Pick the right level
Choose a story you understand most of on the first read. Looking up every other word? Drop a level. Effortless? Move up.
Russian Reading Practice
Russian Reading Practice
Reading is the fastest way to grow your Russian, but only if the text is at the right level. These 74 graded stories run from absolute-beginner A0 to upper-intermediate B2, so you can always read something you understand about 90% of — the sweet spot for comprehensible input. Each has audio, tap-to-translate vocabulary, and a quick comprehension check.
74Geschichten74mit Audio erzählt~5Min. durchschnittliche Lesezeit
Jetzt mit dem Lesen beginnen
Антон в лодке. Лодка на реке. Река синяя и широкая.
Die ganze Geschichte lesenVersuchen Sie eine Verständniskontrolle
Антон в лодке. Лодка на реке. Река синяя и широкая.
What is Anton doing at the beginning?
How to practice Russian reading the right way
Effective reading practice keeps you in the comprehension zone — understood enough to follow, stretched enough to learn.
Read in meaningful chunks
Read a full paragraph before stopping. Guessing from context is the skill that makes you a fluent reader.
Use tap-to-translate sparingly
Look up only the words that block understanding. The goal is flow, not a perfect glossary.
Confirm with the quiz
Finish with the comprehension quiz, then re-read once to lock in new words and phrasing.
Reading practice for every level
A0 through B2
Sports
Сломанное весло на последнем километре
A determined rower faces an unexpected challenge during a boat race.
A0128 words1 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Mystery
Die Münze auf der leeren Fensterbank
A story about a girl named Masha who finds a mysterious golden coin on her windowsill.
A0146 words1 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Culture & Travel
Электричка с рассадой в мае
A young girl named Anya and her mother take a train ride to their garden during a beautiful spring day in May.
A0162 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Myths & Legends
Птица, приносящая снег
Beschreibung der Geschichte
A0164 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Music & Arts
Пластинка в ящике комода
Masha discovers an old vinyl record in a drawer and listens to it with her mother.
A0172 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Sports
Свисток, который прозвучал раньше времени
A exciting story about a football match where a player faces a confusing referee decision during a critical goal.
A0178 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Sports
Последний выстрел на биатлоне
A young athlete named Anya focuses to win a biathlon race despite her fatigue.
A1190 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Myths & Legends
Кукла-берегиня, которую нельзя выносить из избы
A young girl named Anya learns a special rule about a protective doll in her home.
A0192 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Daily Life
Зонт, который нашёл хозяина
A young girl named Lena discovers a lost blue umbrella in a cafe and helps its owner find it again.
A0200 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Culture & Travel
Электричка до конечной
A story about Masha's train journey to the final station.
A0202 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Music & Arts
Пианино у подъезда
A girl named Masha discovers a mysterious piano sitting alone in front of her apartment building.
A1208 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Nature & Adventure
Лиса, которая шла за санями
A story about a man named Anton traveling through the quiet winter taiga who discovers he is not alone.
A1216 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Food & Cuisine
Два рецепта и старая обида
Beschreibung
A1226 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Mystery
Следы до двери и обратно
A short story about a girl who finds mysterious footprints and a surprise gift on a winter morning.
A0228 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Relationships & Drama
Marmelade vor fremder Tür
Anya finds a mysterious jar of jam at her door and tries to find out who left it for her.
A0230 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Music & Arts
Хор, который замолчал на полуслове
Eine Geschichte über einen Chor, der eine besondere Tradition der Stille befolgt, um sich an jemanden Wichtiges zu erinnern.
A1234 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Daily Life
Записка под дверью незнакомца
Anton discovers a mysterious note under his door and discovers a surprising truth.
A1236 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Relationships & Drama
Открытка без подписи
A young girl sends a secret note to her neighbor to show appreciation for her kindness.
A1236 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Daily Life
Соседка, которая стучит три раза
A young woman named Anya shares a special ritual with her neighbor, Maria Ivanovna, involving three knocks on the door.
A1238 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
History
Tanne, die wieder erlaubt war
A young girl and her parents celebrate the holiday by finally getting a beautiful Christmas tree.
A0240 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Nature & Adventure
Гейзер, который проснулся среди ночи
A young girl named Anya experiences the natural wonder of a geyser erupting in the middle of the night.
A0240 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Mystery
Часы, которые спешат на пять минут
A young girl discovers the special meaning behind her grandmother's clocks that are set five minutes fast.
A1244 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Nature & Adventure
Ёж у ночного костра
A little hedgehog searches for warmth on a cold, dark night and finds a cozy campfire.
A0246 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Food & Cuisine
Der Kulitsch, der nicht aufging
Nina is making a traditional Easter cake, but she runs into a problem when her dough fails to rise.
A1246 words2 Min. LesezeitVerständnis-Quiz
Reading practice by level
Russian StoriesA0 Russian reading
Alle anzeigen →Сломанное весло на последнем километре
A determined rower faces an unexpected challenge during a boat race.
Die Münze auf der leeren Fensterbank
A story about a girl named Masha who finds a mysterious golden coin on her windowsill.
Электричка с рассадой в мае
A young girl named Anya and her mother take a train ride to their garden during a beautiful spring day in May.
Птица, приносящая снег
Beschreibung der Geschichte
Пластинка в ящике комода
Masha discovers an old vinyl record in a drawer and listens to it with her mother.
Свисток, который прозвучал раньше времени
A exciting story about a football match where a player faces a confusing referee decision during a critical goal.
Кукла-берегиня, которую нельзя выносить из избы
A young girl named Anya learns a special rule about a protective doll in her home.
Зонт, который нашёл хозяина
A young girl named Lena discovers a lost blue umbrella in a cafe and helps its owner find it again.
A1 Russian reading
Alle anzeigen →Последний выстрел на биатлоне
A young athlete named Anya focuses to win a biathlon race despite her fatigue.
Пианино у подъезда
A girl named Masha discovers a mysterious piano sitting alone in front of her apartment building.
Лиса, которая шла за санями
A story about a man named Anton traveling through the quiet winter taiga who discovers he is not alone.
Два рецепта и старая обида
Beschreibung
Хор, который замолчал на полуслове
Eine Geschichte über einen Chor, der eine besondere Tradition der Stille befolgt, um sich an jemanden Wichtiges zu erinnern.
Записка под дверью незнакомца
Anton discovers a mysterious note under his door and discovers a surprising truth.
Открытка без подписи
A young girl sends a secret note to her neighbor to show appreciation for her kindness.
Соседка, которая стучит три раза
A young woman named Anya shares a special ritual with her neighbor, Maria Ivanovna, involving three knocks on the door.
A2 Russian reading
Alle anzeigen →
Ночёвка без палатки на карельских скалах
Two friends go on a nature trip to Karelia and experience an unforgettable night under the open sky after a mistake.
Фотофиниш, который пересчитали трижды
Two long-time friends test their bond when they compete for a single spot on the national team.
Значок октябрёнка, который потеряли в первый день
A young girl named Tanya feels sad when she loses her special school badge but learns a lesson about responsibility.
Кошки Эрмитажа в войну
A moving story about a woman named Nina who cares for the cats at the Hermitage Museum during and after the Leningrad blockade.
Noten, gefunden in einem alten Ofen
A young woman discovers a hidden piece of music in her grandmother's old house that brings back long-lost memories.
Автобус, который не останавливается в дождь
A story about a bus driver who refuses to stop at a dangerous bridge during the rain to ensure the safety of his passengers.
Ключ соседа и чужая дверь
A woman accidentally enters her neighbor's apartment using the wrong key.
Пятый сет на рассвете
A story about two childhood friends facing each other in a tense, final tennis match at dawn.
B1 Russian reading
Alle anzeigen →
Звонок из телефонной будки, которой больше нет
A woman receives mysterious phone calls from a telephone booth that has long since been removed.
Боксёр, которого не выпустили на ринг
A boxer faces a difficult decision when he is told he cannot participate in the most important fight of his career due to a medical condition.
Трещина на байкальском льду
A local girl guides a tourist across the beautiful but dangerous, shifting ice of Lake Baikal.
Виолончель у Белого дома в августе 1991-го
A famous cellist returns to Moscow during the 1991 coup attempt to support the defenders of democracy with his music.
Этюд, который Скрябин сжёг
A young pianist visits Scriabin, only to witness him burn a musical masterpiece he deems insufficient to change the world.
Пельмени, которые лепили молча
A mother and daughter find a way to reconcile while preparing a meal together after a long silence.
Вагон-ресторан на третий день пути
A young woman named Katya, traveling by train to reconcile with her father, meets a stranger in the dining car who helps her find the courage to reconnect.
Приказ об эвакуации, который не подписали
A story about a worker in Pripyat who experiences the slow and fearful delay in the evacuation decision-making process after the Chernobyl disaster.
B2 Russian reading
Alle anzeigen →
Вечер в коммунальной квартире на Петроградской
A young woman living in a historic communal apartment on Petrograd Side contemplates moving to Moscow while sharing a quiet evening with her elderly neighbor.
Три секунды в Мюнхене
A recount of the legendary 1972 Olympic basketball final between the USA and the USSR, where three seconds changed history.
Паводок на Лене и чужая лодка
A man takes his neighbor's boat during a flood to rescue his mother, leading to a difficult conversation about loss.
Невеста, которую ждут на дне озера
A man living in a small village discovers that a legendary water spirit named Agata still haunts the lake where she died centuries ago.
Звонок Пастернаку из Кремля
A historical account of the tense 1934 telephone conversation between Boris Pasternak and Joseph Stalin concerning the fate of the poet Osip Mandelstam.
Выставка, которую закрыли на третий день
A young artist faces the harsh reality of Soviet censorship when his abstract work is deemed unacceptable during a 1962 Moscow exhibition.
Дневник без дат в комнате дворника
A woman finds a mysterious diary left behind by her building's vanished janitor that reveals someone has been watching her apartment.
Последний день в доме перед сносом
A man returns to his childhood apartment before it is demolished, only to discover a series of letters from his deceased mother.
Turn reading into real progress
In the Inklingo app, every word you tap while reading is saved and reviewed with spaced repetition, and your level adjusts as you improve — so reading practice compounds.
Russian reading practice FAQ
How can I practice reading Russian for free?
Pick a story at your level and read it with the audio. Every text is free, graded by CEFR level, and includes tap-to-translate vocabulary and a comprehension quiz — no sign-up.
What is comprehensible input?
Comprehensible input is language you understand about 90% of, with a little that is new. Reading graded stories at your level is one of the best sources, because you absorb grammar and vocabulary in context.
How much Russian reading should I do?
Even 10–15 minutes a day helps. Consistency beats length — one short story a day builds vocabulary and reading speed faster than an occasional long session.
How do I choose the right level?
Start one level below where you think you are. If you understand most of a story without stopping, you are in the right zone; if it feels easy, move up.