B1 Russian Stories
Practice intermediate Russian with stories that stretch vocabulary, sentence structure, and inference skills.
A Call from a Telephone Booth That Is No More
A woman receives mysterious phone calls from a telephone booth that has long since been removed.
The Boxer Who Was Not Allowed Into the Ring
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.
The Etude that Scriabin Burned
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.
Dining Car on the Third Day of the Journey
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.
The Evacuation Order That Wasn't Signed
A story about a worker in Pripyat who experiences the slow and fearful delay in the evacuation decision-making process after the Chernobyl disaster.
Night Bazaar in Samarkand
A traveler in Samarkand moves beyond the official tourist sites to discover the authentic hospitality and spirit of the city at a night market.
The House Spirit Who Wasn't Invited to the New Home
A family inadvertently leaves their house spirit behind when moving to a new apartment, leading to strange occurrences until they realize their mistake.
The Puck That Did Not Cross the Line
A young hockey player must decide whether to reveal a truth that could cost his team their championship win.
The Last Move in Reykjavik
A story about the famous 1972 chess match in Reykjavik where Boris Spassky's act of sportsmanship transcended the politics of the Cold War.
Зеркало, которое привезли и не забрали
A mysterious mirror is mistakenly delivered to Anna's apartment, leading her to discover its sentimental connection to her landlord.
Water from the Forbidden Well
A young girl named Nadya must overcome an intense personal temptation to save her sick brother using water from a forbidden well.
Plov for Forty People in an Unfamiliar Courtyard
A kind man named Aziz steps in to help his neighbor by cooking a traditional plov for a wedding after the original caterer cancels.
The apology that was a year late
A story about a girl named Alina who receives a long-awaited apology from a former friend who betrayed her trust a year ago.
Pass to the Closed City
A young woman navigates bureaucratic hurdles to visit her ailing grandmother in a restricted, closed city.