Category: Университетская жизнь /

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Tashkent-66: How a student brigade became a life's work and a friendship that lasted 60 years

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Nikolai Tarbaev and Mikhail Frolov with the detachment's banner

February 17th marks Russian Student Team Day, a holiday established in 2004 to commemorate the founding of the youth organization "Russian Student Teams." On this day, it's customary to speak about the traditions, continuity, and significance of the student movement for the country. However, behind these words lie real human destinies and stories, one of which is connected to the All-Union Student Team "Druzhba," which included students from the Leningrad Civil Engineering Institute (LISI, as SPbGASU was then known).

In the spring of 1966, Tashkent experienced one of the most devastating earthquakes in its history. The city was only partially rebuilt: the center remained intact, while the adobe neighborhoods on the outskirts were completely destroyed. The entire country rallied to rebuild the capital of the Uzbek SSR—student brigades headed south alongside professional construction workers. Among them was a LISI detachment, dubbed "Tashkent-66."

Sixty years later, detachment members Mikhail Ivanovich Frolov and Nikolai Aleksandrovich Tarbaev returned to their native university to share their memories with current students.

From Leningrad to ruined Tashkent

Initially, the LISI student construction team was formed for a trip to Kazakhstan, but after the Tashkent earthquake, the decision was changed. Through the Komsomol, the team was urgently reoriented to reconstruction work in Central Asia.

"There were forty-three of us: thirty-seven boys and six girls," Nikolai Alexandrovich recalls. "We lived in army tents in the area known as the Bolgar Gardens. There was so much work that at first it was complete chaos."

Two months after the disaster, the students found themselves in a city where the destruction had not yet been fully cleared. In temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, without established logistics or clear management, they were forced to literally rebuild their workflow from scratch.

Five meters by hand

The team's main task was to construct earthquake-resistant foundations for five-story apartment buildings. These involved enormous pits up to five meters deep, initially dug by hand with crowbars and shovels.

"First we dug, then we installed formwork and rebar, and poured concrete layer by layer," says Nikolai Tarbaev. "When the equipment arrived, things became a little easier, but we did the bulk of the work ourselves."

The work was hard, but it brought the team together. The students insisted on changing the work organization system: instead of disjointed "quotas," they proposed assigning permanent teams to specific sites. This proved to be a game-changer: the work became rhythmic, meaningful, and truly productive.

It was thanks to this that, in two months, the "Tashkentites" laid the foundations of a fifty-sixty-apartment building and completed a project that another unit had been unable to complete before them.

Heat, watermelons, and a feeling of a shoulder

Besides the grueling work, another side of that life remains in my memory: evening bonfires, songs, trips to the oriental bazaar, watermelons with which the merchants thanked the students for impromptu concerts.

"It wasn't just a job—it was a sense of celebration, youth, and being needed," says Mikhail Ivanovich. "You knew you were doing something important, and you were doing it with others."

When the mission ended, the team was asked to stay for another two weeks to finish the foundations left behind by their neighbors. They stayed. Then they returned to Leningrad on a special flight, with thanks, banners, and a welcome at the airport that the participants still remember.

The squad that didn't fall apart

But the most important consequence of "Tashkent-66" became apparent later: for many, this trip became a defining moment in their professional lives. The forty-three fighters grew into distinguished builders, heads of major construction organizations, and bridge builders. Entire families of engineers, architects, and designers emerged.

"Tashkent taught us how to work with people and be responsible for a common cause," Nikolai Tarbaev emphasizes. "After such a hard-working summer, you enter the profession no longer as a 'young specialist,' but as someone with life experience."

The detachment didn't disband even after graduation. At first, meetings were infrequent, then became regular. Today, the participants of "Tashkent-66" gather at least twice a year, including every year on May 9th, the anniversary of the detachment's formation. They published their own book of memories and preserved photographs, emblems, and traditions.

Memory that the future needs

The story of "Tashkent-66" isn't just a piece of the past. It's a conversation with current students about choosing a profession, about the path that shapes their entire lives.

"You've chosen the right path," Nikolai Tarbaev tells the students. "I sometimes think: if I were working in a pizzeria somewhere, what would I remember today? But as I drive around the city, I know: these bridges, these roads, these buildings are my work. We've chosen a profession that allows us to leave a mark on the earth."

According to Mikhail Frolov, "Being a builder isn't just a profession, it's a responsibility. It's an opportunity to create something that will outlast you. And university is the first step toward this great endeavor."

Tashkent-66 is more than just a post-earthquake construction project. It's an example of how choosing the right profession, an active student life, and working side by side can shape one's destiny and create lifelong friendships.

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.

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How accountants created writing

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Professor of the Department of Source Studies, Literature and Ancient Languages Humanitarian Institute NSU lecturer Oleg Donskikh discussed how humanity evolved from simple drawings and pictograms to the invention of the alphabet and fully developed writing, as well as the impact this had on our civilization. His lecture was part of the popular science marathon "Darwin Week", which is traditionally organized by Novosibirsk State University in February. This year, the event was held for the first time at the venue new campus of NSU.

People learned to draw before they invented the alphabet, but the drawings found in caves where ancient humans were stationed cannot be called writing, although they could have had a certain ritual significance.

"Writing is the term used to describe images that, in one way or another, reflect the language spoken by those who use these signs, and Stone Age rock art does not meet this criterion," explained Professor Donskikh.

Writing emerged somewhat later, independently in four centers: Mesopotamia and Egypt, China, and Mesoamerica. All modern writing systems, of which there are currently between one hundred and four hundred, according to various estimates, trace their roots to one of these centers.

The speaker demonstrated in detail how this process took place using the example of the ancient civilizations of the Middle East and Egypt, taking as a basis the hypothesis of the French-American researcher Denise Schmandt-Besser.

Beginning in the late 19th century, archaeologists explored virtually all of Mesopotamia. They unearthed the ruins of numerous settlements and assembled impressive collections of artifacts. Excavations at sites ranging from eastern Turkey to northern India yielded thousands of clay artifacts of unknown purpose. These were small figurines in the shape of cones, cylinders, and spheres, but their purpose remained a mystery for a long time.

Until the young archaeologist Schmandt-Besserat hypothesized in the 1970s that these were tokens for counting. This method of counting had been known since the Stone Age—the so-called one-to-one correspondence, or bijection. It's very simple: count something by comparing it to something else; for example, to count five sheep, you could use five sticks.

In Mesopotamia, clay objects were used to take this primitive method to an unprecedented level of sophistication. The shape and size of each artifact represented the type and quantity of various goods. In the agrarian economy of that era, such a system helped keep track of livestock and harvested crops. Tokens allowed for the calculation of the total inventory budget, served as a means of storing information about their quantities, and were used to verify the delivery of these goods to their destination.

Around 3100 BCE, Uruk, the ancient Sumerian city-state, experienced a qualitative leap: instead of storing clay tokens themselves in special clay "envelopes" imprinted with the tokens contained within, they began using the imprints themselves on clay tablets. Once this system became widespread and an understanding of what each individual image symbolized became universal, a logical question arose: why store clay tokens at all when it was easier to draw the desired symbol with a reed pen? Thus, the ancient system of three-dimensional counting objects evolved into a system of two-dimensional symbols. Consequently, a demand arose for people skilled in recording and processing information about goods in this manner.

"So writing emerged simultaneously with such a remarkable profession as accountant," Oleg Donskikh emphasized. "And, by the way, the first known recorded name, Kushim, belongs to an accountant."

The plaques contained not only information about the goods themselves, but also the names of those who owned them. They were written as follows: the name was divided into syllables, then each syllable was drawn with a symbol representing an object that sounded similar to it, with a note indicating that the reader was referring not to a collection of objects, but to parts of a name.

A major step in the development of writing occurred during the period when people began to build urban settlements, where social stratification increased significantly. Entire groups of people formed who used pictograms to convey information: merchants (traders), scribes (officials), and priests who recorded sacred texts.

To facilitate communication between large groups of people, a common set of symbols was needed. As symbols became more universal, their simplification followed. At the same time, it became clear that tokens were insufficient to convey all the necessary information. Furthermore, they could only describe objects, but not abstract concepts.

To solve this problem, people followed the same approach as when writing the names of the owners of goods on tally tablets, using symbols for monosyllabic objects, supplied with a determinative (a special sign indicating that the sound, not the meaning, is important here).

“Phoneticization is the main tool that ultimately led to the emergence of writing in the sense that we understand it,” the scientist explained.

Thus was born the famous cuneiform script, now considered one of the world's first writing systems. It was quite complex and was taught in specialized scribe schools. As Oleg Donskikh noted, these schools taught not only writing but also other disciplines and skills required by officials.

The teaching of writing itself was based on specialized canonical texts, which can already be considered literary. But literature proper also emerged, most notably the Epic of Gilgamesh, considered one of humanity's first literary works.

A couple of centuries later, writing emerged in Egypt in a similar fashion (for this reason, many researchers don't consider it a separate center of writing, but rather view it in conjunction with Mesopotamia, which influenced the Egyptians). However, the Egyptians did not copy cuneiform, but created their own system, better known today as hieroglyphs, although for everyday purposes they used the simpler demotic script.

Later civilizations that emerged in the Middle East developed their own writing systems based on these two ancient systems, but they also introduced their own innovations. For example, the Phoenicians were the first to invent an alphabet, which in turn gave rise to the Greek alphabet (still well known today), as well as the Aramaic syllabic script, which was widely used in ancient times. It's worth noting that Aramaic was widely spoken in the Middle East and was the language spoken by Jesus Christ.

Some writing systems evolved and gave rise to new ones, while others, conversely, disappeared. Oleg Donskikh cited the Minoan script of Ancient Crete as an example of the latter.

The Minoan culture was renowned for its complex architecture (just think of the famous palace of Knossos), art, and the creation of exquisite objects. But their most enigmatic achievement was Linear A, which remains undeciphered to this day. All that scholars know about it today is that it is a writing system consisting of approximately 75 symbols, each symbol representing a syllable.

"The fact is that this script wasn't widespread; it was used by the kings of Crete for their own purposes, and it was taught to a very limited circle of people in special schools. And when this civilization collapsed after the volcanic eruption on Santorini, which caused a tsunami and ashfall, and the subsequent Achaean invasion, its writing rules vanished into oblivion, along with their elite speakers," explained Oleg Donskikh.

In the final section of his lecture, Professor Oleg Donskikh cited a quote from Plato, who considered writing not a human achievement, but rather a folly or a vice. "Anyone with intelligence will never dare to express in words what is the fruit of their own reflection, especially in such an inflexible form as written symbols," the famous philosopher said, believing that the texts that emerged in his era destroyed the most valuable aspect of the teacher-student bond and imparted valuable knowledge to the ignorant, who were in no way worthy of it and were incapable of understanding it, only distorting it.

Nevertheless, writing continued to develop and became one of the cornerstones of virtually every civilization. And today, few except specialists know that it all began with inventory control in the settlements of the ancient inhabitants of Mesopotamia, the land of the Near East.

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.

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Tatyana Golikova: RSOs are shaping the future trajectory for millions of young people.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova took part in a conference on the role of Russian student brigades in training personnel for the country's economy. The conference was held on February 16 in the State Duma.

"I congratulate everyone on the upcoming Russian Student Brigades Day and the movement's 67th anniversary! You don't just work—you shape the future trajectory for millions of young people. Now, with an additional 1.7 million young people aged 15–19 expected to enter the labor market by 2030, and the economy requiring 12 million new specialists by 2032, the role of RSO mentors is crucial. It's gratifying that the most in-demand sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing, transportation, and construction, align with the brigades' core activities. Thanks in part to your career guidance efforts, we've already reduced youth unemployment to 8.3%, but we must do even more. The most important quality of an RSO fighter, as Mikhail Kiselev rightly told me, is love for the Motherland. Be guided by this and build!" Tatyana Golikova addressed the conference participants.

Over its nearly 70-year history, the Russian Student Teams movement has experienced significant growth and has become a true social lift, enabling schoolchildren to take their first steps into a career, students to gain practical experience and additional qualifications, and graduates to confidently enter the working world.

Ahead of RSO Day, Tatyana Golikova and First Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Alexander Zhukov met with the movement's most prominent representatives, competition winners, and heads of regional RSO branches. The participants discussed the areas in which young people are actively developing today, shared their experiences participating in RSO international work projects, and implementing humanitarian missions through student brigades.

"I always enjoy meeting with members of the student brigade movement. In the 1980s, when I was a student at Moscow State University, I was fortunate to travel with student brigades three times. I always remember those years with warmth. Working with student brigades is a very interesting and rewarding experience for a young person. Today, as in our time, students work better than anyone. When the Olympic construction began, there were many doubts about the advisability of involving students in the construction of Olympic venues, but I was confident that the guys would succeed. And so it turned out: the students worked efficiently and harmoniously, and this became an important step in reviving the student brigade movement. Today, RSOs are increasingly participating in projects that are crucial for the state. It's great that the movement is growing. It's important to focus on the most promising specialties early on and gain experience in these niches. Thank you very much for your participation! I wish you success," said Alexander Zhukov.

Thanks to the youth routing and career guidance project within the national "Personnel" project, starting this academic year, a system of interaction between employment agencies, schools, colleges, universities, and employers is being established in each region to help the younger generation choose a career. More than 4.3 million schoolchildren from nearly 30,000 schools across the country have already joined the project. The main goal is to ensure that by the time they complete their studies, schoolchildren have a clear understanding of their desired profession, and university or college graduates know where they will find work.

"Today, on the eve of the national holiday—Russian Student Team Day—we are holding a truly significant event in the State Duma. It unites the legislative and executive branches around the country's main labor movement, confirming that support for student teams is currently at the highest level. That's why measures to support Russian Student Teams were included in the United Russia party's popular program. And these represent hundreds of thousands of young people who choose creative work every year. These represent 170,000 people who have received free vocational training. These represent tens of thousands of young people who have found their dream jobs through our movement. When the President sets the goal of developing human resources, it is the RSO that becomes the bridge between students and employers," emphasized Mikhail Kiselyov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy, Chairman of the RSO Supervisory Board, and member of the Supreme Council of United Russia.

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.

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Denis Manturov congratulated KAMAZ on the 50th anniversary of the production of its first truck.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov congratulated the employees and veterans of the KAMAZ Group of Companies on the 50th anniversary of the brand's first truck and read a congratulatory message from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The head of state noted that today, KAMAZ is a true automotive giant and one of the country's largest industrial enterprises. Its products perform reliably in a variety of climatic and road conditions and are widely in demand in construction, mining, agriculture, urban transportation, and other industries.

"It's gratifying that, just like decades ago, KAMAZ employs true professionals who know and love their work. Thanks to their expertise and the unwavering support of the state and the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan, the plant's workers are responding to serious, unprecedented challenges with dignity. Drawing on the experience and traditions of veterans, they successfully solve critical problems, implement modern design and engineering ideas, and environmentally friendly, safe technologies and materials, steadily improving the quality and competitiveness of their products. They prioritize the timely and proper fulfillment of state defense orders. KAMAZ's battle-tested equipment serves the Motherland and helps our heroes achieve the goals of the special military operation," the President's congratulatory message reads.

Denis Manturov emphasized that the company's production complex covers the entire truck manufacturing cycle. KAMAZ vehicles are used in more than 80 countries worldwide.

"This is thanks to everyone who comes to production every day and every shift, stands at the conveyor belt, designs new solutions, and carries out administrative tasks. Thank you. And happy anniversary of the first car!" said Denis Manturov.

The First Deputy Prime Minister presented the KAMAZ team with the Russian Federation's honorary badge "For Success in Labor," awarded by presidential decree, and also awarded the company's employees with state awards.

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.

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Denis Manturov launched a new KAMAZ axle plant in Tatarstan.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov launched KAMAZ's new axle plant during a working visit to the Republic of Tatarstan. The event, which was part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the brand's first vehicle, was attended by Head of the Republic Rustam Minnikhanov, Rostec State Corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov, and KAMAZ PJSC CEO Sergey Kogogin.

"The development of axle production for the new generation of the K5 truck family allows us to replace the import of these complex components. Importantly, all of their key components are also of Russian origin. Thus, our flagship of the automotive industry continues its commitment to technological sovereignty. The project's implementation was made possible thanks to the combined efforts of the Russian government, the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan, and the company," said Denis Manturov.

The total investment in the project amounted to 6.5 billion rubles, including almost 5 billion rubles provided by the Federal Industrial Development Fund under the Automotive Components program.

"Every year, the company opens new facilities and launches new equipment, which facilitates the introduction of high-performance products to the Russian market and strengthens the country's technological sovereignty. The launch of a new axle line at KAMAZ is another successful example of the development of automotive component production in Russia and continues the auto giant's extensive efforts to expand its product range and capabilities in the Russian automotive industry," emphasized Rustam Minnikhanov.

The plant will manufacture axles for K3-generation vehicles, as well as for the new K5-generation trucks. The project will enable the company to manufacture in-house components for the brand's entire vehicle lineup.

"There are only a few production facilities on the scale of KAMAZ in the world. The new axle plant is a large-scale, high-tech complex: 130,000 square meters, 11 workshops, 6,000 pieces of equipment, and 2,800 new jobs. Localizing one of the key auto components will eliminate a potential shortage in the supply chain and make the Russian auto industry even more independent from external factors," said Sergey Chemezov.

"It's symbolic that we're opening the axle plant on the 50th anniversary of the first KAMAZ truck. This is further evidence of the company's growth and development. I'm proud to report to the veterans that the plant is in the capable hands of a new generation of KAMAZ workers. In today's environment, it's crucial to develop Russian industrial sites and achieve technological independence. Today, we're taking another important step along this path. I wish the plant continued success in production and continued demand for its products," emphasized Sergey Kogogin.

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.

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Financial news: 02/16/2026, 15-17 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for security RU000A10D541 (RZhD 1P-47R) were changed.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

February 16, 2026

15:17

In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of PJSC Moscow Exchange by the National Credit Center (JSC) on 16.02.2026, 15-17 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 112.48) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1199.86 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 15.0%) of the security RU000A10D541 (RZhD 1P-47R) were changed.

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.

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Marat Khusnullin: A new project in Yakutia using infrastructure bonds has been approved.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The Presidium of the Government Commission on Regional Development, led by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, approved the financing of residential infrastructure in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) using infrastructure bonds.

"Following the President's instructions, we continue our work on the comprehensive development of the Far East. Infrastructure bonds are an effective tool for creating high-quality infrastructure and accelerating housing construction in the regions. Yakutia's new application for a total loan of 5.8 billion rubles was approved. These funds will be used to build a street and road network, utilities, and landscaping a residential complex in Yakutsk. The project will provide comfortable living conditions for approximately 7,300 families. Currently, the total number of projects using infrastructure bonds has reached 57. Work is currently underway in 29 regions of Russia, with 33 facilities already operational," said Marat Khusnullin.

Thanks to the infrastructure bond mechanism, roads, utility networks, schools, kindergartens, and tourist facilities are being built, and public transport is being updated.

"The infrastructure bond mechanism guarantees uninterrupted, preferential financing for infrastructure construction and helps attract investment into the construction industry. The Far Eastern Federal District is considered one of the leaders in the number of projects implemented with the help of our infrastructure bonds. In Yakutia, a school is already being built using preferential financing, and now we are expanding its use to build infrastructure for the Lenskiye Vysotsky residential complex. We expect that the project's implementation in Yakutsk will enable the commissioning of 363,000 square meters of housing by 2035," noted Alexander Aksakov, Managing Director of DOM.RF.

In addition to the infrastructure loan, the construction of the Lenskie Vysotsky residential complex itself is supported by project financing from DOM.RF Bank in the amount of 55.7 billion rubles.

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.

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Financial news: 02/16/2026, 14:57 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A0JQAM6 (DOM.RF15ob) were changed.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

February 16, 2026

14:57

In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of PJSC Moscow Exchange by the NCC (JSC) on 16.02.2026, 14-57 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 113.76) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1290.47 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 13.75%) of the security RU000A0JQAM6 (DOM.RF15ob) were changed.

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.

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"His work is more like icon painting": 195 years since the birth of Nikolai Leskov

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Nikolai Leskov was born on February 16, 1831, in the village of Gorokhovo in the Oryol district. His mother belonged to a noble family, and his father, a member of the clergy, broke with her and joined the Oryol Criminal Chamber, where he received hereditary nobility. According to contemporaries, he gained a reputation as a perceptive investigator, capable of solving complex cases.

Early years and finding one's calling

The writer spent his childhood in Oryol. His grandmother had a profound influence on him, instilling moral values and compassion. After his father retired, the family moved to the village of Panino. There, the future writer first encountered the local people—an experience that later formed the basis for his novella "Yudol," about a terrible famine and crimes committed for the sake of survival.

Leskov's studies at the gymnasium, which he entered at age 10, were unsuccessful: due to neglect and a dislike of cramming, after five years he had only completed two grades. In 1847, he began serving in the Oryol Chamber of the Criminal Court, then transferred to Kyiv. In Kyiv, he became an auditor at the university, developed a passion for icon painting, participated in a student society, and interacted with pilgrims and Old Believers.

After leaving the military in 1857, Nikolai began working for his relatives' company, Schott & Wilkens. His business trips often took him around the country, introducing him to new places, languages, cultures, and traditions.

"I know the Russian people to their very core, and I don't take any credit for it. I didn't learn about the people from conversations with St. Petersburg cabbies, but I grew up among the people…" the writer would later share.

During this period of his life, Leskov took up the pen for the first time.

The beginning of a writing career and criticism

Leskov's literary career began with "Essays on the Distilling Industry," published in Otechestvennye Zapiski in 1861. In 1862, he became a regular contributor to the newspaper Severnaya Pchela (Northern Bee). However, his articles accusing the government of inaction during the St. Petersburg fires angered Alexander II, and the editors sent Nicholas on an extended business trip to Europe.

In 1863, Leskov returned to Russia, and soon wrote "The Life of a Woman" and "Nowhere to Go," both published in the journal "Biblioteka." The latter work provoked a sharp critical reaction, and the novel sealed the writer's place in the creative community for many years to come, as he was accused of holding anti-democratic, "reactionary" views.

A significant milestone in his writing was the novel "At Daggers Drawn." In it, the author condemned nihilism and nascent revolutionary movements. According to Maxim Gorky, "…after the evil novel, Leskov's literary work immediately becomes a vibrant painting, or rather, an icon painting—he begins to create for Russia an iconostasis of its saints and righteous."

The Tale of the Cross-Eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea

One of Leskov's most famous works is "Lefty." This tale, a skaz (a folktale), is unique due to its writing style, which beautifully captures the richness and color of Russian folk speech. Opinions on the work have been wildly varied: some praise the interesting plot, the author's style, and the moral, while others believe the characters lack emotion.

Leskov himself wrote: "Several others agreed that in my stories it is truly difficult to distinguish between good and evil, and that at times it's even impossible to discern who is harming the cause and who is helping it. This was attributed to a certain innate treachery in my nature."

Interesting facts about "Lefty"

Lefty is a collective image of talent, patience, and the tragic Russian fate. Leskov himself admitted: "Where 'Lefty' stands, one should read 'Russian people.'" Nikolai got the idea while vacationing in Sestroretsk, from Colonel Bolonin, an employee of the arms factory. There, he first heard the story of the English steel flea, which Russian craftsmen were able not only to copy but also to shoe. Leo Tolstoy did not understand Lefty. He found the language strange, and the "tricky words" unpopular. The first edition of Lefty was unsuccessful. The opening title with the angels and the engraving of the grasshopper at the end had no relation to the content, and therefore seemed out of place. Leskov wrote down the words for the tale, overheard from ordinary people, in a "little book." Some vocabulary was rewritten by the printer, who considered the author illiterate.

Although this work didn't enjoy great recognition during Nikolai Semyonovich's lifetime, it later became an enduring classic. It's not just a tale about a Russian craftsman, but a true chronicle, combining a rich, complex history and characters.

Besides "Lefty," the "pearls" of his work were the story about a merchant's wife, whose criminal passion leads to the tragedy "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District" (1864) and the wandering novel "The Enchanted Wanderer" (1873) – the story of a runaway serf who experienced wanderings, captivity, war, but retained faith and readiness for self-sacrifice.

Leskov's works are memorable for their unique style and vibrant, expressive characters. The author created a unified literary and stylistic framework—the tale—and the image of a Russian man who lives by his conscience, modestly yet masterfully performing his work. His closeness to the people, their everyday life, and their customs continues to make his work so relevant today.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 16, 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.

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The transition to a unified system of higher education was discussed at the III Non-State Education Forum.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On February 16, Vladimir Stroyev, Rector of the State University of Management, took part in the III Forum of Non-State Education.

The main topics of discussion were new digital technologies, increasing interaction with employers, and improving the quality of the educational process.

The program began with a plenary session, "On Strategic Directions for the Development of Private Education," featuring presentations by Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Leonid Slutsky, Chairperson of the Association of Non-State Education Lyubov Dukhanina, President of the Synergy Corporation Vadim Lobov, Deputy Head of Rosobrnadzor Svetlana Kochetova, and First Vice President of Opora Rossii Eduard Omarov.

Lyubov Dukhanina read a letter of welcome on behalf of Andrei Fursenko, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation.

In his speech, Valery Falkov noted that higher education is facing unprecedented challenges: unemployment is at a record low, but at the same time, there is a shortage of qualified personnel in many areas. This indicates the need to change approaches, including to university admissions and updating educational programs.

The Minister of Education and Science also announced a transition to a unified system of higher education, which will replace the current division between bachelor's and specialist's degrees, with the length of study dependent on the complexity of the profession and employer demands. The minister also focused on reforming the master's program, proposing to divide it into three types: research, professional, and managerial. Admission will be based on specialized exams rather than general education subjects.

Lyubov Dukhanina, Chair of the Association of Non-State Education, also noted the relevance of the trend toward high-quality education and unique skills. She noted that employers today are looking for highly specialized professionals capable of multitasking, as well as managers who can assemble a team of such specialists and lead them to achieve their plans. The speaker emphasized that people are willing to pay for a quality education from an early age, as evidenced by the increased demand for private kindergartens and schools with engaging, relevant educational programs, which creates new challenges for the education system itself and its transformation.

Eduard Omarov shared his opinion that the most in-demand talent in the country today is entrepreneurs, who make a significant contribution to the national economy. They, in turn, need competent managers and senior executives who will focus on developing specific areas: marketing, production, human resources, and so on.

Following the plenary session, a meeting of the Expert Council on Education and Youth Policy under Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Boris Chernyshov was held.

Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, joined the meeting via videoconference. She spoke about the development of the Economic Youth Entrepreneurial University, support for student startups and educational programs aimed at creating them, technological entrepreneurship, and social initiatives.

The meeting participants discussed the development of regional education systems, entrepreneurship in universities, and international cooperation in higher education, as well as education within the framework of the Strategy for the Development of Education in Russia until 2036.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 16, 2026.

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