period in Russian and Soviet history, the story of his daughter Svetlana is, in many ways, no less fascinating. In cold war Russia, she caused a major furore when in...
Siberian tiger population
Russia as a whole and Siberia in particular are home to some fascinating species of wildlife but for many there is nothing as beautiful as the sight of a Siberian Tiger in the wild. These stunning creatures were all but...
Aeroflot Fleet
As the national airline of Russia, the vast majority of passengers will use Aeroflot as their carrier for journeys in and out of the country. Domestic journeys too are dominated by the airline which has enjoyed little...
Russia lose all four Rugby World Cup warm up matches
Russia’s preparation for the Rugby World Cup, due to start in just a couple of weeks time, will have left them with no illusions about the level of the challenge facing them. In four matches against top-flight...
Russian Motorcycles
Russian manufacture of motor vehicles is a thriving industry and many of the cars and motorcycles on the country’s roads seem to mirror the history of Russia over the last 100 years or so. From functional design in the...
Siberia Population 2021/2022
Siberia is a vast region that accounts for around 75% of the surface area of Russia but the population of Siberia is, by contrast, incredibly sparse. The vastness of Siberia is somehow at odds with the emptiness of the...
Moscow sightseeing
If you’re keen on seeing wonderful architecture and fascinating landmarks, Moscow has to be one of the best cities in the world. With so many sights spanning so many centuries, this is an ideal location for sightseers...