Ukrainians vs Russians

When I was living in Ukraine it was really obvious that Ukrainians never liked Russians. It was always this quiet hatred towards their mentality, their habbits, their lifestyle. How strange is this? We all have same Slavic origin and we are all coming from the same nonexistent anymore union, how can we be so different, up to the point of hating each other?

Yuriy Lutsenko - former interior Minister of Ukraine, who was on the side of Yulia Tymoshenko's government explains what kind of differences he sees between Russians and Ukrainians.

According to him, for the Russian people the main thing in life is state, their own country. A typical Russian person is described by him this way: "A roof leaks in the house, the cow is not milked, the goat died, the children are hungry, but the Russian citizen stands on his knees in front of an icon of Jesus Christ and prays to Moscow and to the Tsar and to the State, because for him those are only things that are able to protect him.

At the same time, for the Ukrainians, in his opinion, the main value - is their own freedom. "Ukraine is the a country of fugitive slaves. They were always running from the tsar and a king and a prince and a wife and any type of chaos in general. In Ukraine, if the family works well independently of the state, it will survive without any interference,"- shared his thoughts Lutsenko.

Mikhail Zurabov, a Russian ambassador once in his interview stated that Ukrainians and Russian in fact, are the same. This has outraged the Ukrainian nationalists, who declared the Russian diplomat as persona non grata.

Sashlyk or Russian meat skewers

Shashlyk it's a type of meat skewers that are really popular in Russia and other Eastern European countries.

This dish originally is coming from Central Asia and Caucasus. The Russians are normally preparing Shashlyki in the open air, duruing the hot seasons. There is a tradition, for example, to get together to eat meat skewers on the 1st of May (Mayovka), the celebration of the International Workers' Day, or Labour Day. Normally the first warm days are coming with the month of May and it gives an opportunity for the russian people meet some friends and celebrate this event.

I prepared a recipy for you guys of the shashlyk that my father used to do, it's really delicious! But there is one thing you have to remember, the best meat for the skewers is lamb, no doubt, but there are many people that are using pork as a alternative of a soft and juicy meat (my father prefers pork). I have never seen people preparing any beef shashlyk, at all.

So, here it goes:

Pork skewers with vodka

Take the 5 kg of pork and cut into large chunks, cut the 5 kg of onions too, as rings, put spices:  salt, pepper, garlic. Poor 300 grams of vodka on the top, close the meet with some lead or simply another plate and put away in a cool place for 24 hours. After it has been marinated fry it on the grill and enjoy your meal, it will come out delicious, trust me!


You can also add some seasoning to the fried meat:

Seasoning with garlic & vinegar

To prepare the condiments you'll need: a couple of teeth of garlic, 1 onion, one-third cup of the white vinegar, some herbs like dill, basil, parsley, coriander, cilantro or tarragon and a third cup of boiled water. Crush garlic and mix with salt. Add the ground spices. Dilute vinegar with water and add it to your garlic weight, then mash everything thoroughly.

For the Portuguese speakers

Guys, for those of you, who speaks Portuguese, my new website: Tudo Sobre a Rússia

Chernobyl - 25 years

Chernobyl as a challenge to Europe 

Today is 26/04, the 25th anniversary of the reactor accident at Chernobyl. Since then, the "Chernobyl" means a huge environmental disaster whose devastating consequences caused deep shock for half of the planet. Atmospheric emission of radioactive substances at the time of the explosion and the post-impact accident resulted the contamination of many European countries. 

The territory of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, within the area of ​​150 km2 has got into a danger zone. As a result of long-term decay of radioactive substances, amount of disease in infected areas didn't not reduce, but rather increased. Which still causes cancers, infant mortality, and genetic defects in many Eastern European countries. The Chernobyl disaster - is a large-scale threat to both social health and the economic development.

Video: 25 years of the Chernobyl, didn't make the problems disappear

Why FEMEN is protesting topless?

The FEMEN girls are back breaking the traditional feminism. The members of the group affirm that an ordinary feminists' protest is for women that want to be equal to men. In their  they want to be placed as women. Therefore, showing how sexy they are. Currently FEMEN has 300 members - 30 of them are topless "warriors" of the group. The average age is 22 years old, but there is also one 63 years old lady.

In the interview for a Brazilian news website G1, FEMEN group is sharing their secrets. Why actually protesting topless?

Isn't it on the contrary: to show the body, attracting million of eyes, humiliates the woman instead of appreciating her? 

Inna Shevchenko, 20 year old leader of the movement and a journalism student says that before girls used to organize protests dressed uo normally, but it had no effect, so they decided to make it really extreem. "When a woman takes off her clothes, it's because something very serious happened and people want to know what is it," explains the leader.

Her mother cries every time she sees her daughter in the press, being arrested, as it happens quite often. "My mother grew up during the communism, for her even the ordinary protest is already a serious one, she would never understand women protesting and naked women protesting is something totally crazy for her" adds Inna.

According to the Ukrainian law it is prohibited to show genitals in public. "But it is not about genitals," argues a young activist. "Men may walk with no shirt on the street and women are sunbathing topless during the summer, so why cannot we protest this way?" - questions.

Source of the article and the photo: G1

On the photo, FEMEN is protesting on the 19/04 against the use of nuclear power due to the 25 years of the nuclear accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

2011 got an Orthodox and a Catholic Easter together

Well, first of all, I would like to warn you, that there is no Chocolate on the Orthodox Easter and the eggs are brought by the hen and not by the rabbit!

The main Orthodox Easter tradition are the three kisses on the cheek saying: "The Christ is risen." The response from the other person would be: "Truly risen!" People in this day give to family and friends painted eggs (they are real boiled chicken eggs that are painted with vegetable dyes) and also bring the rest of the eggs to the cemetery for the dead relatives, it's a tradition, showing respect and remembrance for those who are no longer present. On the Easter table, after a religious fasting for seven weeks, will appear: cakes, like panettone, with nuts and raisins (the other symbol of Easter) cheese, meat, painted eggs. It is believed that the Christian festival of Easter has a duration of seven-eight days, the celebration continues until Monday, which is the holy day of St. Foma (St.Thomas).

The egg is the main symbol of Easter and rebirth, because it means the life of a new creature. The red-painted egg are called "Krashenki," the egg painted in various colors and decorated with flowers and traditional ornaments, called "Pisanka", wooden eggs are mentioned by Russians, as "Yaychata". The red-painted egg (usually painted with brown onion peel) brings the idea of ​​rebirth and symbolizes the blood of the Christ. There's even a ritual: you hyave to wash your face with water where the egg were dipped in order to be painted, it will definitely bring you health and beauty. The Orthodox Easter Mass continues all night long and if you are able to be awake that whole night before Easter, you will have a protection against diseases, a happy marriage and a long life full of happiness. 

Hristos voskres!

Medvedev is a new American boy

After a serious Putin that doesn't even smile for the press pictures, we have a President Medvede dancing "American Boy".

Difficult to say what do I prefer more...serious preseident or the one that allows himself to have a little fun with friends...

Some peculiar Russian dog breeds

1. The Borzoi Hunting Sighthound is definitely the most aristocratic Russian dog. Having a rising reputation of a glamour pet, this Russian wolfhound often accompanies celebrities and takes part in luxuries commercials. Translated from Russian, the Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya means a swift dog. For several centuries the Borzois were bred by Russian nobility to hunt wolves. A pair or trio of Russian wolfhounds would strike a sighted wolf, force it down and hold until the hunters arrive. After the Bolshevik revolution this Russian dog, being one of the symbols of the “tsarist past”, was ousted for quite a long time from communist life.

2.The Black Russian Terrier, commonly known as Russian terrier or just Blackie is quickly gaining in popularity in Europe and North America. Another name for this black Russian dog is Russian Pearl, given to it in the West not only for its appearance but for its rare working abilities. This breed unites the energy and mobility of Schnauzer, cleverness and upbeat nature of Airedale, strength and courage of Rottweiler, and firmness of Newfoundland. The Russian terrier is extremely efficient and reliable, and makes an excellent watch and guard dog.

3.There’s no other Russian Dog that can smile like the Samoyed with its always upturned mouth corners. It is an old dog breed, which took its name from a Siberian tribe of fishermen and hunters "Samoeyedy". It's covered in a long fluffy and weather-resistant double coat, with black eyes, lips and nose. His heavy, weather resistant coat is suitable for very cold climates and should be pure white, white and biscuit, cream or biscuit. It also common to find other breed nicknames for the Samoyed: Bjelkier, Nenetskaya Laika, Sam, Smiley, Smiling Sammy, Sammy. For me, it's the cutest Russian breed!

4.The Caucasian dog is the most brutal Russian dog breed. It is a large, even-tempered dog with powerful and muscular body and a bear-look face. It has a thick and water resistant double coat in shades of gray, brindle, yellow, rust, red or white. The coat may be longer or shorter depending on the region the dog comes from. The Caucasian dog is one of the oldest mastiff-type breeds, originating from the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It was used for centuries to guard flocks, kill wolves, hunt bears and protect properties against trespassers and thieves. During the communist era this dog guarded prisoners of the Soviet Gulag camps and served as a border patrol dog along the Berlin wall.

The Caucasian dog only 38 days old:

5.A miniature terrier known as Russian Toy is the smallest Russian dog and one of the tiniest dogs in the world.

There are two varieties of this breed: Russian Longhaired Toy Terrier and shorthaired Russian Toy Terrier. Their hair may be black and tan, red, brown and tan, blue and tan or pale-yellow. It is not allergenic and doesn’t have any odor. 

Its long-haired variety became especially popular in Russia because the Russian Longhaired Toy Terrier was suited for walks in cold weather. 

Despite its pocket size this Russian dog is typically known as a healthy and very easy to train breed.

Russian Longhaired Toy Terrier:

and shorthaired Russian Toy Terrier: