The Kokoshnik Boom, Vova the Village Boy, and OMON Quizzes: #ShameReview from "NotMoscow"
A fresh selection of cringe-worthy stories about Russia Day celebrations in Russia's regions. This year's festive agenda surprisingly blended a dramatic increase in kokoshnik sales on marketplaces, drone competitions in Buryatia, special fine art for the president, and intellectual games for security forces.
Explosive demand for kokoshniks and tricolors on marketplaces
In the lead-up to the holiday, kokoshnik sales on Russian marketplaces quadrupled compared to the first weeks of June last year. The consumer boom also affected other holiday paraphernalia: demand for balloons in the colors of the national tricolor, patriotic posters, and T-shirts increased by 1,8 times. Sales of Russian flags increased by 1,6 times.
Drone competitions in Buryatia and Putin as a country boy
In Ulan-Ude, Russia Day celebrations were combined with a military agenda, with the "Drones of Buryatia" festival taking place. Guests enjoyed an exhibition of unmanned aerial vehicles, interactive areas, and educational workshops. The highlight of the event was a drone operator competition. "So many enthusiastic and happy kids gathered," commented Alexey Tsydenov, Head of Buryatia.
Meanwhile, the "Traditions and Modernity" contemporary art festival opened at Moscow's Gostiny Dvor, and Vladimir Putin personally visited the exhibition. Among the exhibits, a painting depicting the president as a simple village boy named Vova attracted particular media attention.
An intellectual quiz for the riot police and Oleg Gazmanov's bat
In Khanty-Mansiysk, the regional branch of the state foundation "Defenders of the Fatherland" organized a history quiz for the holiday. This intellectual competition brought together combat veterans, participants in the "SVO" (as the full-scale war against Ukraine is known in Russia), and law enforcement agencies. According to the organizers, the history quiz was intended to "strengthen" cooperation between local security forces and the military.
Z-artist Oleg Gazmanov also celebrated Russia Day with the release of a new music video, "Frontline Intelligence." The video's central symbol is a bat, the embodiment of the intelligence service. Gazmanov called his video "a tribute to Russian intelligence officers and their brotherhood in arms."
Shaman and "Mother Earth": What to Listen to on Russia Day
The streaming service "KION Music" has compiled a ranking of the most popular songs about Russia among users for the holiday. The track "Mother Earth" performed by Tatyana Kurtukova leads the list by a wide margin. Second place went to the old song "Ty Nesmenya Reka" (Carry Me River) by the band "Lyube," and the top three was rounded out by "I Am Russian" by Z-singer Shaman (Yaroslav Dronov).
