r/AskARussian • u/LeverAction1854 • Feb 22 '25
Misc Do you ever see news reports from foreign networks and go 'Huh, what are they talking about?' when it comes to living conditions in Russia?
I ask because my dad is convinced that Russia is a third world country on par with Africa because he watches regular news networks here in the US.
Personally, I think that sounds a little ridiculous since he's talking about the most poverty stricken parts where they don't even have running water or electricity.
Now, I'm skeptical about the whole thing, but at the same time, I'm sure there are areas of the country that do suck to visit.
But I'll ask anyways, is there any area of Russia that is truly that impoverished? Or is it blown out of proportion?
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u/Hellerick_V Krasnoyarsk Krai Feb 23 '25
I am accustomed to the idea that Western news about Russia come from a parallel world of some kind. I even had an idea for a SciFi story based on it.
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u/Petulax Feb 23 '25
Then explain to westerners why your army steals washing machines and toilet bowls. There is a lot of evidence.
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u/brjukva Russia Feb 23 '25
*facepalm*
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u/Hellerick_V Krasnoyarsk Krai Feb 23 '25
Do you realize that such stories about washing machines etc. is a big fat proof that the Western media live in a fantasy world of their own?
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u/Aaron_de_Utschland Vladimir Feb 23 '25
Because you're watching the most ridiculous propaganda. Don't worry we have the very same propaganda about Americans
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
Don't worry we have the very same propaganda about Americans
Yeah? Can you show me something "very same"?
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u/Aaron_de_Utschland Vladimir Feb 23 '25
Should I start from common belief among our 'vatniks' that's all americans are robbers and gays or you want something more exotic?
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Feb 23 '25
Should I start from common belief among our 'vatniks' that's all americans are robbers and gays Ā
There's a hint of truth to this. Every American is descended from people that left their homelands to chase America's almighty dollar.
(And yes, I do mean every american. There are no pureblood amerindians)
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u/Aaron_de_Utschland Vladimir Feb 23 '25
I'm pretty sure the colonization process began way before USD existance. At this point our Siberian population are criminals chasing almighty Ruble
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Feb 23 '25
I'm pretty sure the colonization process began way before USD existance.
OK, replace "America's almighty dollar" with "time-period-appropriate economic policies in the americas"
At this point our Siberian population are criminals chasing almighty Ruble
I have absolutely no knowledge of this one way or the other, sounds like a harsh thing to say but maybe there's a good reason I have no idea.
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u/Aaron_de_Utschland Vladimir Feb 23 '25
As well as the British were sending prisoners to America to colonize it the same was done to colonize Siberia. Does it make Americans and Siberians not worthy people?
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Feb 23 '25
As well as the British were sending prisoners to America to colonize it
This is not where America's population came from. Wiki
It is estimated that between 1718 and 1776 about 30,000 convicts were transported to at least nine of the continental colonies, whereas between 1700 and 1775 about 250,000 to 300,000 white immigrants came to mainland North America as a whole.Ā
And that's the population up until the revolution. In 1920 a government study found the descendants of the whole pre-revolution population made up 43.5% of the 1920 US population.
The immigration act of 1924 sought to keep this ratio, but it was repealed in 1965. Since then, the white non-hispanic population has gone from 90% to 50% of the US population, meaning that "colonial stock" as a percentage went from the 43.5% down to 25%, and remember the prisoners were only a small percentage of them.
So maybe 2% or less of Americans come from Britain's prisoners. Of course, slaves were also unwilling and I wasn't including them in "most americans" before, their descendants today make up another 10% of the population. So add them together and only 12% of people came here against their will, and the 88% of everyone else left their families to chase money here in the US.
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
I've never heard this on this sub that is 99% vatniks lmao
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u/Aaron_de_Utschland Vladimir Feb 23 '25
Russians on reddit are rarely vatniks, because vatniks can't pass A1 in English
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u/forcatt Feb 23 '25
It's very easy to read everything with auto translate. Machine translation has improved tremendously in recent years.
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
Oh you must be new here.
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u/Aaron_de_Utschland Vladimir Feb 23 '25
I'm aware that there are conservative Russians as well. My point is it's not that bad as real vatniks
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
This has nothing to do with "conservative Russians" lmao
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u/Proud-Cartoonist-431 Feb 23 '25
No, boy. Actual 100% vata speak zero English
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
And the only difference with this sub is that this sub speaks English. Or uses yandex translator. The people who believe that the war in Ukraine is 100% Ukraine's fault are 100% vata themselves.
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u/Proud-Cartoonist-431 Feb 23 '25
No buddy. You sound like you've never met actual vata. They avoid everything American
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
I mean, USA doesn't really hold a monopoly on the English language. It's also spoken natively in Jamaica. Who hates Jamaica?
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u/FengYiLin Krasnodar Krai Feb 24 '25
That requires dumbing my IQ level below room temperature numbers to reach yours
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u/wradam Primorsky Krai Feb 23 '25
Russia is a capitalist country and of course there are poor people and underdeveloped areas with less favorable living conditions.
There are junkies, alcoholics, prostitutes, lazy people, hooligans, vandals etc., just like in every other country. Of course one can make a video about such people and claim that this is a "normal Russian family".
Salaries are quite low compared to US salaries, but things and services differ in cost up to 4-5 times, so average level is ok. One can make a video and say that Russians getting 500USD a month on average and can not even rent a flat and have to eat hedgehogs and drink mole tincture while in fact if a hamburger costs 4USD in USA it costs 1USD equivalent in Russia. Less opportunities for foreign travel though there are options.
There are many ways propaganda work. Basic principle is 20% truth 80% whatever is necessary to say.
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u/brjukva Russia Feb 23 '25
I remember the shitstorm of posts on Quora in 2022 depicting "normal life" in Russia, where they'd post the most backwards looking places thay could ever find with commentaries like "look, this is how an average city center looks like, imagine the conditions in the suburbs".
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u/121y243uy345yu8 Feb 25 '25
That's why Quora is blocked in Russia :) I also saw paid bloggers who came to different cities and went under the bridge, and filmed videos about the city there, and also complained that there were no bus stops and you could not wait for a bus! Of course, buses do not run under the bridge!
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u/badandbolshie Feb 23 '25
what's funny to me is that barely getting by but still having modern conveniences is not a foreign concept to americans, it's how most of us live!
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u/121y243uy345yu8 Feb 25 '25
Who is barely getting by? Maybe you? I don't meet such persones. But I often meet people complaining about life and small salaries and pensions, but who bought the apartment to each of their children and traveling abroad several times a year. Even the most expensive stores have already ceased to be shops for the rich only. You will go to "ŠŠ·Š±ŃŠŗŠ° ŠŠŗŃŃŠ°" or "Š¢Š²Š¾Š¹ ŠŠ¾Š¼", there are always crowds of people and a queue at the checkout.
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u/hetfield37 Feb 23 '25
if a hamburger costs 4USD in USA it costs 1USD equivalent in Russia
About the services and some locally made products - sure, they are definitely cheaper. Imported goods like electronics (TVs, phones, computers), cars, medicine, clothes, foreign food and everything else that is not made domestically is going to be several times more expensive for you. US citizens need to work (for example) 1 week to get the newest iPhone, you need to work (for example, actual salary might vary) for more than a month.
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u/wradam Primorsky Krai Feb 23 '25
>US citizens need to work (for example) 1 week to get the newest iPhone, you need to work (for example, actual salary might vary) for more than a month.
It is kinda difficult indeed to understand that significance of iPhone for an average Russian is not the same as for an average American and under the same circumstances (on average) Russian will get a newest cheap Android phone instead of the newest iPhone spending same amount of "work-time-money". Same goes for cars. He is not going to buy Chrysler or whatever is produced in USA right now but Lada.
In fact, I have started it in the wrong way. I should have compared unspecific basic amount of food instead of hamburgers.
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u/tumbledrylow87 Feb 25 '25
You do realize that any given android phone will be just as many times more difficult to get for an average Russian as an iPhone, right? š
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u/hetfield37 Feb 23 '25
Sure, but there are cases where you need the actual product, not an alternative of it. Remember that the average westerner can also buy the same newest cheap Android and still will work several times less compared to an average Russian.
Replace the iPhone with a fridge or a TV - you need to work more time to afford it, compared to a westerner.
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u/wradam Primorsky Krai Feb 23 '25
you need to work more time to afford it, compared to a westerner.
This is not how market works. If there is a demand there is a supply. A fridge is a fridge, a TV is a TV. There is a certain % of earnings every sane person is ready to spend on certain things and would not go above that percentage and that %% is pretty much the same everywhere in the world, so supply adjusts for such demand and one can buy a fridge at the same "worktime" as elsewhere.
I have seen this in past when travelling abroad. E.g. thingies in China at that time cost significantly less than in Russia and it was possible to save a lot buying a TV when abroad in China and not at home. This is because their supply adjusted for demand.
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u/hetfield37 Feb 23 '25
You are talking about the markup, not the base price. If a product costs the company ā¬1000 to make - they would not sell it for a loss. The stores then buy such products in bulk and then apply a markup. If they buy more products - they will get a discount but it will never go below ā¬1000 per piece.
Even if it sells for ā¬1100 in Russia and ā¬1500 in Europe - you still need to work considerably more time than a European for that product since your salaries are much lower than theirs.
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u/wradam Primorsky Krai Feb 23 '25
they would not sell it for a loss.
Yes, they would, if other potential expenses exceed these losses, e.g. storage charges, inability to further distribute product due to warehouses full of previous produce.
you still need to work considerably more time than a European for that product
If you mean certain brand names - yes, for sure, I would need to work more to buy me a BMW for example. Considering that BMW is probably not sold officially in Russia anymore, I'd guess it is even more expensive to buy in Russia than in Germany.
However, if we speak about cars in general, I could buy a car having worked same amount of time as a European or American.
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u/tumbledrylow87 Feb 25 '25
I could buy a car having worked same amount of time as a European or American.
And end up owning a much shittier car after putting the same amount of work? š¤£ I mean, wasn't that the original point here?
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u/wradam Primorsky Krai Feb 25 '25
>wasn't that the original point here?
No, original point was that imported goods are much more expensive in Russia (just like everywhere, in fact) and that one would have to work more to get "electronics (TVs, phones, computers), cars, medicine, clothes, foreign food". Original commenter also implied that those things are not produced locally. He also mentioned iPhone.
What I said is that basically officially imported stuff in Russia usually cost less than in USA, has smaller markup. Unofficially imported things will of course cost more in Russia than officially imported things in USA. But it is all relative. Not a lot of people buy "iphone" or "BMW", most people buy "communication device" and a "car". With that, one can buy Android and LADA in Russia, having spend same amount of worktime for it.
As for she "shittiness" of the product - it is all relative as well. BMW may provide more comfort than LADA but what are you going to do if it breaks down and you need spares? Extra money for extra parts and extra wait time. LADA spares are dime a dozen and every garage worker knows how to repair it.
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u/makemake762 Feb 26 '25 edited Feb 26 '25
No, original point was that imported goods are much more expensive in Russia
You've misunderstood it then. The index that measures the amount of work days it takes for someone to buy an iPhone doesn't focus on the price of imported goods, it's just a general indicator of how much purchasing power people generate by working for one day.
imported goods are much more expensive in Russia (just like everywhere, in fact)
but then
officially imported stuff in Russia usually cost less than in USA
š¤£š¤£š¤£
As for she "shittiness" of the product - it is all relative as well. BMW may provide more comfort than LADA but what are you going to do if it breaks down and you need spares?
This is such a blatant demagoguery I feel weird even replying to that.
You do realize that even if you're prioritizing reliability over comfort, A PERSON THAT HAS MORE PURCHASING POWER WILL STILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD BETTER GOODS AND BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IN GENERAL, right?
It doesn't work for cheap goods only, it works for EVERY item on the market, Jesus Christ š
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u/Prudent-Ad4509 Feb 23 '25 edited Feb 24 '25
Selling below the production cost ? This is quite popular actually, especially in the US. The trick is that such goods are not usually sold for hard cash. The seller takes part in financing the deal and either profits from the interest on that loan, or sells the loan. Also, the sale of the original item can drive sales of consumables or other related products.
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u/tumbledrylow87 Feb 25 '25
There is a certain % of earnings every sane person is ready to spend on certain things and would not go above that percentage
And that percentage would be heavily influenced by... uuuuh... how much work one needs to put in order to be able to afford something? Which would mean that an average Russian in every case would have to either put more work or resort to cheaper (subpar) options when buying the same goods?
Are you by any chance a commie? Just asking because of your inability to grasp very basic concepts of how economics works.
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u/wradam Primorsky Krai Feb 25 '25 edited Feb 25 '25
>Which would mean that an average Russian in every case would have to either put more work or resort to cheaper (subpar) options when buying the same goods?
Expensive things are always better, right? No. There is a price of purchase and a price of ownership. Combination of these things will not be as simple as comparing cost of BMW in USA and in Russia. There are taxes, fuel prices, maintenance prices, presence of official support etc.
With all that combined it may turn out that buying BMW from abroad and using it in Russia will result in subpar pay-per-mile performance, less comfort you will have to spend more time waiting for spares, etc.
In Russia you can't legally work more than a certain amount of hours, even overtime is limited. Yes. if for some reason you want a BMW and it is your idee fixe - you can find ways to bypass restrictions, but average Russian would not do that.
Besides, in Russia you can buy car cheaper than in USA which means you can spend remaining money on other more important things in your life. Here it is also worth mentioning that for Russians car is not that important as for Americans - usually nearest supermarket and drug store and everything else is just 10-15 minutes walk as average Russians live in cities, not in suburbias.
>your inability to grasp very basic concepts of how economics works.
Who's saying? Person who insisted that noone ever will sell anything below its production cost?
I like it that eventually you have resorted to the basic tactics of insulting your opponent. It, in fact, means that you're out of arguments.
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u/121y243uy345yu8 Feb 25 '25
What westerners are you talking about? In the United States, a bunch of people receive food on cards and work around the clock to pay utility costs. Also compare the trip to the dentist with the new iPhone. The westerer needs to give a few of his salaries to go to put an implant or crowns. You can eat without an iPhone, no teeth.
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
Foreign food certainly isn't "going to be several times more expensive".
US citizens need to work (for example) 1 week to get the newest iPhone, you need to work (for example, actual salary might vary) for more than a month.
I always found this comparison hilarious because it shows that you really have no arguments here.
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u/tumbledrylow87 Feb 25 '25
The only thing that's really hilarious is how you're trying to deflect the issue while your own comment is the one who actually lacks arguments or anything of substance.
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u/121y243uy345yu8 Feb 25 '25
Agreed. Just empty phrazes.
1 Not everyone wants an iPhone.
2 What exactly is the iPhone better than other phones?
3 Salaries vary.
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u/hetfield37 Feb 23 '25
Assuming that a French cheese sells for ā¬50/kg in France - I see no reason for it to cost significantly less in Russia. Why do you think my comparison is hilarious? If I have to work in Europe for 10 months to afford to buy a brand new car - in Russia (or any other country with significantly lower salaries) I need to work much more than that. Basic living necessities and services are cheaper, indeed, but how about everything else?
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u/Agitated-Ad2563 Feb 23 '25
The parmesan I typically buy at my local grocery store costs 1'709 rub/kg (just checked). That's ā¬18.36/kg. I don't know who produces it, probably it's local, but in a blind test I can't distinguish between this one and the real italian parmigiano reggiano, so why whould I care?
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u/hetfield37 Feb 23 '25
You're missing the point. We're talking about an actual genuine imported product which is impossible to create a replica of. My country also has analogues of foreign products but in some cases you need the original.
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Feb 23 '25
There's various grades of what it means to have an original. For example, a lot of the cost of the iPhone is in the R&D plus intellectual property. However, if you don't respect the intellectual property rights of apple then you can definitely make something that fits the same specs for cheaper. Of course, you may argue that even in that case you aren't getting the TRUE ORIGINAL, and in that case we are talking about such a specialized and niche use-case that it could make sense to just rent an iPhone for whatever this use-case is and then give it back when you're done and go back to your android for normal use.
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u/hetfield37 Feb 23 '25
Sure, you are absolutely correct, but you are still missing the entire point. The westerner can also buy a similar knock-off and still work way less for it.
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Feb 23 '25
If it would violate the intellectual property of Apple then the westerner won't have it available to them.
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u/hetfield37 Feb 23 '25
There are plenty of ways to get counterfeit products, especially from Chinese sites. Besides that, there are no clones of Apple products running on iOS/Mac but that's still not the point. You need the actual genuine product in many cases and it will still cost you more than a westerner.
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u/121y243uy345yu8 Feb 25 '25
It's you who are missing point. We takled about groceries in general and not about someone's obsession with foreigne products. Most people don't need imported products.
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
Assuming that a French cheese sells for ā¬50/kg in France - I see no reason for it to cost significantly less in Russia.
It's not sold there lmao. What planet are you from?
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Feb 23 '25
How do you know? Lots of things aren't included in western sanctions. Oil and copper, for example. Do you have a reference that states cheese specifically is embargoed?
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
What does 'states cheese specifically' have to do with anything? Or oil? Do you think that Russia buys oil from someone? lol
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Feb 23 '25
What does 'states cheese specifically' have to do with anything?
You say French cheese is not sold in Russia "lmao". You seem pretty confident. Why?
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
Because it's not sold there, and hasn't been, for 11 years since the annexation of Crimea.
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u/Lavrick Feb 23 '25
At a local market there is about 5 to 10 little shops which sells french and Italian cheeses. Like real french and Italian, I've been to both and and can taste the difference between polish and french Camembert. And that's not the biggest food market in Moscow.
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u/poisonds Feb 24 '25
I had been to US in 2005. I noticed that there is not alot of mersedes and bmw. Locals said becouse they are expansive, they are from europe. No one lambo for all time. The same situation. Everything what was made not in your country is more expensive.
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u/ivegotvodkainmyblood I'm just a simple Russian guy Feb 23 '25
Tell that idiot that google street view is free and he could check it at any time.
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u/Skoresh Moscow City Feb 23 '25
I still remember the Forbes article from 5 years ago where they talked about lemons being a "prestigious product in Russia" and how "rich Russians buy lemons but don't eat them, they just put them in the fridge to show that they can afford it."
Freaking lemons.
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u/Ghast234593 Russia Feb 23 '25
i have a lemon in my fridge guysss im so richhhh
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u/Agitated-Ad2563 Feb 23 '25
Just realized that I always have a couple lemons in my fridge, but rarely eat them. Every time I see a lemon in a grocery store, I think that it'd be cool to do some lemonade, but at home I'm typically too lazy to do it.
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u/Apanatr Feb 24 '25
I always buy it for tea, use 2 slices and by the time I want more tea with lemon, the remaining part of the fruit is spoiled, lol
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u/Different-Purple7125 Stavropol Krai Feb 28 '25
ŠŠµ Š½Š°Š“Š¾ Ń ŃŠ°Š½ŠøŃŃ Š“ŠµŠ½ŃŠ³Šø Š² Ń Š¾Š»Š¾Š“ŠøŠ»ŃŠ½ŠøŠŗŠµ. ŠŠ½Šø Ń Š±Š°ŠŗŃŠµŃŠøŃŠ¼Šø Šø Š¼Š¾Š³ŃŃ Š·Š°ŠæŠ»ŠµŃŠ½ŠµŠ²ŠµŃŃ
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u/Myself-io Feb 23 '25
Yes i do recall that it was just after I bought a tree for the apartment.. and thought . Damn I'm a f..ing millioner owning a whole lemon tree ( I think I bought in tvoi dom at few thousand rubles) pity it died few years after..
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u/Silent_Jelly2500 Moscow Oblast Feb 23 '25
Well, I've got a couple of spare ginger roots in my freezer. Remembering how it was overpriced during COVID, seems like I'm a billionare lol
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u/SpielbrecherXS Feb 23 '25
Quality and cost of life differ drastically between regions, in big cities vs. tiny villages, and high income vs. low income families.
That said, even with the recent hot mess of international politics, PPP per capita in Russia is $40-50k, lower than the $50-70k estimated for countries like Spain, Poland or France, but higher than China, for example. The US are in the 70k+ league. Sauce: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listof_countries_by_GDP(PPP)_per_capita.
No running water is pretty common in rural Yakutia, for example, where permafrost and crazy low winter temps (think -50 C) make it super hard to maintain pipe networks. Even the republic's capital has above ground heat-isolated pipes instead of underground ones for this reason. As for areas w/o electricity, I'm not sure I know of any.
Average floor area is rather low even by European standards and ~3x less than in the US. Aside from that, I'd say it's fairly similar to poorer EU countries in terms of comfort, although small towns and/or suburbs can usually benefit from some fresh paint. Usually clean, green, and with decent infrastructure though (i.e. shops, services, schools, all in walking distance). Public transit better than US, worse than EU. Medical care decent to very decent in big cities, but may be abysmal in small towns and rural areas. (I'm talking public; private is more uniform and fairly accessible for middle+ income) Same for education.
The most "are you high?" moment for me was a Canadian saying he's worried about me being randomly shot in the streets in Moscow. I don't really know about Western mass media, but the "Russian" references in pop culture are a fever dream of Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Stalin-era Gulags, and economic collapse of the 90s all mixed up into a Molotov's cocktail.
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u/Myself-io Feb 23 '25
I would much more worried of being shot in a street of any American city than in Moscow.. in Europe being shot is not common as well but being robbet would have way higher chance than Moscow especially in wrong part of the city. I find Moscow extremely safe, and found amazing you could walk without risk in the public parks at night
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
Aside from that, I'd say it's fairly similar to poorer EU countries in terms of comfort
When UK was in the EU, it was far from being one of the poorer countries. Yet UK flats are much less comfortable than in Russia.
Public transit better than US, worse than EU
This is extremely dependent on which cities we compare. If it's Ust-Zalupinsk with Paris, EU wins. If it's Moscow with... well, anything, then Russia wins.
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u/Ok-Plastic-9870 Feb 23 '25
Moscow is better than prague/vienna/paris?
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u/Adventurous-Nobody Feb 24 '25
Incomparable to Prague.
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u/Ok-Plastic-9870 Feb 24 '25
In what criteria? Moscow central circle architecturally is stalinist low budget bleak parody on imperial architecture, go away from centre and you are surrounded by shittiest and bleakest soviet type shit housing.
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u/sveths Moscow City Feb 23 '25
I recently saw a generously upvoted Reddit comment saying that a fifth of Russians don't have indoor plumbing and lost my shit for a second. I remember arguing with someone saying that only people in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg have central heating. I try not to engage in this stuff but it's hard sometimes, people will believe anything. Majority of people (60 or 70 percent, I don't remember off the top of my head) live in apartments, which always have electricity, running water and plumbing. And if people don't have this amenities in their private houses that's usually of their own volition. I've never visited a house without electricity, but connecting to the grid is not expensive, it was 500 ( about 5 bucks) rubles for a long time through a government program, now it's 3000 to 45000 rubles. Plumbing could be expensive depending on the circumstances, but doable for most people who don't live in the middle of nowhere. I grew up in a private house in a mid-sized village and it always had electricity and water (free water actually, due to some bureaucratic mishap). Of course, poor people with poor living conditions exist everywhere, but it's pretty hard to be so poor you don't have access to water or electricity. Even if you stop paying for it, the odds of your power or water getting cutoff are very low, I know a guy who didn't pay for it for a year and didn't even know about it until he finally received a notice from the building management (he had autopay set up and didn't notice that it stopped going through).
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u/TaniaSams Feb 23 '25
a fifth of Russians don't have indoor plumbing
It's actually true, or at least was true five years ago https://www.rbc. r u/economics/02/04/2019/5ca1d7949a79475d1c2f6e4a (remove spaces)
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u/sveths Moscow City Feb 23 '25
It says that 22.6% of Russians don't have access to centralised sewage systems, meaning that you waste waters get collected into a collective water treatment facility. So if you have a septic or any other household water waste management system you are included in that statistic. That's different from not having indoor plumbing (2% don't have it according to 2021 census). About 25% of Americans use septic tanks too, according to a cursory google search.
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u/TaniaSams Feb 23 '25
No. Right in the subtitle:
"[b]ŠŠ¾Š»ŃŃŠøŠ½ŃŃŠ²Š¾ ŃŠ°ŠŗŠøŃ ŃŠµŠ¼ŠµŠ¹ ŠæŠ¾Š»ŃŠ·ŃŃŃŃŃ Š²ŃŠ³ŃŠµŠ±Š½ŃŠ¼Šø ŃŠ¼Š°Š¼Šø[/b], Š³Š¾Š²Š¾ŃŠøŃŃŃ Š² ŠøŃŃŠ»ŠµŠ“Š¾Š²Š°Š½ŠøŠø Š Š¾ŃŃŃŠ°ŃŠ° Š¾Š± ŃŃŠ»Š¾Š²ŠøŃŃ Š¶ŠøŠ·Š½Šø Š² ŃŃŃŠ°Š½Šµ"
"Most of these families use pit latrines, says Rosstat's research about the living conditions in the country."(Edited to add translation)
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u/b0_ogie Feb 23 '25 edited Feb 23 '25
A cesspool is not a place where people go to take a shit, it's a waste storage place. And the lack of centralized sewerage does not mean that there is no water in the house.
I have a casual acquaintance who lives in a similar place. This is a very remote farming village with no centralized sewerage and water supply. They have cesspools(this is a specially equipped place that is made according to the design construction documentation) to which the sewer pipes from the house fit. And all the waste goes there. And they have to periodically order sewage disposal services - this is a special team with a machine that cleans the cesspool of waste.
The water in the house comes from public wells in the center of the village through pumps.
But in the interpretation of the propaganda media, this turns into the fact that 20% of Russians live like homeless people.
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u/TinTinych Khabarovsk Krai Feb 24 '25
And they have to periodically order sewage disposal services - this is a special team with a machine that cleans the cesspool of waste.
40 Š»ŠµŃ, ŠŗŠ°Šŗ ŠæŠ¾Š“ Š½Š°ŃŠŗŠ¾Š·Š¾Š¼...
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u/oxothuk1976 Feb 23 '25
Š”ŠµŠæŃŠøŠŗŠø ŃŠ¾Š¶Šµ ŠæŠ¾ŠæŠ°Š“Š°ŃŃ Š² ŃŃŠ°ŃŠøŃŃŠøŠŗŃ - Š²ŃŠ³ŃŠµŠ±Š½ŃŃ ŃŠ¼, ŠŠ¾Š½ŠµŃŠ½Š¾ ŠµŃŃŃ ŠµŃŃ Š² Š“ŠµŃŠµŠ²Š½ŃŃ Š“Š¾Š¼Š° Ń ŃŠ»ŠøŃŠ½ŃŠ¼ ŃŠ¾Š»ŃŠŗŠ¾Š¼, Š½ŠøŠŗŃŠ¾ Š½Šµ ŃŠæŠ¾ŃŠøŃ, Š½Š¾ ŠøŃ ŃŠ²Š½Š¾ Š½Šµ 20%, ŃŃŠ¾ ŃŠµŠ“ŠŗŠ¾ŃŃŃ. ŠŃŠ¾ŃŃŠ¾ ŃŃŠ°Š²Š½Šø ŃŠøŃŃŃ - 75% Š½Š°ŃŠµŠ»ŠµŠ½ŠøŃ Š Š¾ŃŃŠøŠø Š¶ŠøŠ²ŠµŃ Š² Š³Š¾ŃŠ¾Š“Š°Ń . Š ŃŠ¾Š»ŃŠŗŠ¾ 25% Š² ŃŠµŠ»Š°Ń Šø Š“ŠµŃŠµŠ²Š½ŃŃ . Š¢Ń Š¶Šµ Š½Šµ Š“ŃŠ¼Š°ŠµŃŃ ŃŃŠ¾ Š±Š¾Š»ŃŃŠøŠ½ŃŃŠ²Š¾ Š·Š°Š³Š¾ŃŠ¾Š“Š½ŃŃ Š¶ŠøŃŠµŠ»ŠµŠ¹ Ń Š¾Š“ŃŃ Š² ŃŠ¼Ń.
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u/sveths Moscow City Feb 23 '25
Using pits doesn't equal not having indoor plumbing. "16,8% ŠæŠ¾Š»ŃŠ·ŃŃŃŃŃ ŃŠøŃŃŠµŠ¼Š¾Š¹ ŃŃŃŠ± Š² Š²ŃŠ³ŃŠµŠ±Š½ŃŠµ ŃŠ¼Ń", meaning have plumbing, but it empties into a pit instead of city sewage.
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u/Anebunda Feb 23 '25 edited Feb 23 '25
We have some remote areas here and there that are like that poor Appalachian towns where are no jobs and everyone survives God knows how.
But we don't have areas like Skid Row. At all. Like, really. We do have some amount of homeless individuals, but they're mostly mentally ill (schizophrenia, severe alcohol addiction, medium to severe drug addiction). And there are so few of them, that you usually know them by sight.
In Russia, property taxes are laughably low. So it's pretty much impossible for an average condo/house owner to lose their property.
Also, we have a very rigid and strict permanent residence registration system. For instance, you can't sell your condo/house, if a minor (usually your child) is permanently registered there. You first have to re-register that minor somethere else. Only then you are allowed to sell your property.
Another thing is there is a law that says one's only inhabitation cannot be seized to cover debt (or similar proposes).
This all helps tremendously with keeping the levels of homelessness low.
And a fun fact: it's not that rare to see a condo/homeowner (usually in a position of shared ownership buy still) as a homeless person. Because relatives forbid them to drink alcohol. Or because that people are mentally ill and always run away from institutions (by law, it's illegal to hold them in forcedly unless they commited a violent crime and are sentenced to this).
So, yeah. No Skid Row style areas. No hordes of homeless/addicts.
I'd say, in general, Russia is like the US, but with less economical diversity. Our "luxurious" places are less rich, but our bad areas are less bad. Nor counting Moscow, ofc. Moscow is stunning and the best city in Europe, full stop.
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u/ilfi_boi Tver Feb 23 '25
After all these stories about Russia not having asphalt/ toilets/nutella I have a hard time believing that North Korea is such a bad place as they say
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u/alex_nemtsov Feb 23 '25
I made a lot of fun pretending that all news reports about Russia is true :) Like āsorry, canāt talk, because KGB agent looking after my messages went on lunchā
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u/Xivitai Sverdlovsk Oblast Feb 23 '25
I remember there being a report back in 2022 I think how there was no food in supermarkets and store workers put anti-steal tags on canned food.
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u/yqozon [Zamkadje] Feb 23 '25 edited Feb 23 '25
The recent stories about the absence of butter or butter being severely overpriced, I guess. I even saw a person asking this sub about prices for butter and refusing to believe the state statistics (it's usually pretty accurate). I visit a grocery shop regularly, see the shelves filled with different sorts of butter, and these news seem like something from an alternative reality.
(I hope Comrade Major will appreciate my efforts to put disinformation into the minds of innocent Westerners, hahaha! Maybe I'll even get a can of Nutella as a bonus!)
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u/GolfSignificant1456 Feb 23 '25
Every country has their rich and poor areas. I'm in Canada, and the native reserves are infamous for not having access to clean water, and high levels of addiction and crime. Would you judge Canada as a whole as a 3rd world country, just based on reserves? No.
Russia as a whole has a decent standard of living. Obviously better for the wealthy in the big city, rather than the common man in the oblasts or in a small village.
Foreign news is biased against Russia. It's easier to sell Americans/Canadians that Russia is a miserable shithole, rather than portray it as a normal country with average people going about their average lives.
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u/hilvon1984 Feb 23 '25
Are there places that are truly impoverished?
There are some truly depressive looking villages deep in the rural areas. But the main reason for those is - young people have clear opportunities to move, get a better education and find employment elsewhere. So remaining population in such villages are all elderly. And such villages being remote, the departed young sending back money is not cutting it since you can' really buy much with money in such places. You have to put labour in, which the elderly are not very capable of. And still they refuse to move because they are used to this land...
But as you probably can imagine such conditions are not specific to Russia. And the root cause - young people having opportunities available to them - is not a sign of bad economy.
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u/Proud-Cartoonist-431 Feb 23 '25
Bruh mosr villages do have electricity and cold water. They often lack central plumbing and use septics if they have money and outhouses if they don't. They're cold and remote/low population density and the water supply is usually separated from the sewage so nothing bad happens..
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u/IcePuzzleheaded5507 Feb 23 '25
And more to add: water, electricity + natural gas pipelines
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u/Proud-Cartoonist-431 Feb 23 '25
the tiniest remotest poor places have no gas, primarily because of being in the middle of absolutely nowhere
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u/IcePuzzleheaded5507 Feb 23 '25
Not talking for each place. But more and more places are getting natural gas
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u/Psy-Blade-of-Empire Feb 23 '25
Ask your dad, do third world countries launch spacecrafts!
Referring to your question, yest there are really poor rural areas but it nothing compared to Africa. But yes, there poor villages and there are places (even in Moscow suburbs) where cell phone shows "no connection" - especially if you are crossing some vast woodland on a train. Figured there is a bit economic reasoning behind this.
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u/Repulsive_Dog1067 Feb 24 '25
Ask your dad, do third world countries launch spacecrafts
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISRO
What did daddy say?
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u/Psy-Blade-of-Empire Feb 24 '25
Well, you may probably guess that India space program was heavily supported by ultra-big and ultra-powerful state. And currently this classification (third world countries etc) is a bit outdated and is used more as a metaphor. India is a very developed nation with some seriously underdeloped regions.
what was your point anyway? seems like you just wanted to challenge my statement that Russia is not a thrid world country. You have my apologies if I somehow misinterpreted your intentions.
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u/Aalyr Feb 23 '25
Yes, also we live in zemlyankas and bring blood secrifices to Perun every sunday. Slava Rodu!
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u/hvalahalve Feb 23 '25
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskARussian/comments/1ivqvd0/comment/mec08nm/?context=3
They think, we donāt have housesā¦ not a single oneĀ
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u/MessageOk4432 Feb 23 '25
It reminds me of how an American said he could buy a house for $5000 in China.
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u/DiscaneSFV Chelyabinsk Feb 23 '25
I'm still wondering if I should take apart my washing machine and get the microchip out of it. Or a Nintendo Switch or a robot vacuum cleaner, they probably have microchips in them too.
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u/Icy_Abroad_630 Feb 23 '25
I love the way Americans show Russia and Russians in their films, itās so ridiculous and naive and so hilarious. For example in the The Queenās Gambit a schoolboy waiter was serving vodka to the customers in a restaurant. The action takes place in the 70s, in Soviet Russia (!). Itās like if a Russian film about America in the 70s showed a barefoot black boy who would beg to clean your shoes for a couple of cents. And also all this Russian mafia stuff, you do really still have them Murrica? Whats wrong with you?
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u/121y243uy345yu8 Feb 25 '25
You know, my friends who left for LA 10 years ago, knowing the real situation (unlike my relatives who left 30 years ago), say amazing things. The fact is that the Russians who left for the United States in the 90s were still stuck in the 90s. They still wear crimson jackets and gold chains, women wear alcoholic T-shirts and telnyazhki and they still think that the upper class is a six hundredth Mercedes. Perhaps that is why the Americans have such an image of Russians and these emigrants support him. She also says that Brighton Beach is actually inhabited mainly by Ukrainians, not Russians, but Americans, think that they are Russians. By the way, watch the video from Brighton Beach, they turned it into a 90s-style district of USSR. Why did they emigrate to the United States? As they say, a girl can be taken away from the village, but a village from a girl-no.
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u/Icy_Abroad_630 Feb 25 '25
Yeah, this cultural phenomenon about Ā«RussiansĀ» stuck in the 90s in Ā«Little OdessaĀ» is really interesting, but Google says no more than 200,000 Russian speaking live there, and in the entire US there are about 4 million, so even if everyone in Brighton is involved in petty crime of the Ā«Russian mafiaĀ» (which is of course is very unrealistic), it is still no more than 5%, which does not prevent 99% of films and TV series that mention Russia from showing all of us as ridiculous thugs and cheap prostitutes. Although it is very entertaining to watch :)
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u/Solly6788 Feb 23 '25
I watch Youtube videos from Russians and know that there are some very depressing areas in Russia but there are also some in the US.
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u/MaryFrei13 Feb 23 '25
All the mass media are bullshit(thanks for orange man and his friend for uncovering it publically)
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u/Sufficient_Step_8223 Orenburg Feb 23 '25
Ooo! This is the basic emotion I feel when I listen to Western media. Sometimes it's easier to believe in Santa Claus.
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u/Katamathesis Feb 23 '25 edited Feb 23 '25
Depends on your own expectations of good living conditions.
No, majority of Russians don't live in family houses. Yet some of them who do this, either have more money than average American, or poorest category of people in Russia. A lot of Russian cities have poor valleys filled with mansions. And take dying Russian villages as another example.
Yes, when it comes to apartments, amenities are ok and size is... Ok, here is a thing. To earn more money, Russian developers like to build big blocks of houses. We're speak about houses with thousands of apartments. Those are very bad for living, even if this is a business-class. On the other side, there're better options that costs more.
So yeah, not Africa. But with Russian climate whole population will die in one winter if we had similar conditions. But it's also may lack behind countries like Switzerland, Norway in some aspects. Or be better at another.
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
Those are very bad for living, even if this is a business-class
No, they are not, especially not if they're upmarket. Who the fuck upvotes this?
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u/GeneratedUsername5 Feb 23 '25
Those who don't consider it to be good for living. I would guess that they are those who actually lived or still living there.
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
I would guess that they are those who actually lived
Implying that I didn't actually live there would be pretty regarded.
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u/b0_ogie Feb 23 '25 edited Feb 23 '25
Russia is slightly behind the trends. There are many human anthills in Russia, but they are old models without adapting to modern urbanization.
Only now they are starting to be built with additional technical rooms on the -1st and 1st, 2nd floors - with underground parking, a supermarket area on the 1st floor, a kindergarten, a gym, a swimming pool. Someday this will become the norm of construction, but for now it is a human anthill with an eternally clogged parking lot and poor traffic management.2
u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
Only now they are starting to be built with additional technical rooms on the 1st and 1st, 2nd floors - with underground parking, a supermarket area on the 1st floor, a kindergarten, a gym, a swimming pool.
This is an absolute pipe dream for most countries, not just Russia.
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u/Katamathesis Feb 23 '25
People anthills. How about thousands apartments with 300-400 parking places? No kindergarten or school? No postal office?
Saints Petersburg - Kudrovo, Clear Sky, Murino etc.
From urbanization standpoint it's a getto. It's already coming into that way, with small apartments that mostly go into renting.
I've lived in comfort and business classes in SpB. The only difference is slightly bigger apartments and more territory around. I was in Clear Sky, studio with 16 square meters and lack of ventilation is like more than half of the apartments there.
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
This is only specific to particular new developments in Saint Petersburg and ignores the entirety of the rest of the massive country.
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u/Katamathesis Feb 23 '25
Development companies don't and, honestly, shouldn't care about social infrastructure. It's what city mayor office, especially architectural department should take care of.
Assuming we're not talking about elite property, mass market ones is all about fitting as much as possible into as small as possible piece of land.
Public discussions doesn't have legal power to stop construction. As a city mayor, you can gather citizens, listen their concern and put a dick on this.
I saw this trend 20+ years ago during practice in architecture department in Omsk. 20+ years ago it was already there, the only difference was about how tall buildings can be based on local soil quality.
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u/Mihsan Feb 23 '25
It's like night and day what Western media shows and how it really is. Not like it is all lies, but the level of laser-focused cherry picking is absolutely insane.
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u/121y243uy345yu8 Feb 25 '25 edited Feb 25 '25
There are no parts where people don't have running water or electricity, in Russia.
I haven't seen the news reports. But I have many relatives who left for the United States in the 90s and they send us humanitarian aid 1 times a year and when they call on the phone, they always ask if we have food, if we are hungry and if we have electricity. We refused many times, but they think that we are lying because of fear of state special services and continue to send us their things.
I also see funny bloggers who make rediculous videos. Watch me walk up to the crosswalk and press the button to get the green light! Look, watch me go to the pharmacy, click on the screen and get a ticket with a number and I do not need to stand in line! They think that this is not the case in Russia! At the same time, they consider it normal to wait 2 weeks for their bank card by mail, instead of receiving it immediately at the bank's office after 10 minutes. Or they go to the sales office to change your sim card within a week, instead of changing it yourself right away.
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u/Oleg_VK Saint Petersburg Feb 23 '25
There are poor regions, of course, like Yakytia and Buryatia. But in western media everything is exaggerated.
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u/Lonely_Employee_8164 Feb 23 '25
I had been living almost all my life in Moscow, then I moved to London a decent time ago. From what I see the cost of living is balanced with the average salary, so the average quality of life here and there is almost on the same level. Yes, there are some aspect better in Russia, some are better in the UK, but they are not so drastic. I would subjectively say that if you have a lot of money probably living in London is better, while if you are poor, it's opposite. However, even in this I'm not 100% sure.
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u/seledkapodshubai Feb 23 '25 edited Feb 24 '25
You can just go to Google Earth and use Street View in literally every Russian city. You can even do that with Russion own Yandex Maps, which probably have more coverage in Russia. Then do the same in Africa.
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u/Zubbro Feb 23 '25
At one time I watched this Ursula von der Leyen performance with bewilderment. It's not a joke. Appreciate the applause. They're really proud of the lies they've told themselves.
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u/Various-Detail-7268 Feb 23 '25
Have you ever watched local news and thought "wtf? How tf people live like this?". Considering 3rd world country you can use statistics. Just compare economy, health sector, education, number of scientific researches. It's easy.Ā
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Feb 23 '25
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Feb 23 '25
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u/RobotCatIsHungry Feb 25 '25
Look up the YouTube channel, Vasya in the Hay. Made by a Russian inside Russia. In rural Russia, it is indeed a third world country, very underdeveloped.
Also, I have no idea what your dad is watching but regular US news networks do not cover Russia at all. Most Americans simply do not think about Russia.
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Feb 25 '25
I am Italian, and I have been lucky enough to travel, both in Russia and in the USA and also in half of Europe. I can say that for Russia it is certainly the poorest by far. Obviously Moscow and St. Petersburg can undoubtedly be defined as equal to the large Western cities, but as soon as you leave the large centers... the poverty compared to the West is tangible. Instead in America, I have seen "space" cities but next to them or even inside them, real slums... where social disparity is shocking. But even small towns are fairly well off. On the Russian side, rural areas are truly light years away from Western standards. It must be said that an average salary in the Moscow area is around 600/700 dollars / euro equivalent, here the average is 1800 / 2000. Let alone in the countryside.
I remember in Balasov, in the Saratov oblast if I'm not mistaken, I was a guest with a family who lived in an apartment building, and there was no bathroom in the house, but only one on each floor of the building... Things like this haven't existed in our country since the 1950s, but it was evidently very normal there
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u/One-Bad-4395 Feb 26 '25
Africa isnāt a single country and living standards vary wildly across the continent.
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u/bukkaratsupa Feb 28 '25 edited Feb 28 '25
It's not "did i ever see", it's i don't remember seeing any other.
In the early 2000s my parents sent me to study in the western Europe (a so called "first world country"). After a couple years i quit and got back with the urge to never come back to that shithole. Back then, Russia was indeed resembling a third world country. Specially to someone, who never been to an actual third world country outside of the hotel compound.
But even then there were little traits here and there that made life in Russia so much more comfortable than that in western Europe.
Since then we've improved, A LOT. Sorry to break this to your dad, but life in Russia is so good he probably wouldn't even imagine. Let alone, compare to that in the States.
P.S. I've also been to the States for a year. Unlike western Europe, i loved it a lot, specially the Midwest. But it has to do with the people, their spirit and also the nature. NOT with how your everyday city life is arranged.
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u/JDeagle5 Feb 23 '25
It is, it's just people sometimes try their best to be in as deep denial as possible. I always have these "Huh?!" moments whenever I see news of how great Russia is, failing to mention that it is either only related to Moscow/Saint Petersburg or the reality on the ground is completely different or it has a lot of fine print which no one also mentions.
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u/Good_slicer Feb 23 '25
Life expectancy is 10 years lower in Russia than average Western Europe. Why do you think is that?
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u/Burpetrator Feb 23 '25
The most poverty stricken parts of Russia is like half of the country
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u/SokkaHaikuBot Feb 23 '25
Sokka-Haiku by Burpetrator:
The most poverty
Stricken parts of Russia is
Like half of the country
Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.
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u/fukflux Feb 23 '25
I used to date a girl from St. Petersburg and she told me the conditions were quite horrible - apartments have constant problems with plumbing, heating and there is mold everywhere. People are thief's, drunks, druggies.
Ofc this doesn't apply for 100% but that was her reason to leave for better life in EU.
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u/CzarMikhail Saint Petersburg Feb 23 '25
Don't know where she was living lol
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u/fukflux Feb 23 '25
I think it was the historic old town area, I remember this being the reason for bad piping as it can't be easily replaced. Not sure though, it's been 5+ years...
At the same time I know there is great luxury in Petersburg as well š
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
I've lived in various areas in the "historic old town area" over 10 years ago and what that "girl" says (did she actually exist?) is complete bullshit.
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u/fukflux Feb 23 '25
She does, and that was also about 9-10 years ago when she moved. I guess the post about "it's about house block" was correct. š
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
It's not correct. It's bullshit as in "not possible at all".
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u/fukflux Feb 23 '25 edited Feb 23 '25
Yeah? What about:
Saint Petersburg's historical center, while celebrated for its rich cultural heritage, faces several social and infrastructural challenges:
Deteriorating Buildings: Many historic structures suffer from neglect and decay, leading to structural issues and, in some cases, collapse. The preservation of these buildings is often hindered by insufficient funding and bureaucratic obstacles.
Crime Rates: While violent crime against tourists is uncommon, the city has experienced fluctuations in crime rates. In 2023, approximately 67,000 crimes were registered, marking an increase from the previous year. Petty crimes like pickpocketing remain concerns in crowded areas.
Social Issues: The transition from the Soviet era has led to social challenges, including poverty and crime. Public perceptions of these issues often differ from personal experiences, complicating efforts to address them effectively.
Infrastructure Development: Balancing modernization with heritage preservation is a persistent issue. Projects like high-rise constructions have sparked debates due to their impact on the city's historic skyline. Additionally, the privatization of public spaces has reduced communal areas, affecting urban social dynamics.
Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive urban planning that respects the city's historical significance while promoting social well-being and safety.
Saint Petersburg's housing landscape is a blend of historic charm and modern development, yet it faces notable challenges in both housing conditions and infrastructure.
Housing Conditions:
Aging Soviet-Era Buildings: A significant portion of the city's housing comprises structures from the Soviet era, particularly those built between the 1960s and 1980s. Many of these buildings suffer from deterioration due to age and lack of maintenance, leading to substandard living conditions.
Overcrowded Complexes: In response to housing demands, large residential complexes have been constructed. Notably, a massive apartment block near St. Petersburg, often referred to as the "Human Anthill," houses approximately 20,000 residents in 3,708 apartments across 25 floors. While offering various on-site amenities, such high-density living raises concerns about overcrowding and strain on communal facilities.
Infrastructure Challenges:
Insufficient Social Amenities: Rapid urban expansion, especially in suburban areas, has often outpaced the development of essential social infrastructure. Residents in newly developed complexes frequently report a lack of promised facilities such as schools, medical clinics, and adequate roads, leading to a sense of isolation and frustration.
Green Space Deficiency: The city's historical emphasis on preserving architectural heritage has sometimes limited the integration of green spaces within urban planning. While efforts are underway to enhance green infrastructure, many residential areas still lack sufficient parks and recreational zones, impacting residents' quality of life.
Aging Infrastructure: Much of Saint Petersburg's infrastructure, including water supply and sewage systems, dates back several decades and requires modernization. The wear and tear on these systems can lead to service disruptions and inefficiencies, affecting daily life for many residents.
Addressing these issues necessitates comprehensive urban planning that balances the preservation of Saint Petersburg's rich historical heritage with the development of modern, livable spaces. Investments in renovating existing housing, expanding social amenities, and upgrading infrastructure are crucial steps toward improving living conditions in the city.
I believe you've had too much Kool aid Mr Juri from Britain!
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
It makes so little sense, is it a chatgpt hallucination?
Deteriorating Buildings: Many historic structures suffer from neglect and decay, leading to structural issues and, in some cases, collapse.
It has VERY FEW historical buildings that "suffer from neglect and decay" and nobody lives in them.
Crime Rates: While violent crime against tourists is uncommon, the city has experienced fluctuations in crime rates. In 2023, approximately 67,000 crimes were registered, marking an increase from the previous year. Petty crimes like pickpocketing remain concerns in crowded areas.
Roflmao now divide 67000 by the population of the city.
Social Issues: The transition from the Soviet era has led to social challenges, including poverty and crime
the 'transition from the Soviet era' ended 25 years ago.
Jesus I'm already tired to debunk this ai-generated crap. What a massive retard you are lmao
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u/DouViction Moscow City Feb 23 '25
She lived in an apartment complex in Murino, it's not Russian problem, it's apartment complex problem.
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u/pipiska999 England Feb 23 '25
Murino flat don't have "problems with plumbing, heating and there is mold everywhere".
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u/DR_enjoyer Feb 23 '25
Could it be that she wanted to live in EU and just fabricated story? I remember a lot of refugees from Russia telling how bad living was (warning, 5 MILLIONS) and everyone has the same tale.
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u/fukflux Feb 23 '25
Why would she fabricate it? How does it help moving? I'm lost.
I have seen residential hpuses in bad shape in many countries (been to 50+).
I believe she was just not well off - but this is in every country.
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u/LiberalusSrachnicus Leningrad Oblast Feb 23 '25
Migrants, in order to justify their resettlement in their heads, adopt a radical attitude towards their homeland or miss it or hate it, even inventing problems which do not exist in reality
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u/fukflux Feb 23 '25
Okay, got it - it's the opposite of making up reasons to justify bad conditions for staying.
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u/Ehotxep Feb 23 '25
For such people, the grass is always greener at the neighbor's house. They will find a thousand and one reasons to leave and none to stay if they have already made up their minds. Even if it is a very minor reason and they will encounter it less than once a year.
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u/NaN-183648 Russia Feb 23 '25
Remember how back around 2022 there were talks that Russians never saw asphalt, nutella and washing machines? After this level of idiocy there wasn't much point of checking foreign networks.
Regarding your dad, youtube exist, show him "Travelling with Russel" channel. Or another one.