One billion rubles (1,000,000,000 rubles) was a banknote used in the Caucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic in the period of hyperinflation of the early 1920’s.

Nominal value in figures and words, and warning labels are depicted on the obverse of the banknote.

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This Sunday, March 4, will be the day of the Russian presidential elections, and with high probability we can say that the “winner” will be Vladimir Putin, the man who has been the President of Russia from 2000 to 2008. In 2008-2012 he has been holding the post of prime minister.

What will happen after the return of Vladimir Putin is not clear, may be we will see new repressions, reforms, or even revolution.

Russian artist Zhgun shows in this video, how it all began, what happened over the years and what lies ahead.

Tags: caricature

“Dunai-3U” is early warning radar station of Soviet missile defense system A-35M located in Moskovskaya oblast. The station was put in service in 1978. NATO’s code for radar station “Dunai-3U” is “Cathouse”.

Today the station operates partly; most of the equipment was dismantled. Once it was one of the most secret military facilities of the Soviet Union. Today the station is practically deserted. Photos by artuniar.

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Tags: Abandoned · Moskovskaya oblast · Soviet past

The sale of Alaska was a deal between the governments of the Russian Empire and the North American United States. In 1867, Russia for 7.2 million USD (about 108 million USD in 2009), sold its territories in North America (total area 1,518,800 square km or 586,412 square miles).

At the time of the sale the entire population in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands was about 2,500 Russian and approximately 60,000 American Indians and Eskimos. At the beginning of the 19th century Alaska brought income from the fur trade.

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Soviet propaganda is propaganda of communist ideas and the Soviet way of life. It was carried out deliberately and centrally under the direction of the Communist Party and was officially called the ideological work, educating the masses, etc.

The propaganda combined the universal values (freedom, social justice), and patriotism. Propaganda was conducted through the media, books, movies, theater, and visual art. Today it is the part of Soviet cultural heritage.

Let’s take a look at how it all began during the Civil War and establishing of Soviet power in 1917-1923.

Death to world imperialism!

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Tags: posters · propaganda · Soviet past

The Yakut horse (“sylgy” or “sakha ata” on Yakut language) is aboriginal breed of horses common in Yakutia. This breed of horses with long hair (8-15 cm) is the most frost-resistant. In winter it can feed on the grass from under the snow.

In Yakutia, the horses are living outdoors all year round (in summer the temperatures are up to +30 ° C and in winter down to -50 ° C).

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Tags: Sakha Republic

Abandoned Research Institute of Corrosion is located somewhere in the Moscow region. The institute was working on studying the effects of different environments and conditions on certain substances.

In the late 1980s due to lack of funding the institute was closed. Now this is the place where you can feel the atmosphere of the Soviet Union.

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Tags: Abandoned · Moskovskaya oblast

Bachatskiy coal open-cast mine, located in Belovo city (Kemerovo oblast) is one of the largest mines of the Kuzbass (total area is about 20 square kilometers, depth – 300 meters). Annual production amounts to more than 8 million 700 thousand tons.

The mine produces fuel for energy and metallurgical industries of Russia and other countries around the world.

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Tags: Kemerovo oblast

Karelia Republic is a remarkably beautiful land of white nights, boundless forests, and blue lakes. Karelia is located on the border of Western and Eastern Europe, on the border of cultures and religions.

Severe beauty of Karelia Republic nature, the climate, not too favorable in these latitudes, the coexistence and intermingling of various peoples inhabiting this land for centuries, all that conditioned the character of the people living here: very laconic, self-assured, contemplative, and tolerant people.

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Marina Zakharova was born in Kostroma and graduated from the Yaroslavl Art School in 1987. She takes part in Russian and foreign art exhibitions. In 1998, she received an award from the President of Russia for achievements in art. The paintings of the artist can be found in the collection of Kostroma Art Museum and private collections in Russia and abroad.

Most of the paintings of Marina Zakharova are still lifes. But the author does not agree with this definition of the genre of her paintings. She says that she paints the portraits of flowers. The catalog of paintings.

Tags: Kostroma city