Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] Abnormally cold weather is expected in many Russian regions, including the European part of the country. Roman Vilfand, scientific director of the Russian Hydrometeorological Center, reported this on January 13.
"In the center of the European part of Russia, in the Central Federal District (in the Tver, Moscow, Smolensk, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, and Vladimir regions), temperatures are expected to be 6-13 degrees below normal, and minimum temperatures from January 14 to 18 will range from minus 15 to minus 23 degrees," he clarified in a conversation with Interfax.
Cold weather is also forecast for the Kursk, Voronezh, Tambov, Lipetsk, and Belgorod regions, where temperatures will be 6–14 degrees below normal, with minimums of minus 15 to minus 22 degrees continuing until January 18.
In Perm Krai, Chuvashia, Nizhny Novgorod, Kirov, Orenburg, Penza, and Saratov Oblasts, Tatarstan, and Bashkortostan, temperatures will range from -18 to -25 degrees Celsius from January 16th to 18th. In Krasnodar Krai, Adygea, and Leningrad Oblast, temperatures will drop to -18 degrees Celsius. In Kaliningrad Oblast, temperatures will drop to -12 degrees Celsius. In Pskov Oblast, temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius are possible. In the Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrugs, temperatures are expected to drop to -41 degrees Celsius. In the northern Krasnoyarsk Krai, temperatures will reach -46 to -51 degrees Celsius.
In the Tomsk, Kemerovo, and Irkutsk regions, as well as in Altai and Tyva, temperatures will reach minus 46 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, abnormally cold weather is forecast in the Sverdlovsk, Kurgan, and Chelyabinsk regions, Buryatia, and Transbaikal, with temperatures reaching minus 42 degrees Celsius.
In Kamchatka, temperatures will drop to minus 37 degrees, and in Yakutia, temperatures are expected to drop to minus 55 degrees from January 14 to 16, Vilfand concluded.
Vilfand previously noted that 2025 could be among the top three warmest years on record. He pointed out that the world's oceans have been accumulating unprecedented levels of heat for almost two years now, resulting in extremely high average water temperatures between 60° north and 60° south latitudes.
[Daily Express] Vladimir Putin has faced another setback as a senior Russian general has reportedly been dismissed once more. Lieutenant General Sukhrab Akhmedov, the Russian Navy Deputy Commander for Coastal and Ground Forces, has been criticized as incompetent and a butcher owing to his dismal battlefield performance.
In July 2025, Putin bestowed upon him Moscow's highest honor, the "Hero of Russia" award, despite his leadership of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade when, in merely four days, it suffered approximately 300 casualties and lost half its equipment following a series of disorganized attacks on the town of Pavlivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region in 2022.
Akhmedov was removed from his position as commander of the 20th Army in May 2024. According to EurAsia Daily, the military chief lost his latest post due to "an illiterate column attack" on the Ukrainian city of Dobropillya in December that "entailed unjustified and ineffectual losses."
Russian sources now report that no less than 4 tankers of Russia's shadow fleet have been struck in the Black Sea.
Aside from previously reported Delta Harmony (9408463) and Matilda (9407457), the Freud (9804461) and the Delta Supreme (9585895) were also struck. All of those… pic.twitter.com/FL2jtieCCz
#3
My question would be, as Russian cargo vessels were being targeted before the US began seizing operations, is in coordination with, or using the cover of, US seizures?
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] 22:30 Russian occupiers in the Hulyaipil direction have received a large number of thermobaric hand grenades. They will use them for "dropping" from drones. This was stated by the spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces, Vladislav Voloshin, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
21.59 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had "very productive work" with his American counterpart Donald Trump and his team. This is evidenced by Zelenskyy's video address.
21.49 Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky reported to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on the situation at the front. This is evidenced by the evening address of the Ukrainian head of state.
20.16 The European Union plans to complete the preparation of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia in February. This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaia Kallas, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
"We are pushing forward with the 20th package of sanctions and aim to complete it next month. Putin will only take negotiations seriously if we force him to," Kallas noted.
According to her, there is currently an "intense diplomatic push for peace."
19.19 On Wednesday, power outage schedules will again be in effect in the regions of Ukraine. At the same time, emergency power outages are in effect in Kyiv and several districts of the Kyiv region after the Russian attack. This was reported by Ukrenergo.
18.51 On Tuesday night, the Rashists attacked 15 critical infrastructure facilities. Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development Kostyantyn Kovalchuk said this at a briefing, Ukrinform reported.
17.42 The Verkhovna Rada failed to vote on the appointment of Denys Shmyhal as Minister of Energy. It also failed to appoint Mykhailo Fedorov as Minister of Defense. This is evidenced by the broadcast of the plenary session of the parliament.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, consulted with the members of the conciliation council and announced a break in the meeting until Wednesday morning.
17.10 Since the beginning of the day, 72 combat clashes between the Ukrainian army and Russian aggressors have been recorded at the front. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this in an operational briefing.
The enemy is concentrating its main efforts on the Pokrovsky direction, trying to break through the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of 10 settlements.
16.26 Three oil tankers were attacked by drones on Tuesday in the Black Sea as they headed to load oil at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal off the coast of Russia, Reuters reported, citing eight sources.
15.44 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard a report by the First Deputy Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) Oleg Lugovsky and stated that 20% of the vessels of the Russian shadow fleet were stopped as a result of sanctions. The head of state reported this on Telegram.
15.11 The government is coordinating efforts with retail chains to provide citizens in Kyiv with products. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported this on Telegram.
Earlier on Tuesday, it became known that in Kyiv and the region, some supermarkets of the Silpo and Novus chains are temporarily suspending operations due to power outages caused by Russian attacks. The companies reported this on social networks. There are also isolated cases of technical difficulties in the ATB supermarket chain.
14.44 Russian prisoner of war Serhiy Tuzhilov was sentenced to life imprisonment for the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war near Vovchansk. The SBU press service reports this.
This is about 36-year-old Russian citizen Sergey Tuzhilov (call sign Altai ), an assault rifleman of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the Leningrad Military District of the Russian Federation. Before mobilization, he served two terms in Russian prisons for drug crimes and robbery.
Tuzhilov fought near Vovchansk in June 2024. During the assault on a local factory, the militant, together with an accomplice, shot three captured Ukrainian soldiers. At the same time, he personally shot a bound Ukrainian soldier in the back of the head with his service rifle.
14.43 Russian troops attacked energy facilities in Zaporizhzhia region, injuring two employees of Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo. The Ministry of Energy reported this on January 13. It is noted that the shelling damaged equipment, which led to a significant number of consumers in the region losing power.
14.40 The Verkhovna Rada supported the president's motion to dismiss the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Malyuk. A total of 235 people's deputies voted for resolution No. 14368. The issue was considered under an abbreviated procedure. Vasyl Malyuk was not present in the session hall.
14.20 The Verkhovna Rada accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal. 265 MPs voted for this decision at the plenary session of the parliament. The parliament also dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Digital Transformation at his request with 270 votes "in favor". It is expected that he will become the new Minister of Defense.
13.52 Counterintelligence of the Security Service prevented a terrorist attack in Kherson. As a result of preemptive actions in the city, two FSB agents were detained who were preparing an attack on employees of the local unit of the National Police. The SBU reported this on January 13.
According to the investigation, at the request of the Russian Federation, the suspects were supposed to blow up several official cars together with Ukrainian law enforcement officers. In the event of the enemy's task being carried out, the FSB promised the agents "evacuation" to Russia.
13.22 Tank battalion fighters, in cooperation with the 1st assault battalion of the 92nd separate assault brigade named after Kosh Ataman Ivan Sirko of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, captured a T-80 tank of the Russian occupiers. This was reported by the 92nd Assault Brigade.
12.54 Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky, during a telephone conversation with the Commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa, General Christopher Donaghue, informed about the difficult situation at the front, the massive attacks by the Russian Federation on energy, and emphasized the urgent need to strengthen air defense.
According to the commander-in-chief, despite significant losses of personnel, weapons, and military equipment, the Russian aggressor does not refuse to continue offensive actions.
11.46 Russia's strikes on Ukraine's critical infrastructure are a reminder that we cannot stop supporting our state. But in any case, the cold will not help Russia win the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
11.13 On Tuesday night, Ukrainian military personnel struck a drone production plant in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation and a number of targets in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this.
10.37 Emergency power outages are in effect in Kyiv and a number of regions due to a massive Russian missile and drone attack. Ukrenergo reported this. A significant number of consumers in Kyiv and the Kyiv region, as well as in Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhia regions, are currently without power.
10.11 Air defense forces neutralized two Russian Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 5 Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 240 UAVs. Ballistic/anti-aircraft missile hits and 48 strike UAVs were recorded at 24 locations.
9.55 On the night of January 13, Russian troops continued attacks on critical infrastructure in the Zhytomyr region. Several facilities in the Korosten and Zvyahel districts were hit. This was reported by the Zhytomyr OVA.
9.08 As a result of a Russian drone and missile strike on the Dnipropetrovsk region, two people were injured, fires raged, and infrastructure and housing were damaged. This was reported by the head of the OVA, Oleksandr Ganzha. Two people were injured.
9.30 On the front line over the past 24 hours, 159 combat clashes were recorded between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian troops. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Defense Forces' aviation struck 10 areas of concentration of personnel and two enemy command posts.
8.43 Emergency power outages were introduced in Kyiv on Tuesday morning, January 13, due to damage to the energy infrastructure as a result of a nighttime attack by the Russian Federation. This was reported by the Kyiv City Administration.
8.17 In Odessa, as a result of two waves of Russian attacks, residential buildings and social facilities were damaged: a hospital, a kindergarten, and a school. This was reported by the head of the Odessa MVA Serhiy Lysak on January 13. Currently, five victims are known. They are being provided with all necessary medical assistance.
7.50 The Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 950 Russian occupiers over the past 24 hours. The total combat losses of the Russian army from February 24, 2022 to January 13, 2026 in the war against Ukraine amount to about 1,220,950 people. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on January 13.
7.23 As a result of the Russian combined attack with missiles and drones on the outskirts of Kharkiv, four civilians were killed, and six more people were injured to varying degrees. This was reported by the head of the Kharkiv OVA Oleg Synegubov. As the head of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, Dmytro Yatsychenko, noted in a comment to Suspilny, the Russians used double-strike tactics. First, the occupiers attacked with ballistic missiles, and then with strike drones.
06.26 Russians attacked the Novaya Poshta terminal near Kharkiv. The building was partially destroyed.
05.50 Russian drones hit two civilian vessels under the flags of Panama and San Marino in the Odessa region. One crew member was seriously injured and was urgently evacuated.
02.21 Two people were killed and five others were injured in strikes on the outskirts of Kharkiv on the night of Tuesday, January 13. A fire broke out at the attacked facility.
01.55 Powerful explosions were heard in Kyiv against the backdrop of a ballistic threat. After that, people wrote in the public about the almost complete power outage in Irpin, Bucha, and Gostomel. They also recorded problems with water supply. Meanwhile, monitoring channels are writing about a massive ballistic attack on the Trypilska and Kryvyi Rih TPPs. It is reported that within an hour the enemy allegedly used more than 20 ballistic missiles.
00.30 Explosions were heard in Odessa, Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and Kharkiv amid an air alert due to a UAV attack.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[NewsFront] 21:37 Units of the unmanned systems troops of the Dnepr group of forces attacked unmanned boats of Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Dnieper delta in the Kherson region. 20:49 In the period from 18:00 to 20:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 33 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type:
14 – over the waters of the Sea of Azov,
11 – over the territory of the Republic of Crimea,
Three – over the territory of Krasnodar Krai,
Two – over the territory of Belgorod Oblast,
Two – over the waters of the Black Sea,
One – over the territory of Volgograd Oblast.
20:06 Drone operators at the Rubicon Center destroyed manpower, automotive and armored vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, artillery systems, UAV control posts, firing positions, temporary deployment points, ground-based robotic systems, elements of communications and electronic warfare systems, as well as enemy drones in various areas of the front.
19:50 Destruction of a UAV launcher of the 152nd Separate Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by three FAB-500s near the settlement of Grishino. Destruction of an anti-aircraft gun of the 158th Separate Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by four FAB-500s near the settlement of Belitskoye. Destruction of an anti-aircraft gun of the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by three FAB-500s near the settlement of Kostyantynivka, –video.
18:47 Advance of the Russian Armed Forces in the Kramatorsk direction, –MAP.
18:44 Specialists of the unmanned systems troops with the help of the Geran-2 UAV struck a storage site and control center for Ukrainian Armed Forces drones near the village of Myronivka in Sumy Oblast.
18:11 In the period from 13:00 to 18:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 40 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type:
22 over the territory of the Republic of Crimea,
Seven over the territory of the Belgorod region,
Six over the waters of the Sea of Azov,
Two over the territory of the Volgograd region,
Two over the territory of the Rostov region,
One over the territory of the Bryansk region.
16:23 Anti-aircraft gunners and FPV drone operators of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Guards Combined Arms Army of the West Group of Forcesreflectedenemy air raid in the SVO zone.
15:29 Advance of the Russian Armed Forces in the Borovsk direction, –MAP.
14:59 Russian Armed Forces are advancing in the Kupyansk direction, MAP.
14:55 Oskol Front. Assault units have occupied a fortified area east of Novaya Kruglyakovka. MAP.
14:09 Servicemen from the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems crews of the 30th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle brigade of the Center group, using the Orlan-10 UAV, adjusted artillery fire on enemy positions in the Krasnoarmeysk direction.
13:29 In the period from 8.00 to 13.00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 15 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles:
10 UAVs – over the territory of the Republic of Crimea,
Two UAVs – over the territory of the Volgograd region,
Two UAVs – over the territory of the Kursk region,
One UAV – over the waters of the Sea of Azov
. 12:29 Summary of Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the Special Military Operation as of January 13, 2026:
In response to Ukraine's terrorist attacks on civilian targets in Russia, the Russian Armed Forces launched a massive strike tonight using ground-based precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against energy infrastructure facilities used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises.
The strike's objectives have been achieved. All designated targets have been hit.
Units of the "North" force group improved their tactical position. Formations of a Ukrainian Armed Forces mechanized brigade were defeated near the village of Myropillia in Sumy Oblast.
In the Khar'kov direction, units of the territorial defense brigade were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Staritsa and Vovchanskie Khutora in the Khar'kov region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost over 185 service members, 17 vehicles, and a field artillery gun. An electronic warfare station and two supply depots were destroyed.
Units of the "West" force group have taken up more advantageous positions and lines. They have inflicted losses on the personnel and equipment of the mechanized, airmobile, and assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as the National Guard brigade, near the settlements of Grushevka, Petrovka, Blagodatovka, and Kupyansk-Uzlovaya in Khar'kov Oblast; Novoegorovka in the Luhansk People's Republic; and Yarovaya, Sosnove, Drobyshevo, and Illichivka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost up to 190 troops, a tank, an armored combat vehicle, 13 pickup trucks, and an artillery piece. Three ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Southern Group of Forces have improved their position along the forward edge. Formations of two mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a territorial defense brigade have been defeated near the settlements of Zakotnoye, Reznikovka, Petrovskoye, Privolye, Minkovka, Konstantinovka, and Stepanovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost over 165 servicemen, five armored combat vehicles, 14 cars and two field artillery pieces.
Units of the Center Forces Group have improved their tactical position. They have inflicted casualties on the personnel and equipment of three mechanized brigades, an airmobile brigade, an airborne assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a National Guard brigade, and a territorial defense brigade near the settlements of Belitske, Hryshino, Kryvorizhye, Vodyanske, Toretske, Rusyn Yar, Volne, and Sukhetske in the Donetsk People's Republic, and Novopidgorodne and Novopavlivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 400 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, nine pickup trucks, and an artillery piece.
Units of the "East" force group advanced deep into the enemy's defenses. They defeated the personnel and equipment of a mechanized unit, two assault brigades, and two assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the settlements of Verkhnyaya Tersa, Barvinovka, Lyubitske, Rozovka, Novoukrainka, Zaliznychne, Zhovtneve, Ternovatoye, and Pryluky in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Bratskoye in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost over 270 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles and nine cars.
Units of the Dnipro group of forces defeated formations of the mountain assault brigade, the coastal defense brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Dniprovske in the Kherson region, Orekhov and Pavlivka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, a tank, ten vehicles, two artillery pieces, three electronic warfare stations, and three ammunition and supply depots were destroyed.
10:55 A crew of Lancet loitering munitions from the 244th Artillery Brigade of the 11th Army Corps of the North Group of Forces destroyeda mobile group for the delivery of ammunition and supplies to the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces units in the Khar'kov region.
FPV drone operators from the 375th Separate Anti-tank Artillery Division ??
of the "West" group of forces struck camouflaged strongholds containing enemy personnel in the Kupyansk district of the Khar'kov region.
Drone operators from the 11th Army Corps of the "North" group of forces burned enemy communications equipment and repeaters, thereby disrupting the control of one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' command posts in the Khar'kov region.
Drone crews from the Tula paratroopers of the "North" group of forces disrupted the rotation and delivery of materiel to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumy region.
Drone operators from the special forces unit of the "Center" group conducted attacks on enemy equipment and personnel in the Krasnoarmeysk direction.
UAV crews from the Vostok group thwarted an attempt by the enemy to accumulate reserves in the Zaporizhzhia region.
10:11 Military personnel of the Vostok group told details of the liberation of the village of Gulyaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region.
08:32 Artillerymen of the Center group of forces destroyed accumulation of manpower of the Ukrainian Armed Forces formations, ensuring the advancement of assault units in the Krasnoarmeysk direction.
Military personnel from the Vostok group destroyed a Ukrainian Armed Forces stronghold in the Zaporizhzhia region.
07:33 Changes on map over the past 24 hours:
Novoboikovskoye was liberated
07:23 During the past night from 23:00 Moscow time on January 12 to 7:00 Moscow time on January 13, air defense systems on duty destroyed 11 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles:
Seven – over the territory of the Rostov region,
One – over the territory of the Belgorod region,
One – over the territory of the Kursk region,
One – over the territory of the Oryol region,
Oe – over the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
05:02 Crew of the 152mm artillery gun "Giatsint-B" of the Guards tank unit of the "Southern" group of forces destroyed enemy positions together with personnel in the Konstantinovsky direction.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Daniil of Moscow
[REGNUM] On the night of January 13th–14th, Russia celebrates Old New Year—a holiday whose very name sounds like a paradox. For most foreigners, this phrase is pure nonsense. For us, it's a reason to gather around the table once again, after the main New Year's bustle has passed and the Christmas tree is still up.
The holiday emerged after the country switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1918. January 31, 1918, was immediately followed by February 14—the country literally skipped two weeks. The Church, however, retained the Julian calendar.
A unique situation has arisen in Russia: secular society lives by one calendar, while church life is structured by another. This gap has given rise to the phenomenon of the Old New Year.
WHO AND HOW CELEBRATES
According to VTsIOM, 58% of Russians celebrate Old New Year. Older people are more likely to uphold the tradition: 66% of Russians aged 60+ celebrate the holiday, while half of those under 35 skip it.
Geographically, the most active celebrations are in Siberia and the Far East, where 64-65% of residents celebrate Old New Year. The holiday is viewed more reservedly in the Northwest, where more than half of respondents ignore it.
On the evening of January 13th, most people enjoy a feast with close family, friends, or a loved one. More TV, more Olivier salad, and another glass of sparkling wine—a classic choice for 36% of Russians.
People make wishes and light sparklers. Some admit to fortune-telling or reading tarot cards—Old New Year falls on the last days of Christmastide, and this practice hasn't disappeared.
Holiday expenses are relatively modest. Most people spend between two and five thousand rubles on the feast. Another 12% spend over 10 thousand, and 9% spend nothing—they have enough food left over from December 31st.
Before the Old New Year in Russia, demand for tangerines, champagne, and boxed chocolates traditionally increases, according to Check Index.
WHAT IS BEING COOKED AND WHY?
Old New Year's is, above all, a feast. But not like December 31st: more intimate, more homely, without fireworks outside. And with its own set of dishes, each with its own story.
Kutia is the main ritual dish. While it's prepared as a Lenten dish for Christmas, it's prepared "generous" and "rich" for the Old New Year: with butter, cream, honey, nuts, and dried fruit. It's made from rice, wheat, or barley.
Kutia symbolizes prosperity, fertility, and renewal. The grain is boiled until tender, then topped with steamed raisins, dried apricots, and chopped nuts, and seasoned with honey. Some families add poppy seeds, others butter. Served cold, it invariably takes center stage on the table.
Vareniki with surprises are another evening tradition. Small objects are hidden in the filling along with potatoes, cabbage, or cottage cheese. A coin promises money (watch your teeth!), beans a new addition to the family, a string a trip, and a bay leaf a career advancement. The whole family makes the vareniki and eats them carefully. This tradition stems from the fact that St. Basil's Day fell during the period of Christmas fortune-telling.
Pork dishes are a must. "The pig was considered a symbol of fertility and prosperity," explains Ekaterina Kotova, a cultural scientist and head of the Intercultural Communications Department at the Training Center of the Association of Etiquette Specialists, in an interview with Regnum News Agency." The tradition of serving 'Caesar's pig' is associated with the memory of Basil of Caesarea (the Great), who is honored on this day."
The table might feature boiled pork, jellied meat, roast meat, homemade sausage, and pork rolls. Wealthy families used to roast a whole pig—a rarity today, but pork in some form is almost always present.
And what would we do without pancakes and pies? Pies are baked with meat, cabbage, mushrooms, and fish. Jellied pork or beef on the bone is served with horseradish—it symbolizes prosperity and solidity.
FROM SOWING TO QUIET GATHERINGS
Old New Year is celebrated differently in different parts of the country, and regional differences have persisted for centuries.
In southern Russia, in stanitsas (councils) and villages, the tradition of scattering seeds still persists. On the morning of January 14, boys and young men go from house to house, scattering grain from a sleeve or bag. "We sow, we winnow, we sow, Happy New Year!" they say, wishing the owners a rich harvest, health, and prosperity. In return, they receive treats—pies, sweets, and small change.
In the Volga region, there are "shchedrivki" (singings of rites)—ritual songs wishing well-being. Young people go from house to house, congratulating the hosts, singing short songs with the refrain, "Generous evening, good evening, good health to good people!" Since ancient times, it was believed that through the mummers, the spirits of ancestors bless the hosts, so the "shchedrivki" (singings of rites) were greeted warmly.
In Central Russia and the Russian North, the holiday is often celebrated in the family circle, without any formalities or rituals—a generous table, conversations, and a quiet evening at home.
Russia is not alone in its calendar dichotomy. The Old New Year is celebrated everywhere where Orthodoxy is strong: in Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, it is called the "Serbian New Year" or the Orthodox New Year.
"As a native of Little Russia, I can say that the tradition is alive and well here and is still celebrated in the most ancient way, " shares Ekaterina Kotova. " Children sing Shchedrovki and sow seeds on the morning of January 14th—just as their great-grandfathers did."
WHY THE HOLIDAY DOESN'T DISAPPEAR
Old New Year has no official status, is not included in the holiday calendar, and is not supported by the state. Nevertheless, it is celebrated by most people.
Since the Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar, the calendar occasion itself remains: New Year's Day, according to the old calendar, falls on January 14. For many families, this is part of their history—something their parents and grandparents celebrated.
The holiday truly occupies a convenient niche: the New Year holidays are already over, and the workdays have not yet fully returned. January 13th marks the last of the January days when one can indulge in a feast without remorse.
Old New Year is an unusual holiday, a paradoxical one. It reminds us that traditions can be stronger than calendars. On the night of January 13th–14th, you can make a wish once again, make some vareniki with surprises, gather with those you missed on New Year's Eve—and realize that time is a finite thing.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] An online platform dedicated to the language and culture of the Keto people has launched with the support of the East Siberian Oil and Gas Company (ESOC, part of Rosneft). The project aims to preserve the unique linguistic heritage of this ancient indigenous people of the North.
The digital resource "Akta Daskavet" ("Let's Talk Well") includes a Ket language audio library, an online library, and a Russian-Ket online translator containing approximately 4,000 words. The platform is publicly available and intended for researchers, educators, and anyone interested.
The Ket language is of particular value to global linguistics as the only living representative of the Yeniseian language family. The platform's materials will also be used in training future teachers in Evenkia.
Previously, other projects were implemented within the framework of the VSNK grant program, including the publication of textbooks on the Keto language and an Evenki-Russian dictionary.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Daily Express] Vladimir Putin has faced another setback as a senior Russian general has reportedly been dismissed once more. Lieutenant General Sukhrab Akhmedov, the Russian Navy Deputy Commander for Coastal and Ground Forces, has been criticized as incompetent and a butcher owing to his dismal battlefield performance.
