Graded Russian Readers
Russian reading practice organized by CEFR level, from first sentences to richer intermediate stories.
A0 Russian Stories
Сломанное весло на последнем километре
A determined rower faces an unexpected challenge during a boat race.
The Coin on the Empty Windowsill
A story about a girl named Masha who finds a mysterious golden coin on her windowsill.
Commuter Train with Seedlings in May
A young girl named Anya and her mother take a train ride to their garden during a beautiful spring day in May.
The Bird That Brings Snow
A story about a beautiful white bird that brings snow to a little girl.
Пластинка в ящике комода
Masha discovers an old vinyl record in a drawer and listens to it with her mother.
The Whistle That Sounded Early
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.
The Umbrella That Found Its Owner
A young girl named Lena discovers a lost blue umbrella in a cafe and helps its owner find it again.
Commuter Train to the Final Stop
A story about Masha's train journey to the final station.
Tracks to the Door and Back
A short story about a girl who finds mysterious footprints and a surprise gift on a winter morning.
Jam at a Stranger's Door
Anya finds a mysterious jar of jam at her door and tries to find out who left it for her.
The Christmas Tree That Was Allowed Again
A young girl and her parents celebrate the holiday by finally getting a beautiful Christmas tree.
The Geyser That Woke Up in the Middle of the Night
A young girl named Anya experiences the natural wonder of a geyser erupting in the middle of the night.
Hedgehog by the Night Campfire
A little hedgehog searches for warmth on a cold, dark night and finds a cozy campfire.
A1 Russian Stories
The Last Shot in Biathlon
A young athlete named Anya focuses to win a biathlon race despite her fatigue.
Piano by the Entrance
A girl named Masha discovers a mysterious piano sitting alone in front of her apartment building.
The Fox Who Walked Behind the Sled
A story about a man named Anton traveling through the quiet winter taiga who discovers he is not alone.
Two recipes and an old grudge
Two sisters overcome a long-standing grudge while preparing their grandmother's traditional beet soup.
The choir that fell silent mid-sentence
A story about a choir that follows a special tradition of silence to remember someone important.
Postcard without a signature
A young girl sends a secret note to her neighbor to show appreciation for her kindness.
Записка под дверью незнакомца
Anton discovers a mysterious note under his door and discovers a surprising truth.
The Neighbor Who Knocks Three Times
A young woman named Anya shares a special ritual with her neighbor, Maria Ivanovna, involving three knocks on the door.
The clocks that are five minutes fast
A young girl discovers the special meaning behind her grandmother's clocks that are set five minutes fast.
Кулич, который не поднялся
Nina is making a traditional Easter cake, but she runs into a problem when her dough fails to rise.
The Stove You Cannot Heat at Midnight
A young girl named Mila discovers a mysterious rule about her grandmother's stove in a village house.
The neighbor who never goes out
A story about a young woman who becomes curious about her mysterious, reclusive neighbor.
Рация на дрейфующей льдине
A story about Soviet radio operator Ernst Krenkel and his team who rely on a radio to survive on a drifting ice floe in the Arctic.
Рынок, который открывается до рассвета
A young girl named Masha visits an early morning market to buy special flowers for her grandmother's birthday.
Письмо в кармане старой шинели
A young woman discovers a long-forgotten letter hidden in her grandfather's old military coat, revealing a piece of her family history.
Moose on the highway in a night blizzard
A driver experiences a tense moment when he encounters a large moose on a snowy, dark highway at night.
A2 Russian Stories
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.
The Octobrist Badge Lost on the First Day
A young girl named Tanya feels sad when she loses her special school badge but learns a lesson about responsibility.
Cats of the Hermitage during the War
A moving story about a woman named Nina who cares for the cats at the Hermitage Museum during and after the Leningrad blockade.
Sheet music found in an old stove
A young woman discovers a hidden piece of music in her grandmother's old house that brings back long-lost memories.
The Bus That Doesn't Stop in the Rain
A story about a bus driver who refuses to stop at a dangerous bridge during the rain to ensure the safety of his passengers.
The Neighbor's Key and a Stranger's Door
A woman accidentally enters her neighbor's apartment using the wrong key.
The Fifth Set at Dawn
A story about two childhood friends facing each other in a tense, final tennis match at dawn.
A Lighthouse on Sakhalin, Hidden by Fog for Three Days
Anya takes over the responsibilities of a lighthouse keeper on Sakhalin when her grandfather falls ill during a dangerous fog.
Соль, которую не дали соседке
Marina chooses to keep her salt for her daughter's borsch instead of sharing it with her neighbor, leading to a moment of reflection.
A stranger's hat in a platzkart
A story about a traveler on a train who discovers a stranger's hat and learns a poignant story about family reconciliation.
Гора, к которой нельзя поворачиваться спиной
A story about a man who travels to a remote village and learns a mysterious rule about a mountain that changes his perspective.
The Violin from the Pawnshop
A story about a musician who finds a meaningful violin in a pawnshop that carries a deep emotional history.
Three Years Without a Reply
Two old friends reunite in a café after three years of silence caused by a series of misunderstandings.
Пирог, который испекли всего один раз
A granddaughter discovers a secret family recipe and learns a valuable lesson about love and memory.
The Queue for Kefir at Six in the Morning
A young woman encounters an unexpected act of kindness while waiting in a cold morning queue to buy kefir for her sick grandmother.
Обещание, данное на вокзале
A story about a man who keeps a promise to his best friend to look after the friend's sister.
Свет в окне нежилого дома
A young girl named Anya discovers a warm light in a house that has been vacant for years and learns the touching reason behind it.
B1 Russian Stories
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.
B2 Russian Stories
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.
Слова, которые слышали через стену
A woman discovers a secret about her boyfriend by accidentally overhearing a private conversation through the thin walls of her apartment.