If you're trying to understand Russia beyond the headlines, I highly recommend checking out Elvira Bary on YouTube. She’s a Russian-American writer who offers deeply personal, clear-eyed commentary on Russian culture, values, and mindset, from moral codes to gender roles to the way Russians interpret power, oligarchy and history. Her videos don’t pander or oversimplify, and she explains things with the kind of nuance you rarely see in mainstream commentary. Whether you’re trying to grasp why Russians think the way they do, or just want to avoid shallow takes, Bary’s content is a great place to start. Start with her videos on Russian morality or how Russians view the West, they’re eye-opening. Here is a playlist, I've watched or partially watched a lot of her stuff, it's hard to pick favourite videos out but this is a good start. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6d9EIByxz1AdkmIOYUlrDd0rmByq5zSN&si=N55EwNLE86ZsEPm_ Or one covering a common question:
Indeed, her video on the real mindset of their oligarchy is very on point (yep, it's feudalism). Elvira is articulate and engaging (for a Russian accent), which is no small feat when talking about Russia, a topic that usually feels like it’s actively trying to drain your will to live. She brings clarity and humanity to a subject that’s often murky, bleak, or just plain exhausting.