REALITY CHECK
30,000 Russians die from HIV every year
→ Partially true. Russia has had one of the highest HIV infection rates in Eastern Europe, especially among intravenous drug users, but exact annual death numbers fluctuate. Around 30,000 is within the realm of estimates reported in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
14,000 Russian women are murdered by husbands every year, no punishment
→ Exaggerated and misleading. Domestic violence is a severe issue in Russia, but 14,000 annually is likely inflated. Russian NGOs have reported numbers in the thousands for women killed by domestic partners, but reliable data is hard to get, especially after the 2017 decriminalization of certain forms of domestic violence.
Abortion is something women are proud about
→ Highly subjective and stereotypical. Abortion rates are historically high in Russia, but this claim is offensive and unfounded. Russian women generally view abortion as a last resort, not a source of pride.
Middle class is almost non-existent
→ Exaggeration. Russia has a small but significant middle class, largely concentrated in urban centers like Moscow and St. Petersburg. Outside major cities, income disparity is extreme.
Big cities are 100% opposite of the rest of Russia
→ Broadly true. There is a huge gap in living standards, infrastructure, and opportunities between Moscow/St. Petersburg and rural or small-town Russia.
Religion's name is corruption
→ A metaphor, not a fact. Corruption is endemic at many levels of Russian bureaucracy and governance. The phrase reflects frustration with institutional dishonesty.
Russia is feudal
→ Figurative but with a point. While not literally feudal, power structures are highly hierarchical, personalistic, and opaque, resembling a "neo-feudal" system to some analysts.
80% of transport is done by rail
→ Roughly true for freight, not for people. Russia’s vast geography makes rail dominant for cargo. Passenger rail is important but not as overwhelming.
Largest number of prostitutes worldwide per capita
→ Likely false. Russia has a visible sex industry, particularly in large cities, but credible international data does not support this extreme claim.
Depopulation of countryside
→ True. Rural depopulation has been a long-standing crisis since Soviet times, worsening in the post-Soviet era.
The way of thinking is like 400 years old
→ Subjective and offensive generalization. This reflects a biased view of perceived conservatism and traditionalism in Russian culture.
40% of population without indoor plumbing
→ Outdated and exaggerated. In the early post-Soviet years this was plausible; today, the number is far lower, though some rural areas still lack modern amenities.
They are not Europeans, despite geography
→ A complex, debated cultural question. Russia straddles Europe and Asia. Many Russians identify as distinct from "Western Europeans."
Mongol way of dealing with neighbors
→ Stereotypical insult. Refers to aggressive or domineering foreign policy styles, drawing an unfair historical comparison to the Mongol Empire.
Worst, they think the world needs them
→ Subjective claim. Russia's political messaging does often emphasize its indispensability, especially regarding energy, defense, and global balance.
Overall assessment:
This list mixes facts, exaggerations, and subjective criticisms in a style that resembles an outsider’s deeply cynical or hostile commentary rather than balanced analysis. While many underlying issues (corruption, demographic decline, rural poverty, authoritarianism) are real and serious, the tone and many of the claims reflect personal bias rather than objective reporting.
