r/AskARussian

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.

Всем привет.
Я франко-русская, сейчас на стажировке в Бельгии, работаю в международной компании.

Недавно у меня был неловкий момент с новой коллегой из Харькова. Я сначала спросила её по-английски, откуда она, она ответила, и я автоматически перешла на русский, думая, что это может быть удобно или создать более “тёплый” контакт.

Но она сказала, что ей некомфортно говорить по-русски, и попросила меня перейти на английский. Мы так и сделали, но разговор сразу стал очень формальным и быстро закончился.

После этого у меня осталось странное чувство неловкости и дистанции. Когда она спросила, откуда я, я сказала, что из Франции, но добавила, что моя мать русская, а отец француз.

Мне интересно ваше мнение: сталкивались ли вы с похожими ситуациями?

Я просто очень чувствительный человек и склонна всё слишком обдумывать. У меня осталось ощущение, что я сделала что-то не так, когда начала говорить по-русски, и как будто мне не стоило этого делать или говорить, что я наполовину русская.

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

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

Which card can I use in Russia apart from cash? Except UnionPay cards if there any let me know! PS: Am asking for as a tourist POV going for travel

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?

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!

My friend is from Belarus, and recently lost her dog. She told me a while ago about a tradition her family practiced at funerals, where they would take a few puffs of a cigarette and leave it on the grave of the deceased. I thought it cool, and I wanted to do something nice for her following his passing, which led me down the rabbit hole of reading about common Russian/Slavic funeral traditions.

Food seems to be important in the funeral traditions, but also deeply symbolic. I don’t think her family is having a funeral per se, but I do know she mourns for him as though she lost a family member. I wanted to make a comfort food for her (I was thinking of making Kletski). I didn’t know if it would be frowned upon though, or considered insensitive, to make these foods when these traditions/culture are not my own.

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.

Здравствуйте, в последнее время я много слушаю российский рок и панк. У меня вопрос: где вы находите табулатуры к песням? Я поискал на большинстве известных сайтов, но ничего не нашел. Возможно, вы пользуетесь какими-то другими сайтами? Если да, то я был бы очень рад узнать о них

P.S.: Я аргентинец, изучаю язык и не знаком со всеми вашими сайтами. Группа, табулатуры которой мне больше всего интересно найти, — ПФ (я цензурирую это на всякий случай) — у них есть песня под названием «Я так соскучился».

I 25F have lived in America my whole life but my family migrated from Russia in the 90s. I grew up going to Slavic churches and I’ve been around a lot of Russian communities throughout the states. Now in our culture, it’s generally normal to get married young, (maybe for religious groups especially) and me being 25 is considered getting old for still not being married. I haven’t had a lot of luck dating Russians, I’ve had some options but generally my friends had a lot more attention and all got married early twenties. My sister told me that although I’m pretty my body type is just “unique” for Russian men’s standards. I’m 5’8” and I have an athletic build, my body’s frame is larger than petite but I’m not overweight. I find it easier to find dates with men who are not Russian, I don’t mind finding a life partner outside of my culture but I do find it sad that it will create a language barrier with my parents. So my question is, is it true Russian men’s standard are petite small women and will it make it harder, not exactly impossible, but difficult for me find a Russian man who will find me attractive the way I am?

I've heard that Russia used to be one of the largest tea-consuming countries on Earth (I think it may still be around 5th or 6th place) and I want to know what tea culture is like today.

Also as a big tea lover, what separates Russian tea from that of other regions? Would you recommend this Canadian try some? I'm personally a big fan of Chinese black teas and Turkish tea.

Question to the EU bank account holders

Hey guys,

Based on your experience while traveling to Russia - were you able to open your banking apps on your phone (both traditional banks and fintech) or were they blocked with no access?

Thanks

What happens if the police asks for your migration card and you don't have it with you?

I'm asking out of curiosity, but here is some context:

I am a Mexican (Mexican-looking man) traveling within Russia with my girlfriend (she is Mexican, but a lot of people think that she is Asian).

(In Moscow) A friend of mine invited us to dinner. After dinner, she walked with us to the metro station, but suddenly a police car stopped by us and two policemen (with a gun in their hands) got out.

They asked for our documents. We presented our passports, but they asked for our migration cards. Of course we had them with us. They read them, and then said that everything was ok and left.

I knew that, given we were carrying our documents, everything would be fine, but my girlfriend freaked out, since it was the first time in her life that she was stopped by the police. So, we are wondering... what would have happened if precisely today we had forgotten our passports/migration cards in the hotel?

Thanks in advance.

A Russian expat in US had a short video listing some books Russian students are to read over the summer. Is this still true? I have no opinion obviously.

By comparison some say even Ivy League (top universities) students in US do not read entire books

I removed all links to avoid violating any rules.

What is the Most maximum age to join the military in russia to become a sniper or just become someone who fights in land

I love my girlfriend very much and while we are apart I’m starting a diary where I will journal the times in the day that I think of her and I’m looking for an old school 90’s feeling saying that I want to repeat hopefully until the very end, like deep lovers language to express to her that I won’t let her go no matter what.

She is very soft hearted but tries to hide it with her alternative style tough image, & unless you know pls look up alt p.rn star images lol that’s her, I am also a rock musician and Slavic myself so I have deep appreciation for 80-90 nostalgia from my homeland and always say things like “срце мое” or “душо моја” to her when we hugged.

I want the thing to mean or represent the fact that I won’t ever abandon her as she has shown me that she may have those kind of fears and we are living apart at this time.

My Russian husband and myself are having a little girl in one month. We want to call her a variation of Евфросиния, but in Latin alphabet because we live in Europe.

As it is likely that one day, she will want to apply for a Russian passport, we would like the spelling of her name to not generate some monstrosity in Russian. At the same time, we want to minimize the difficulties in understanding the name here.

Does anyone know which rules the Russian authorities use to transliterate names? Is it phonetic like in Europe? Or a letter per letter transcription like in Greece? Or do they use the Russian equivalent name?

Concretely, what would reach if these become in a Russian passport?

- Euphrosyne

- Eufrosine

- Efrosinya

- Efrosinia

- Frosine

Spasibo bolshoe!

I’m a 25M Canadian Carpenter and I’ve always been so fascinated with Russia.

What is working culture like?

Of course Russia is a massive landmass so I’m sure it varies greatly.

I’m just curious as I see my future as the typical North American rat race.

We are a a gay couple my partner 27yo from New Zealand but adopted from Russia and has both nationalities, I am french. My partner’s mother has a cancer and it is very important for him to travel there to see his biological mum.

However I am a little concerned about the safety for us as being gay couple but also my partner’s safety for being gay and adopted. Worried that they might prosecute him for his sexuality or trahison even though he was adopted as they will recognise him as Russian only —
Worse case, sent to war or locked up in Russia and impossible to leave, he has a disability with his hand but

Anyone can relate some stories going back to motherland for you guys ? How safe it is or it is just going to be Difficult ?

Cheers !