Quiz time! 🧩

There are several words related to work from our post hidden here!

❓How many did you spot?

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Meet Anastasia Venza, the new ‘Miss Russia’ 2025

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Check out the newly opened ‘Amphitheater of Water’ in Krasnodar’s ‘Cloud Park’! Thoughts? 🌊💦

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Why is this Russian non-commissioned officer sticking his tongue out?

At first glance, the man in the photo appears to be grimacing inappropriately. But, in actual fact, the photograph conceals a rather dramatic story.

On March 21, 1915, Alexei Makukha, a telegraph operator with the 148th Infantry Regiment, was captured by the Austrians. Since he was connected to the headquarters by virtue of his position, he was naturally interrogated.

Makukha refused to talk, so the enraged Austrians pulled out his tongue and cut a piece of it off. Soon, a Russian infantry unit stormed the enemy positions and rescued their comrade.

The disfigured telegraph operator was sent to the hospital, where he immediately underwent surgery. He was unable to utter a word for several months and, for many years afterward, he could only speak with a whisper.

The brave man was showered with awards and promoted to non-commissioned officer. Supreme Commander-in-Chief Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich expressed his personal gratitude "for his loyalty to his oath, his sense of duty to the throne and the motherland, as well as his refusal to divulge official secrets to the enemy".

For some time, the telegraph operator's story was a constant fixture in newspapers and his heroic deed was even compared to the martyrdom of the early Christians. In published photographs, he invariably showed off his mutilated tongue.

The subsequent fate of Alexei Makukha is unknown.

Credit: Gateway to Russia (Photo: ruskline.ru, Public domain)

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Until very old age, Leo Tolstoy often took multi-hour walks and, as his friends and guests visiting Yasnaya Polyana complained, forced them to walk with them, as well.
The writer was also keen on chess, haymaking, photography and even cycling!

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#wordoftheweek

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Who is ‘Curious Varvara’ and why was “her nose torn off”?

Of course, no one by the name of Varvara was actually harmed. And her nose remains intact! But, the money – that’s another story…
However, let's start from the beginning. In the old days, a ‘нос’ (‘nos’ or ‘nose’) was a special board or tag on which special marks were placed, to record things like debts owed, days of the week and/or purchases made. Basically, everything that needed to be remembered.

Let's say someone lent money – the lender would mark both his own and the borrower's ‘noses’. And when the borrower returned the money, he crossed out the mark. It could be said that this was an ancient version of a calendar with reminders, a daily planner and even a calculator, which even an illiterate person could use.

“Любопытной Варваре на базаре нос оторвали” (“Lyubopytnoy Varvare na bazare nos otorvali” or “Curious Varvara's nose was torn off at the market”. The Varvara in this proverb is essentially a collective image of an overly curious person, whose intrusive interest constantly irritates and annoys those around her. This is why she has “lost her ‘nose’”: as retaliation or as a lesson, someone tore off an important mark off her ‘nose’. So, she was left with nothing – no debts to repay, no important meetings to remember.
Nowadays, this expression is used to remind everyone that excessive curiosity can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Credit: Kira Lisitskaya (Photo: Shannon Fagan, Softulka/Getty Images; freepik.com)

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Sevastopol in 3 Russian words

1⃣ ПАМЯТНИК ЗАТОПЛЕННЫМ КОРАБЛЯМ (Monument to the sunken ships)

This monument was erected in 1905 in honor of the Russian ships that were deliberately sunk at the entrance to Sevastopol Bay during the Crimean War of 1853-1856. It was done to prevent the enemy fleet from breaking through to the city.

2⃣ ЧЕРНОМОРСКИЙ ФЛОТ (Black Sea Fleet)

On May 13, 1783, 11 ships of the Azov flotilla were relocated to Akhtiar Bay, where Sevastopol was soon founded. This day is considered the birthday of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and the city serves as its main base.

3⃣ ХЕРСОНЕС ТАВРИЧЕСКИЙ (Chersonesos Taurica)

Founded by the Greeks in the 5th century BC, Chersonesos long served as a major political, cultural and economic center of the Northern Black Sea region. Even in the 15th century, people were still living there. Today, the ruins of the ancient city-state are located on the territory of Sevastopol.

Credit: Legion Media

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Is there anything better than a pie with fresh greens from your own garden? Maybe only a plate of dumplings that the whole family made together!

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Into industrial tours and precious metals? Then head to Amur region! At the Solovyevsky mine, you can witness the entire gold mining process and see how it transforms into heavy bars.

Video by:
https://www.tg-me.com/amur_travel

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Guatemalan animal trainer Carlos Bresciani has been living in Russia with his wife and two children since 2016. At first, he worked in stationary circuses in the south of the country, but then traveled all over the country with a big top tent.
“I want to advise all foreigners: Don't believe the bad things they say about Russia! Here is the most peaceful life, the most responsive people,” says Carlos in an interview with the ‘Nation’ magazine.

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