The Battle of the Caucasus: How Soviet Soldiers Removed Nazi Flags from Elbrus

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Source: Official website of the State –

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Before the war, a German guy climbed this slope with you. He fell down, but was saved. And now, perhaps, he's preparing his machine gun for battle. (Vladimir Vysotsky)

During the Great Patriotic War, the Caucasus Mountains became yet another territory captured by Nazi troops. To gain access to coal, steel, and oil and to seize one of the most important strategic points, the Edelweiss Mountain Division was sent there.

The enemy had been studying the terrain since the 1930s, so they were much better prepared for battle and adapted to long-term mountain conditions. Nevertheless, surrender was impossible, and as early as the summer of 1942, Joseph Stalin declared that the Germans would not cross the Caucasus Mountains.

Lieutenant Gurgen Grigoryants's unequal battle against the Edeilweiss unit took place in the fall of 1942. The Germans occupied the Priut 11 Hotel, and despite the failure to "remove" them, the situation in the mountains began to change. First, after Friedrich Paulus's army was encircled near Stalingrad, the group in the Caucasus was in danger of being cut off. Second, the German mountain rifle units were unable to cross the Main Caucasus Range and reach Baku. Third, after the units were redeployed to Stalingrad, they lost their numerical advantage due to a lack of personnel and equipment.

On the night of January 1, 1943, the Nazi troops began to retreat, and our soldiers began the North Caucasus Offensive Operation. It was led by Alexander Gusev, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR in mountaineering. This was the first mass ascent of Europe's highest peak during the harsh winter of the war. Icy winds, terrible storms and frosts, homemade climbing equipment, heavy loads of weapons, and minimal food—such were the conditions. The groups reached the Priyut 11 base by February 9.

"We ran out of food. And not just what we'd brought with us, but also what had somehow survived the warehouse explosion by the retreating rangers. The situation was becoming critical: climbing Elbrus in such bad weather was extremely risky, and the mission had to be completed at all costs," Gusev recalled.

On February 13, 1943, two dozen Soviet military climbers began their assault on Elbrus. In just nine hours, the soldiers reached an altitude of 5,633 meters above sea level. The enemy flags raised in the summer of 1942 were reduced to shreds. After removing the Nazi standards, the climbers raised Soviet flags and wrote a note:

"February 13, 1943, 2:00 PM. Today, a group of RKKA mountaineering instructors climbed here from the "Shelter of the Eleven" in nine hours. Snowfall, fog, frost. The ascent is dedicated to the liberation of the Caucasus from the Nazis and the 25th anniversary of our glorious Red Army. By order of the Transcaucasian Front command, the group removed the Nazi pennant and raised our red flag of the USSR. Death to the German occupiers! Long live our party, the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), and the heroic Red Army! Long live our Elbrus and a free Caucasus once again!"

The assault on the eastern summit of the mountain began on the night of February 17, and again, 9 hours later, the second peak of Elbrus was cleared of Nazi symbols and the USSR flag was erected on it.

The successful completion of the operation became the most significant feat of Soviet soldiers during the Great Patriotic War and a testament to their incredible strength, courage, and commitment to their homeland. Alexander Gusev and Nikolai Gusak were awarded the Order of the Red Army, and the remaining 18 soldiers were awarded the Medal for Courage. "These are our mountains," and we proved it.

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

153 years since the birth of Feodor Chaliapin

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Source: Official website of the State –

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Feodor Chaliapin was a renowned Russian chamber and opera singer. He was born on February 13, 1873, in Kazan, to a family of farmers. As a child, he sang in a church choir, and at age 12, he first attended the theater, seeing Pyotr Sukhonin's "Russian Wedding." From that moment on, the stage remained his passion for the rest of his life.

"The orchestra was playing. Suddenly the curtain wavered, rose, and I was immediately stunned, enchanted. A vaguely familiar fairy tale came to life before me. Magnificently dressed people walked around the marvelously decorated room, conversing with each other in a particularly beautiful way. I couldn't understand what they were saying. I was deeply moved by the spectacle and, unblinking, unthinking, I gazed at these wonders," recalled Fyodor Ivanovich.

Wanting to get a glimpse behind the scenes, he even took a job as an extra for a nickel. His first performance, at the Panaevsky Garden in Kazan, was a disaster. After appearing on stage in the dramatic play "Vagabonds," in which Chaliapin was cast as the gendarme Roger, he was stunned and later deeply distressed by the disruption of the performance.

The debut finally took place in 1890 in Ufa, when one of the baritones fell ill the day before a performance. The role of the Stolnik in Stanisław Moniuszko's opera "Halka" went to the chorister Chaliapin. He received a "vaccine against overconfidence" then—he sat the wrong way during the performance.

The aspiring artist landed a contract with Lyubimov's opera thanks to Dmitry Usatov, a former artist at the Imperial Theatres, who taught him the basics of professional vocals and etiquette. He was then invited to the Mariinsky Theatre, but after critics criticized his poor singing, he found no roles for a long time.

That same year, in Nizhny Novgorod, where Chaliapin had gone for the summer, he had a fateful meeting with Savva Mamontov. He invited Fyodor to join his troupe for a handsome fee. The singer "didn't believe in the saving power of talent without hard work," so during his three years at the private opera, he demonstrated incredible diligence and worked hard to perfect his craft. Thanks to this, his name became widely known throughout the country.

In the autumn of 1899, Chaliapin arrived at the Imperial Theatres as a renowned opera singer – his tours were a great success, and the audiences applauded him. He then became a leading soloist at both the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres, and two years later he was performing in Italy at the renowned Teatro alla Scala. His repertoire of roles was vast, with his most memorable roles including the Miller (Rusalka), Ivan Susanin (A Life for the Tsar), Boris Godunov and Varlaam (Boris Godunov), Ivan the Terrible (The Maid of Pskov), Mephistopheles (Faust and Mephistopheles), Don Basilio (The Barber of Seville), Leporello (Don Giovanni), and Don Quixote (Don Quixote). From 1918 to 1921, Chaliapin became the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre. For the once provincial boy, this position became a true success, recognizing not only his talent and enormous work on himself, but also his sincere dedication to the cause.

In 1922, Fyodor received permission for an extended tour abroad and left for France with his family. The reason for his emigration was disagreements with the Soviet government, which the artist refused to reconcile. His fortunes abroad were flourishing – he began conquering theaters around the world and filling halls with admiring audiences. From 1923 onward, the opera singer performed successfully in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia, Latin America, China, and Japan. In 1927, while in Paris, Chaliapin donated 5,000 francs to help unemployed Russian émigrés. The Soviet government perceived this as support for the White Guards and stripped him of his title of People's Artist of the USSR.

A hallmark of his performances was makeup, which he turned into a true art form. His meticulous attention to every detail, including not only his face but also his hands, neck, and, if necessary, his body, was a completely new phenomenon. He recalled:

"When I walked onto the stage, dressed in my costume and made up, it caused a real sensation, very flattering for me. The performers, the chorus, even the workers surrounded me, gasping and delighted like children, touching me with their fingers, feeling me, and when they saw that my muscles had been painted on, they were completely delighted."

In May 1937, his final performance took place in Warsaw. He sang the title role in Boris Godunov, and in June, he gave his final concert in Great Britain. On April 12, 1938, the great artist died of leukemia.

In his time, Feodor Chaliapin was not just a world-renowned opera and chamber music star, but a true innovator. Konstantin Stanislavsky himself, the author of the famous training system still used today, admitted, "I based my 'system' on Chaliapin." Therefore, today, the great singer's legacy lives on in new generations of artists. For his contribution to culture, Chaliapin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Golden Cross of the Prussian Eagle in Germany, and the Legion of Honor in France. The title of People's Artist was restored only 53 years after the singer's death.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 13, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

World Radio Day: How did a great invention change the world?

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Source: Official website of the State –

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February 13 is celebrated annually as World Radio Day. It was proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference on October 19, 2011, and the date was chosen for a reason: it was on this day in 1946 that UN Radio was founded.

Although the holiday hasn't been celebrated for very long, it already has its own traditions. For example, UNESCO chooses a special theme for the celebration each year, reflecting the current challenges and opportunities of radio broadcasting. For 2025, the theme was "Radio and Climate Change."

The history of radio

The debate over who invented radio continues to this day. In Russia, the author is considered to be Alexander Popov, in the US, Nikola Tesla, and in the West, Guglielmo Marconi. Three prominent scientists were working on this new form of communication at the same time, without any interactions.

In 1893, Nikola Tesla demonstrated wireless signal transmission at a lecture in St. Louis and then filed patents for his own radio communication system. On May 7, 1895, Alexander Popov presented his device for receiving electromagnetic waves at a meeting of the Russian Physicochemical Society in St. Petersburg. In 1896, Guglielmo Marconi filed a patent for a radio device in the UK, and by 1901, he had made the first transatlantic radio transmission, proving that radio waves could travel thousands of kilometers.

How an invention changed our lives

Radio was long used for military communications, initially transmitting Morse code, and human speech was first heard in 1919. In the USSR, reliable radio broadcasting began in 1924 and was a true revelation – it became the main source of breaking news for all citizens of the country. In 1962, All-Union Radio introduced 24-hour broadcasting, and by 1970, radio broadcasting had reached the entire country. It has become a vital tool for mass information, education, and entertainment.

Radio Today

Despite the rapid development of television, the internet, and social media, this method of communication remains relevant and remains the most accessible media. Radio adapts to trends, broadcasting not only news but also music, podcasts, interviews, and much more.

Congratulations!

Traditionally, this holiday is celebrated by those involved in radio broadcasting. The State University of Management congratulates members of the Center for Space Research, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and Radioelectronic Technologies at the State University of Management, radio station staff, military communications specialists, students and teachers specializing in radio engineering, and all radio enthusiasts!

Thank you for creating and developing technologies that help us stay connected!

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 13, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Service-Learning: New Season Opening and 2025 Results

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Source: Official website of the State –

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On February 12, the State University of Management held the opening of the spring season of the Service-Learning program.

Deputy Minister Olga Petrova commented on this event on the official social media accounts of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education: "I'm pleased to see how students from the State University of Management are implementing projects that help people and make society stronger. Working with real social clients helps them gain practical skills and build a strong portfolio. It's especially important that such initiatives instill in students responsibility, initiative, and a willingness to work in real-world situations."

At the grand opening of the season, GUU Vice-Rector Pavel Pavlovsky described the program's history and emphasized the wide range of tasks it addresses, from assisting large families to organizing nationwide events.

"You're all future managers here. And becoming one in theory without organizing any work in practice is impossible. Without such experience, you'll never know what to do when your colleague misses a deadline," warned Pavel Pavlovsky.

Alexander Romanov, Deputy Head of the Department for Work with Educational Organizations at the Dobro.rf Association, reported that the program's new digital service was launched in January, and that GUU students will be among the first to test it out.

Yulia Ustinova, Deputy Head of the Department of National Priorities and Regional Interaction at the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, emphasized that the State University of Management is not only a leader in implementing the "Service-Learning" program, but also sets trends and guiding principles for others.

Veronika Balandina, head of the Service-Learning program at SUM, spoke about the main results of the program's implementation at our university in 2025.

"The program covers 100% of the programs offered at SUM. For each program, we select appropriate assignments from social stakeholders. Even if we don't have a specific program, such as veterinary science, but the project seems interesting, we find partners and specialists at other universities," said Veronika Balandina.

A total of 1,389 students participated in the program's activities, implementing over 195 projects and helping more than 15,000 beneficiaries.

As a clear example of the results of student work, the team that won last year's project competition within the "Service Learning" program presented an advertising brochure for the "Alien Guest" Charitable Foundation.

As a reminder, the Service-Learning program has been implemented at SUM since 2023 and is integrated into the educational process: students address social issues as part of their academic studies. In 2025, SUM was ranked first in Russia for the number of social orders processed in the first quarter, took second place in the All-Russian Competition for Best Practices in Organizing Volunteer and Community Activities in Russian Universities in the category "Best Practices in the Implementation of the Federal Service-Learning Program," and was included in a collection of program case studies at Moscow universities.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 13, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Anna Pavlova: the prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theatre, known throughout the world

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Source: Official website of the State –

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The great Russian ballerina was born on February 12, 1881. In early childhood, Pavlova was impressed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's famous work, The Sleeping Beauty, and fell in love with ballet.

She was rejected from the Imperial Ballet School on her first attempt – she was too weak and sickly. But on her second attempt, Marius Petipa, one of the greatest masters of classical ballet, looked at her and uttered a prophetic phrase: "A feather in the wind. It will fly." At just 10 years old, she was accepted, and her students included such outstanding dancers as Ekaterina Vyazem, Alexander Oblakov, Pavel Gerdt, Evgenia Sokolova, and Marius Petipa. Studying at the school was challenging. Anna Pavlova was completely unfit for the standards of a ballerina of the time, being petite and frail. The strain on her young body was colossal: she had to rise at 8 a.m. and work hard both in class and in rehearsals in the dance halls. In addition to classical pas, the program included the minuet, mazurka, Hungarian dance, and Italian and Spanish dances. To improve her health, her teachers gave Anna cod liver oil.

After graduating from the academy with a gold medal in 1899, the very young ballerina joined the Mariinsky Theatre. There, Pavlova immediately attracted attention. While many aspiring dancers began in the corps de ballet, on September 19 of that year, she was already dancing in Jean Dauberval's La Fille Mal Gardée. It was her debut: the audience was delighted, and critics predicted a great future for the new star.

Pavlova's subsequent solo roles included Carmen, Giselle, King Candaules, The Awakening of Flora, Don Quixote, The Pharaoh's Daughter, Swan Lake, Raymonda, and Le Corsaire, as well as productions by her friend and classmate, the talented choreographer Michel Fokine. It was he who created the miniature "The Swan" for Pavlova, which became a hallmark of Russian ballet worldwide. She performed this dance over 4,000 times worldwide, and each performance was unique in its own way.

The prima ballerina remained with the Mariinsky Theatre until 1913, becoming a touring performer in her final three years. Sergei Diaghilev's "Russian Seasons" captivated Europe, and Anna Pavlova became widely known abroad. She later abandoned her collaboration with the impresario and formed her own company. This led to Pavlova's relationship with Diaghilev deteriorating. The ballerina did not cancel her tour at his request and began performing independently in the finest theaters around the world, visiting more than 40 countries: America, China, Australia, India, Japan, Peru, Egypt, Argentina, New Zealand, Cuba, South Africa, the Philippines, and elsewhere.

Anna Pavlova never returned to Russia. According to one version, in 1910, her lover, Victor Dandre, was put on trial for embezzlement. The ballerina helped him escape, paid a hefty fine of 36,000 rubles, and followed him to England. Victor's return to his homeland was blocked, so Anna decided to stay together. Later, in a conversation with Vertinsky, she admitted that she missed him:

"It's terrible, my friend, terrible! I'm so sad I can't sleep, I cry, I have headaches, I despair! I'm freezing in this cold and foreign country. I'd give anything, without a second thought, for a little dacha with our Russian grass and birch trees, somewhere near Moscow or Petrograd."

The life of the world-famous ballerina was full of events, here are some interesting facts:

Pavlova was very close to animals and found common ground with them easily. She once danced with a snake on her arm, hand-fed a bear sugar, and even adopted a swan, which became tame, lay at her feet, and posed for photographs. In exile, she couldn't part with Russian food. Anna's personal chef prepared buckwheat, cutlets, sturgeon, and other dishes for her. She also set a large table for Christmas and Easter, and a Russian woman who had come to Australia from Siberia helped her get kulichi for the last holiday of her tour. Charlie Chaplin, the famous comedian, was a fan of Pavlova. They met in person in North America and even took a group photo. Pavlova treated her troupe with great care, and according to one of its members, "she would personally draw a grid of iodine on the ankle of one of the dancers, and then send her for a special massage." The ballerina paid a penalty of 21,000 rubles for leaving the Mariinsky Theater. For comparison, a teacher's monthly salary at the time was about 85 rubles. A famous meringue dessert, as delicate and fragile as the ballerina herself, is named after Anna Pavlova.

Anna Pavlova was a living legend, known in every corner of the world. The ballerina died on January 23, 1931, in The Hague. She fell seriously ill during a tour and passed away literally on stage. According to one legend, her last words were, "Bring me my swan costume." Her talent and unique sensuality inspired and continue to delight not only audiences but also the world's leading ballerinas who perform her repertoire today.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 12, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Win a trip from the State University of Management

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Source: Official website of the State –

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The State University of Management invites you to participate in a drawing for a certificate from the Cuva hotel booking platform.

How to take part in the giveaway:

Subscribe to the GUU VKontakte group. Subscribe to the GUU channel on MAH. Subscribe to the GUU rector's channel on MAH. Comment on the giveaway post on VKontakte with the name of your dream destination for the weekend or vacation.

Please note: the number of comments is unlimited, and each one can become a step towards new experiences.

The winner will be chosen randomly on February 18 at 15:00.

To officially receive a prize in the form of a certificate for 4,000 rubles, you will need to provide a package of documents: passport information with registration, SNILS, TIN, consent to the processing of personal data and consent to the transfer of personal data, and sign the prize acceptance certificate.

Leave a comment and grab your chance for a free vacation from GUU and Cuva!

Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 02/18/2026

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

"Joint Programs for the Benefit of the Fatherland": GUU and Yaroslavl State University Expand Cooperation

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Source: Official website of the State –

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On February 12, a meeting was held at the State University of Management between Vladimir Stroyev, Rector of the State University of Management, and Artem Ivanchin, Rector of the P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University.

The university heads discussed issues of further cooperation and the results achieved within the framework of the previously concluded cooperation agreement.

In addition, the rectors identified specific forms for implementing certain ideas and decided to expand areas of cooperation.

"We will implement joint network educational programs for the benefit of the Fatherland and higher education in our country," Vladimir Stroyev and Artem Ivanchin concluded the meeting.

As a reminder, the State University of Management and the P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University are long-standing partners, having co-organized the National Project School.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 12, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

First-round winners, get ready: the second stage of the Future of Business Olympiad has begun.

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Source: Official website of the State –

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On February 12, the second qualifying round of the All-Russian Olympiad in Innovative Entrepreneurship “The Future of Business” began, developed with the support of the State University of Management and experts from the RVB (Wildberries) company.

The Olympiad covers a range of general education subjects and entrepreneurial cases, designed for the knowledge level of schoolchildren in grades 9–11 and first- and second-year college students interested in economics, management, technology, and innovation.

Access to the second-stage assignments is now open to winners of the first qualifying round. You can check your status and begin solving them on the SUM Digital Corpus platform. Important: To continue participating in the Olympiad, please indicate your class in your personal account.

The final remote stage will last until February 22, and its winners will be invited to the in-person final, which will be held in Moscow in April.

Winners and prize winners of the Future of Business Olympiad will receive personalized certificates and gifts from Wildberries.

Log in to the GUU Digital Corps, check your status, and start solving the second round of assignments!

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 12, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Enrollment is open for the Pre-University of the State University of Management

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The Pre-University of the State University of Management has opened enrollment for tenth-grade students for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Recruitment is carried out in three specialized areas:

Socioeconomic profile with in-depth study of mathematics, economics and social sciences; Social and Humanitarian profile with in-depth study of social sciences, English and history; Technological profile (IT-focused) with in-depth study of mathematics, ICT and English.

In addition to compulsory subjects, students attend thematic courses and utilize the university's resources for project-based research activities and supplementary education, including developing individual projects at the university's institutes.

As part of career guidance work with Pre-University students, meetings are held on a regular basis with the rector's office of the State University of Management, the faculty, and the Student Council.

GUU teachers conduct extracurricular activities with students. For example, through this collaboration, they learn about "Brand Promotion" and the basics of "Financial Literacy" and "Information Systems and Programming," allowing them to become full participants in the educational and developmental processes not only at school but also at the university.

Students of the Pre-University School of the State University of Management are active participants in the "School – University – Partners" ecosystem for two years, making it easier for them to adapt to student life and choose their future profession.

You can find the rules for admission to the Pre-University by following this link. To do this, you will need to register in your personal account on the SUM Digital Corps.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 12, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

"I never get tired on stage – that's where I live": 151 years since the birth of Vasily Kachalov

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Vasily Kachalov (real name Shverubovich) was a great Soviet and Russian actor, master of artistic expression, and teacher. He was born on February 11, 1875, in Vilnius, to a priest's family. His father wanted his son to follow in the priestly line, but his mother, descended from an ancient noble family, instilled in him a love of literature and art at an early age.

Let's go to the calling

Kachalov shared his school days at the 1st Vilnius Gymnasium with Felix Dzerzhinsky, Boris Gorev, and Konstantin Galkovsky. Even then, the boy began to understand his calling: he possessed a phenomenal memory, recited poetry expressively, and performed in amateur theatricals. The budding actor's signature performance was a Chatsky monologue.

In 1893, Vasily entered the law faculty of St. Petersburg University, but even here his passion for the stage prevailed – he began acting in a student drama group under the direction of Vladimir Davydov.

How the pseudonym came about

His theatrical debut took place in 1896 at the Suvorin Theater of the Literary and Artistic Society. It was then that the famous "Kachalov" appeared – a stage name that, according to Faina Ranevskaya, was given to the aspiring actor by Alexander Suvorin himself, the theater owner, editor of the Novoye Vremya newspaper, and a close friend and mentor of Chekhov. According to another version, Vasily's new surname was invented by Fyodor Chaliapin, who saw it in a newspaper he was reading at a coffee shop while meeting the actor. Yet another version holds that the artist chose his stage name after reading an obituary for N. N. Kachalov, the former governor of the Arkhangelsk province, in a St. Petersburg newspaper.

From a provincial theater actor to a Moscow Art Theater legend

From 1897, Vasily Kachalov traveled around the country on tour with Vasily Dolmatov, and until 1900 he performed in Kazan and Saratov in the "Kazan-Saratov Association of Actors" under the direction of Mikhail Borodai.

Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko recognized a future star in the young provincial actor, and in 1900 invited him to join the troupe of the newly opened Moscow Art Theater. However, at their first meeting, Stanislavsky was terribly disappointed, saying, "You're an outsider. An outsider! Perhaps in two or three years you'll become more at home with us, understand us, and accept what we have."

By that time, Vasily Kachalov had already mastered the art of approaching roles, interacting with the audience, and understanding their mood. His remarkable insight and ability to grasp the psychology of his characters quickly made him one of the theater's most indispensable actors. His first major role was Berendey in Ostrovsky's "The Snow Maiden," then he became Stanislavsky's understudy in Chekhov's plays, followed by Tuzenbach in Chekhov's "Three Sisters," the Baron in Gorky's "The Lower Depths," and Ivan Karamazov in a stage adaptation of Dostoevsky's novel.

Anton Pavlovich, though initially critical, praised the actor's work highly and, as a token of his gratitude, presented him with his autographed book after the performances of "The Cherry Orchard" and "Three Sisters." "To dear Vasily Ivanovich Kachalov, as a fond keepsake from the deeply respected, loving, and grateful author."

During the revolutions, Kachalov toured with his troupe, led by Stanislavsky, in southern Russia, Europe, and even America. From 1924 onward, he performed in Moscow and earned enormous fees—up to 1,000 rubles—which he spent not only on personal expenses but also on helping the actors under his charge.

Vasily Ivanovich served at the Moscow Art Theater for nearly half a century, playing around 60 roles and becoming the theater's leading star. Each new role and production was a true event for the entire capital. Kachalov's Hamlet became the best in the theater's history, earning critics the nickname "the Russian Hamlet."

Friendship with Faina Ranevskaya

For many years, the magnificent Faina Ranevskaya and the talented Vasily Kachalov were close friends. According to the actress, their first meeting took place on Stoleshnikov Lane, when she heard a familiar voice. Realizing it was Kachalov, her idol and first love, she was so overwhelmed that she fainted. He, like a true gentleman, helped her come to her senses and stayed with her until he was sure all was well. Several years later, Ranevskaya found herself in Moscow again. Dreaming of attending a Kachalov performance, she wrote him a letter sharing her desire and recalling her fainting spell. In response, she was informed that two tickets were waiting for her at the theater manager.

Thus began a long and strong friendship between the magnificent Faina Ranevskaya and the talented Vasily Kachalov. They often met offstage, visited each other, had long conversations about art, and recited poetry to each other. She described him as intelligent, able to listen and empathize with others. She later admitted: "I've only loved two people in my life. The first was Kachalov. I don't remember the second."

"Give me your paw for luck, Jim."

Another close friend of Kachalov's was Sergei Yesenin, one of the most famous poets of the Silver Age. Vasily greatly admired his work and became one of the first to perform Yesenin's poems on stage. Until the last years of his life, he included them in the program of his literary evenings.

Yesenin dedicated one of his most famous works to his friend’s pet, the Doberman Jim.

"Give me your paw, Jim, for luck, I've never seen such a paw. Let's bark in the moonlight for the quiet, silent weather."

The first line of this poem may seem familiar to you. It's exactly what Lukashin said in "The Irony of Fate"!

Vasily Kachalov became a true legend of Russian theater and a paragon of acting excellence. His name is given to the Kazan Bolshoi Drama Theater, a gymnasium in Vilnius, and streets in Kazan, Novosibirsk, and Moscow.

His maternal great-granddaughter, Olga Lyubimova, is a journalist and theater scholar, and the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation. In memory of the great People's Artist of the USSR, in February 2025, she opened the exhibition "Being Kachalov" at the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater to commemorate the actor's 150th birthday.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 11, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.