This article was originally published on 24/7Mirror
A Little Snow Won't Stop This Kid
When we think about Russia, we immediately think about snow. When temperatures drop and thick, heavy snow starts to fall, one would believe schools would close down for the day, but since this is Russia, their schools remain open even with the harshest weather. For example, this school allowed its students to go outside and play in the snow-covered schoolyard. One student decided a little snow won't stop them from enjoying some fun time on the swing.
That is not something we would see in other countries, but anything can happen in Russia. If we had proper clothes for it, we wouldn't mind going on the swing in the snow either—it kind of looks fun.
When the England Football Team Visits a Russian Orphanage
The England football (or soccer) team went to Russia and visited a local orphanage. Unfortunately for them, the English press decided to make a cruel joke at their expense. Worldwide fans know, the England football team doesn't have the best reputation. This newspaper jokingly quoted a young 6-year-old orphan named Vladimir, who allegedly said it was heartbreaking to see their little faces with no hope. You would think it would be the other way around.
However, we must not forget the English team made it to the finals during the UEFA Euro 2020 and came in second after losing to Italy. It was not a bad year for the English.
Why It Isn't Safe To Disturb A Russian
Only in Russia would you see this. This Russian man was sitting by himself on a bench when a small bear appeared out of nowhere. Any other person would run for their lives, far away from the dangerous wild animal. Not in Russia! This man couldn't be bothered with the big furry animal. He continued to sit down calmly. If a bear couldn't make this man move, what will? It seems like this guy treated the bear like nothing but a minor nuisance.
We're not sure what is going on in Russia. Ever since we were young, we were told to run and hide away from big animals. It seems Russia has a different approach.
Make Sure The Person Sitting In Front Isn't Putin
If you ever rode on a bus, you probably know there is a chance the person sitting behind you will make some sort of contact with the back of your chair. Whether they kick it, rest their legs on it, or simply move around, it is always an uncomfortable situation. Here we have two men who forgot they were sitting behind the most powerful man in Russia, President Vladimir Putin.
Their facial expressions hardly hide what they're feeling, and that is absolute terror. Let's face it, kicking the back of Putin's chair might be the worst idea in the world.
A Friendly Reminder For Pilots To Land Better
The Russian authorities have an unusual approach to making their airline pilots land safely. Apparently, when an aircraft crashes, they don't clear or dismantle its wreckage. The airport moves them to a place that's visible to anyone flying in. Imagine looking out your window as you're preparing for landing and seeing this beneath you. We would faint. What makes this fact even more outrageous is there are more plane wrecks sitting around nearby.
What is scarier than one crashed plane? Two crashed planes. If you find yourself visiting Russia, try and make sure your airline has a low crash rate. You wouldn't want your plane to end up in this public scrap cemetery.
The Seasonal Change In Russia Is A Bit Extreme
Some countries have to deal with more than just heavy rain in the winter or lots of sun in the summer. A real Russian winter involves an unbelievable amount of snow and low temperature, freezing everything and everyone. During the summer, it doesn't get easier for Russians. This woman shows what it is like to be covered with mosquitos in the summertime, and snow and ice in the wintertime. Either way, we wouldn't want to go through this every year.
The image on the left is quite artistic, and we the snowy eyelashes are almost fashionable. The image on the right, however, is terrifying. Yikes.
In Russia You Can Drive Any Car You Want
Here is another thing you can find in Russia, cars with other cars painted on them. We had to do a double take because this might be one of the best optical illusions we've seen in a while. Russians know what they want, and what they want is this retro red car. Honestly, it is such a fun idea to decorate your car and give it a makeover without actually changing anything. It is probably not that expensive too.
This paint job should be considered a piece of art because not only is it impressive, but it also managed to fool us for a second. It is a groovy car we wouldn't mind driving around town.
That Is Not A Parking Space For A Bicycle
Throwing other people's stuff is never a good idea. However, this particular case might be justified. It's a very harsh lesson to learn, but don't put your bike in a parking spot. A Russian driver found what looked like an empty parking space in a busy parking lot, but was unable to park there due to a bicycle parked right in the middle of it. Since we know how hard it is to look for parking, we can understand why the driver threw that bicycle into a tree.
We hope the bike's owner managed to get their bike out of the tree, though. Maybe next time, they will think twice before putting their bike where a car should go.
Russian Men Build Snowmen After Cars Crash
These guys were involved in a car crash that rendered them immobile until the local police would come and help them. Since they were waiting for the police, these guys used their newfound free time and decided to build snowmen together. It might be the cutest thing we've seen drivers do after a crash. Usually, everyone is stressed and anxious in situations like these, but not these guys.
They seem to have a really good time as they build multiple snowmen. They even took the time to create the face for one of them. That is dedication.
Which One Is It?
Which Russia of these three options do you believe is real? Is it option number one, which is grey and bleak? Maybe option number two, a romanticized Russia with beautiful architecture? Option number three looks like a horror movie set in a dystopian era where war is about to break, which sounds very suitable for a video game. Maybe it's all of the above?
It seems everyone has a different idea of what Russia is. We're sure the people who live there have some thoughts on the matter!
If Putin Is Offering Tea, It's a Good Idea to Accept
In case you didn't know, if the Russian president himself, Vladimir Putin, is offering you something, the correct response is to accept without hesitation. Here, President Putin is seen offering his guests some tea. The diplomats declined politely, and we hope it ended well for them. There might be a simple explanation, and they had enough tea to drink and couldn't possibly drink anymore. Or maybe they know something we don't.
We don't think the Russian president's feelings were hurt by the diplomats' decline. It would take a lot more than saying no to another cup of tea to hurt someone's feelings.
We're Not Sure Which Is Worse
Hospitals, in general, can be a scary place to go, and this Russian hospital is the perfect example. The white walls and long corridors, neon lights, and one-way doorways make a great setting for a horror movie. It is no wonder that so many horror stories take place in hospitals. This Russian hospital is going to give us nightmares for months for sure. How are people supposed to get better in this scenery?
If the appearance of a hospital isn't enough to scare you, think about how it would make sense for ghosts to roam this hospital. Think about it. People died there!
Seal's Whiskers Freezes In The Cold Waters Of Russia
How cold is it in Russia, you ask? It is so cold that even this seal's whiskers froze up and made it look like a strange icy catfish. But don't worry about this little guy. As it turns out, once seals dive back into the water, the icicles melt away. This seal looks ready to get rid of those pesky ice whiskers and get back underwater, where it has to be warmer than the freezing cold above the water's surface.
Seals also have a third eyelid to protect their eyes from cold temperatures. We have to assume the seals are used to this and that this little fella is going to be just fine.
LADA - Why Change When You Can Stay The Same?
Everyone loves buying new cars. That's why car companies release new models every couple of years, to give customers something new to look forward to and offer fancy upgrades such as speed, safety mechanisms, and overall, a better driving experience. The Russian car company that produces LADA follows a different mantra. Why change something that's working? They haven't changed their top-selling model at all. It seems their slogan is Perfect From Day One.
Although we love the idea of being loyal to a brand, we can't help but wonder if this is safe. Think about it, safety regulations have changed dramatically in the last couple of decades.
You Have The Right To Get Arrested For Covering News
The Russian government is known for covering up problematic issues when they occur. One tactic is to arrest those who oppose the Russian government. Here we have an opposition activist reporting that other activists like him are getting arrested. During the live report, he found himself getting arrested as well. Say what you want, but the Russian government sure isn't sitting on their hands.
The Russian police must be working overtime if they managed to arrest this activist so fast. We hope the young man was released soon after and is back to reporting the news.
Combat Knives Are A Hobby In Russia
Everyone has their hobby. It could be playing a sport, like tennis, basketball, or golf. There are hobbies for more creative people too, such as writing poetry, pottery, or painting. Then we have people from Russia. This Russian woman's hobby is combat knives. It isn't the safest hobby, but once you're an expert, it becomes less dangerous. She looks genuinely interested in her book, which is about combat knives.
How do you even start a hobby that involves combat knives? We don't have the answer, but as long as this woman keeps her knives away from us, we support her and her hobby.
Getting Arrested For Protesting With A Blank Sign
Protesting in Russia is a tricky business, and that's a fact. Take this man, for example. He protested in the Red Square in Moscow holding up a blank sign. Most places around the world wouldn't even care and would probably leave this man alone. It's different in Russia, as it turns out, because this man ended up getting arrested. That's right. This man found himself in handcuffs because he stood in a public place and held up a blank sign. Poor guy.
The moral of this story is to not walk alone in the Red Square with a large sheet of paper. You don't want to mess with the Russian police.
Russian Soldiers Do Not Play Around With Their Guns
We did our research to try and understand why this soldier would stick their intimidating rifle so close to their eye. It turns out this is a standard procedure to check the gun's cleanliness. If you take it apart, leaving it with only the barrel and the rifle's base and remove its shooting mechanism, it is virtually safe to stare down the barrel to make sure it's clean.
The guys in the front, however, look more like children in costume. Holding your rifle like that hardly makes a person cool in our book.
You Can Get Into A Car Accident On Empty Highway
It might happen in other places around the world, but this time it happened in Russia. These two drivers crashed into each other when on an empty street. One car was trying to turn left, but the car coming from the other side didn't slow down, resulting in this accident. This could have been easily avoided if someone drove a little slower and tried to be more accomodating to other people on the road.
We wish both drivers a fast recovery and hope there was no real damage. The best type of driver is someone who keeps other drivers in mind, unlike these two.
Don't Buy T-Shirts You Can't Read
If this guy does know what his T-shirt says and is okay walking around with it, who are we to disagree. However, there is a higher probability he doesn't know what his T-shirt says and is currently walking oblivious around Russia. This T-shirt is hilarious because you know it wasn't made in Russia. Maybe it came from a pride parade in a more liberal country, and somehow found its way.
If more men wore this shirt, it would probably cause an uproar in Russia. It would probably be pretty funny, too!
Russian Bears Engaging In Illegal Activity In Backyards
What is going on in Russia? Why are there bears hanging out in people's backyards looking like they're plotting something? Imagine waking up in the morning only to find this in your backyard. Scary as it may be to have two bears so close to you and your family, these bears look friendly from afar, and seem to only be interested in one another.
Who do you call when there a bears on your property? Is it a recurring event that happens in Russia? What are these bears even doing in the first place?
You Can Raise A Bear As Your Pet
This harmless bear might be a great addition to your family if you're willing to take it on as a pet. By the looks of it, this furry fella seems like a cuddly creature you would want to snuggle up next to it. Don't let its teeth and size fool you because, underneath this beastly appearance, you will find a kind and playful soul, just waiting for someone to give it attention and love.
Does this bear look scary to you? To us it looks like it wants someone to scratch its belly and feed it a tasty snack. Look at it rolling on the ground. It wants to have fun!
Russia Is Famous For Its Russians
Here, a game show host is seen asking a contestant what Russia is famous for. The contestant's answer was short and sweet: Russians. Technically, he is correct. We're pretty sure the host did not expect that answer, though. Also, we love how the contestant gives a stern look as he answers because he knows he is right. If you go to Russia, we can guarantee you will find Russians there. No matter what area of Russia you are in, they will be all over.
We can think of other things that Russia is famous for, such as winter sports, borscht, vodka, the Kremlin, Putin, and the list goes on and on. Surprisingly, Russians were't the first thing that came to mind.
The Pranks In Russia Are Harmless And Funny
Russians have a reputation for being pranksters. Often, their pranks are extreme and involve body-stunts, but not in this case. This prank is harmless as it is funny, but it's pretty gross, too. This prankster faked shoeprints in the snow covering this car's windshield and squirted apple juice above them. We wouldn't want to be the car's owner when they come back. We know the truth, but for the owner, it looks like someone had peed on their car.
It is a prank we can get on board with as no one gets hurt. Sometimes the most effective pranks are the easiest to execute.
Try Not to Fall Into a Frozen Lake When You're Visiting
There is no doubt there is some divine intervention here. There was a person who was driving their car along this lake. The weight of their car proved to be too much for the icy surface, and the car went down. Luckily, while underwater, the driver managed to get out of the drowning car, swam back up to the surface, and walked away from the big gaping hole. This is what we call a miracle.
We're pretty sure we've seen this scene from an action movie. Or maybe it's just most Russian thing to do. They are sure known as fighters, and they are used to the cold.
You Can't Protest Anything In Russia, Not Even Recycling
Strange as it may be, Russia's policy against protesting includes protesting for a greener Earth and recycling. In most countries, this isn't considered a protest. Usually, it is about creating awareness and spreading information about recycling your garbage or doing good for the planet. As we know by now, in Russia, things operate differently. These policemen had to pick up the poor person inside the costume and take them away.
This person is sure having a bad day. Not only are they inside a garbage can costume, but they also got arrested by not one officer but five, who literally carried them away.
People You Will Find at a Party in Russia
This eclectic group of Russians should have their reality show. We would watch it. Each of them has a unique look and signature pose as they stand for the camera and get ready for a night out in the Motherland. We have a lot going on here, from a female bodybuilder, a man with a robotic hand, a model, albino twins, a large, shirtless tattooed man, and a woman dressed casually.
Honestly? We would love to join them. We want to see where these people go to have fun. What clubs do they visit? We admit we want to be their friends
Seasons Change But In Russia One Thing Stays The Same
It doesn't matter how many times Russians try to fix their LADA car, they constantly find that it always needs something else repaired. This man has been trying to get his car to start almost every season. If it's cold outside or raining, this man knows what he needs to do. Every time, he raises the car's hood and works on the engine. At some point, we would give up. But not this guy!
Russians don't give up. They will continue to fix their car for as long as they can, and with their loyalty to the Lada brand, we don't see them stopping anytime soon.
Knock Knock. Who's There?
This friendly bear decided to pay a visit to these two men right at their doorstep. They don't look terrified at all, more like they thought it would be appropriate to take a selfie with their uncalled guest. It seems this bear wanted to find a warm place to spend the night, and by the looks of it, it found just that. It's Russia. It gets cold outside, even for bears.
It is amazing to see a person befriending a bear without being scared for their lives. We guess anything can happen in Russia if you open your eyes and look around.
Protesting In Russia Is Really Hard To Do
This is getting ridiculous. We all know how the Russian government feels about protests. This case is, unfortunately, no exception. A group of Russian protestors tried to protest for something they believed in. The police's response was to for a circle around them and block them from leaving or even being seen by other people. All that manpower and it's being aimed at protestors? We think the officers can be a lot more useful in other areas.
The police should be there for the citizens and not for the government. We hope no one got arrested and everyone was able to return to their home peacefully and safely.
Russian Cop Chased By Wolves in the Middle of the Road
This Russian police officer was trying to do his job when a pack of wolves appeared out of nowhere and chased him away. We guess the only one to enjoy this situation was the driver who got pulled over by the officer that ended up running for their lives. It had to have been terrifying both for the driver and the police officer.
The wolves were probably minding their own business when they saw the cars' lights on the empty road. We hope the officer made it back to their patrol car safely after this scary encounter.
Russians Have Zero Tolerance For Bad Parking
In Russia, people don't waste time when they see something that isn't right. This man saw a parked car blocking another parking space with its rear, so he decided to grab his chainsaw and cut through the disturbing car to make room for his own. If only the white car's owner parked like a decent human being, this could all have been avoided. There was definitely room for two cars side by side.
To this we say, learn how to park and try not to take two parking spaces when you should only use one. You don't want to come back to your car and find its rear end is missing.
What Is Going On With The Ministry Of Emergency Situations
If you haven't heard, The Russian Ministry of Emergency situations opened a TikTok Account and has been uploading very interesting content. This guy works for the ministry and is demonstrating what to do in case of an emergency. We're not sure what emergency would force us to do a balancing act using two axes. However, we have to admit, this is quite impressive. We can barely stand on our two feet sometimes.
Was this guy working in a circus or a professional athlete before joining the ministry? We guess we need to follow their TikTok Account if we want to know more.
You Will Find Interesting People On The Train
Isn't this adorable? A blue-haired woman, who looks like she took inspiration from an anime comic, is sitting next to an older man who has fallen asleep on the train. They both have their own distinct style, so when you see them together, it is almost hard to believe they exist in the same world. One is colorful, upbeat, and almost cartoonish, while the other wears more grounded colors and looks more realistic.
Looks like there's literally a place for anyone in the Motherland. All this picture is missing is a bear!
Jesus Would Not Approve Cheating On A Test
Next, we have a Russian student who used Jesus himself to cheat on his exam. He laid out framed pictures of Jesus on his desk to deceive the exam inspector making him believe that he needed divine assistance. Yet this student is more of a sinner than a saint. One of the framed pictures is actually an iPad. When the inspector wasn't looking, the student could scroll over to the next image with the answers to the test.
We are not devout believers, but we do believe this student got a good score. It has to be one of the funniest and most original ways to cheat on a test.
An Actual Russian Life Hack You Can Use
Anyone who ever carried a bucket of water knows the feeling of having the handle pressed down on your hand, leaving a painful imprint. This Russian life hack is useful so try to remember it the next time you carry a heavy bucket of water. It's so easy too, just take a wrench and use that as your bucket handle. We have to admit this is life-changing.
We always love to find new life hacks, and this does come in handy. We wonder if carrying buckets of water is still so common in Russia, though.
If You Pee In Public It will Be On YouTube
Here is one way to deter people from peeing in public spaces. This sign warns people that if they pee in public, they will be filmed, and the footage will be uploaded to YouTube. In other countries, the punishment is usually a fine (in the United States, you might even register as a sex offender) but in Russia, the punishment is public humiliation in front of the entire planet. Russians do not mess around.
Is it someone's job to record and post these videos online? Is there an office? We have so many questions.
Trucks In Russia Can Drive Through Water
It isn't something you see every day. This truck was released into the water while carrying a large shipping container. We haven't heard of cars that can drive in deep water just yet, so we are amazed this is even possible with trucks. The truck driver must feel like he is Jesus himself, being able to travel on water.
Try and imagine the first truck driver told to drive through water. They must have panicked at first but felt incredibly relieved when they realized they made it through to the other side.
Do Not Mess With A Babushka Who Cleans Bombs
Only in Russia will you see a Babushka, or grandmother, clean an actual bomb like it was nothing. She is cleaning the bomb with an everyday mop, and it's making us nervous. Does it pay well to risk your life cleaning bombs? It is one profession we will gladly let someone else do. We prefer jobs that keep us safe and include a dental plan.
Okay, we don't need a dental plan, but we can't argue about safety. It is the number one priority. We do not envy anyone on their first day cleaning bombs.
This Is Not The Happiest Place On Earth
Some families love to take their kids to Disneyland, go on rides, and see characters from their favorite Disney movies. In Russia, you get Patriot Park. A park that glorifies the military and lets children ride tanks instead of rollercoasters. Parents and their children can shoot guns together. We might have a different definition for a fun family activity though. We've said it once, and we'll say it again, do not mess with Russians.
Each country has its way of having fun, and Russia, being Russia, never ceases to amaze us with its wonders. So, have you booked your flight to Motherland?