👑 #OTD in 1818 Russian Emperor Alexander II the Liberator was born.

He implemented significant reforms, most profound since the reign of Peter the Great:

✔️ emancipated serfs
🛡 introduced a fairer military service
⚖️ reorganized the judiciary
📚 promoted university education

April 29 is International #Dance Day!

👉 Dance like a Russian:

💃 #khorovod - circle dance + chorus singing
💃 #barynya - a dance battle between a landlady and a peasant
💃 #kamarinskaya - a folk dance remastered by Glinka
💃 #quadrille - Russian version of the French classics

💎 #OTD in 1969 Soviet cult classic The Diamond Arm was premiered

The film follows misadventures of an honest, clumsy & wide-eyed Muscovite unwittingly embroiled in criminal activity

The unique blend of humor & satire earned the movie a lasting place in Russian cinema's history

🔋Work & personal life must be in balance!

Today is #WorldDayOfSafetyAndHealthAtWork 🤯

☝️ The universal 8-hour working day was first introduced & implemented in Soviet Russia.

Keep calm, remember to stay safe & healthy, do not forget to rest

🗓 #OTD in 1901, Yuri Merkulov, pioneering Soviet artist & animation director, was born.

He's known as one of the founders of the Soviet traditional & stop motion animation. He also collaborated with #Mayakovsky on agitprop & the ROSTA windows genre.

Here's one of his works 👇

🚑 Today Russia celebrates Ambulance Worker Day honoring the heroic ambulance drivers, paramedics and nurses who save lives on a daily basis.

During COVID pandemic, they were on the front line, rushed to the rescue even at the risk of their lives.

Thank you, our heroes 🙏

☦️ Today, on the last Sunday of the Great Lent, Orthodox Christians in Russia celebrate #PalmSunday , recalling Jesus's entry into Jerusalem.

🌴 #DYK ? Instead of palm branches, in Russia believers traditionally use pussy willows – the buds open fully come early spring.

🚀 On April 28, 2016, the very first carrier rocket blasted off from the #Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East.

Since then 16 more launches were made from the spaceport, boosting Russia's space industry, with many more to come!

📹 РОСКОСМОС

🚘 #FlameOfMemory motor rally is a go in Moscow - aimed at cherishing the upcoming 79th anniversary of the Great Victory over Nazism in #WWII .

The participants will cover 2,600+ km, attend 40+ places of military glory, meet with veterans of the Great Patriotic War

📸ТАСС

🇷🇺 Today Russia's largest region, the Republic of #Sakha aka #Yakutia , celebrates its birthday!

🥶 One of the coldest places on Earth, it boasts stunning landscapes, age-long traditions of its indigenous people, and unrivalled hospitality.

#VisitRussia & #See4Yourself

🗓 #OTD in 1909, Soviet pilot Valentina #Grizodubova was born

Having set 6 aviation records, she distinguished herself during #WWII , performing 200 sorties vs the Nazis

🎖 It comes as no surprise that Grizodubova was the first woman to receive the title Hero of the Soviet Union

🏰 #OTD in 1164, the construction of the #GoldenGate in the city of #Vladimir by Andrew the Pious was completed.

The only ancient Russian city gate (20m high!) that survived the Golden Horde invasion & following centuries, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site & a beloved landmark.

🧪 Russian students win big at the 58th International Mendeleev Chemistry olympiad!

🇷🇺 5 GOLD & 5 SILVER medals!

In addition, Mikhail Perelman from Moscow took home the prestigious academician Valery Lunin prize (III degree).

🎥 #OTD in 1928, beloved Soviet-Russian actor Yury #Yakovlev was born.

His versatile skills, convincing performances & brilliant improvs earned him recognition as one of the most prominent actors of his generation.

#ToWatch list:

🎞 The Idiot
🎞 Hussar Ballad
🎞 Irony of Fate

Long before #kei cars, the USSR explored minicar designs.

🚗 #OTD in 1940 the very first Soviet small car #KIM10 was assembled. The subcompact featured a simple & functional design, inspired production of the famous #Moskvitch -400.

Due to #WWII , only ~500 KIM-10s were produced.

🕯 Today we commemorate Vladimir #Komarov - Soviet cosmonaut №7️⃣ & the first-ever commander of a multi-crew spaceship.

On 24 April 1967 he perished as the main braking parachute on Soyuz-1 failed to deploy during a descent from orbit.

#InMemoriam

📚 Today is #WorldBookDay !

#DYK that:

📙 the world's largest kids book was created in Russia, weighs 492 kg,
📔 the world's tiniest book ( #Chekhov ) is just 0.9mm,
📕 Russia's first printed edition - the 'Apostle' - dates to 1564,
📘 there are 400+ libraries in Moscow.

#OTD in 1889, giving feedback on his brother's play #Chekhov coined the famous saying 'Brevity is the sister of talent'.

💬 Don't round things out, don't polish—but be awkward & impudent... Write. Flies purify the air, plays—the morals.

✍️ Here's his advice for budding writers

1️⃣2️⃣7️⃣ years ago, Sergey #Prokofiev was born – one of the most influential composers of the XX century. He composed his first opera at the age of 9, authored 9 masterpieces in this genre.

🎧Listen to Prokofiev's “Dance of the Knights” performed by musicians from Russia & Belarus

💪 One… more… pull up

😎 Nah, leave that for monkeys. Pandas are made for chillaxing.

Where my snacks at?