The Volga ‘Gaz-3105’ had great potential, but died in the 1990s, along with the USSR.

Russians often use the balconies in their ordinary panel apartment buildings as sites for drying clothes or warehouses for unnecessary things. But sometimes true masters of interior design show up in unexpected places. These balconies, which demonstrate an incredible level of creativity, have been turned into bathrooms, banyas and even...a castle.

Maverick director Aleksandr Sokurov has lived up to his reputation as one of the most important Russian filmmakers alive today. Here are his five award-winning movies that every devotee of Russian culture should see.

Keeping our planet beautiful and clean needn’t be a tedious chore. One Russian project is using a hefty dose of gamification and appealing to the human desire to win to clean the landscapes of Russia (and further afield!) and raise awareness about environmental protection.

Siberians store documents in 'multifora'. Far Eastern residents drive 'prul', while Muscovites keep complaining on 'cheloveyniks'. How to understand Russians from different regions?