Free Online Russian Language Courses by SPbU 🎉

St. Petersburg State University is one of the oldest universities in Russia, with more than 20 faculties, where tens of thousands of students study.

SPbU offers several options for free online Russian language courses aimed at different audiences and training levels. And we are pleased to announce that new courses are starting on February 9th!

📚 Who is it for? The course is designed for absolute beginners — no prior knowledge required.

🗓 Course format: • Online (via Zoom) • Once a week • Saturday mornings

Everyone is welcome! Feel free to register and invite your friends or anyone who might be interested.

👉 Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyeCxytah1eKYA_B_-NFdE6rG0OVgWjTLVvzy2W59tQf9VEg/viewform?usp=header

✉️ If you are not a beginner but are interested in studying online, please contact directly: danya.a.gorbunova@gmail.com

✍🏻 Article by the Consul General of Russia in Cape Town, R.Golubovskiy, for the Cape Argus.

Literature has always been more than stories on paper. It’s a bridge between cultures, languages, and hearts — and that’s exactly what the BRICS Literary Award is about.

Launched after the “Traditional Values” Forum in Moscow, this new international prize was created to strengthen cultural dialogue among BRICS countries and celebrate writers whose works reflect the spirit and values of their nations.

🌍🏆 The first season concluded in 2025 in Khabarovsk, where Egyptian writer Salwa Bakr became the very first laureate, honored for her powerful contribution to contemporary Arabic prose.

The shortlist also highlighted voices from Brazil, India, China, Russia, Indonesia, Ethiopia — and South Africa 🇿🇦

Read more in the article (in English):
👉🏻 Telegraph
👉🏻 Press Reader

Когда в Кейптауне — солнце и лето, а в России — снег и зима, самое время устроить Масленицу!

☀️21 февраля в Замке Доброй Надежды мы будем провожать зиму по всем русским традициям — весело, шумно и очень вкусно.

Мероприятие проводит КСОРС Западного Кейпа при поддержке Генерального консульства России в Кейптауне. В программе праздника — традиционные угощения, игры и развлечения для детей и взрослых, а также весёлые соревнования.

‼️ Участие возможно только по предварительной регистрации: https://forms.gle/tokBE2apPn1pJrRu5

Пожалуйста, зарегистрируйтесь сами и не забудьте записать свою команду по поеданию блинов — зиму просто так не отпустим! 

When it’s sunny summer in Cape Town and snowy winter in Russia, it’s the perfect time to celebrate Maslenitsa!

☀️ On February 21, at the Castle of Good Hope, we will bid farewell to winter following all Russian traditions — with fun, laughter and plenty of delicious food.

The event is organized by the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots of the Western Cape, with the support of the Consulate General of Russia in Cape Town.
The festive program includes traditional treats, games and entertainment for children and adults, as well as cheerful competitions.

‼️ Participation is possible by prior registration only: https://forms.gle/tokBE2apPn1pJrRu5

Please register yourself and don’t forget to sign up your team for the blini-eating contest — we’re not letting winter go that easily! 🥞❄️

📚Russian Science Day celebrates the power of knowledge, progress and humanity’s drive to explore the unknown. It is marked on February 8, the date when the Russian Academy of Sciences was founded in 1724 by order of Peter the Great. From that moment Russia began building a scientific tradition of global significance, one that has given the world outstanding scientists and groundbreaking discoveries.

🧪 Russian science has played a vital role in human progress — from Lomonosov’s discoveries and Mendeleev’s periodic table to Korolev’s achievements and pioneering technologies in nuclear energy and medicine.

Scientific research continues today, with Russian scientists making important advances in artificial intelligence, quantum science and bioengineering.

🇷🇺🤝🏼International cooperation holds special importance. Science knows no borders, and Russia actively engages with partners across the globe.

Consul General of Russia in Cape Town, R. Golubovskiy:

“Dear friends, I extend my warm congratulations on Russian Science Day — a celebration of those who create the future through their knowledge, talent and dedication. Science has always been one of Russia’s greatest strengths and a key driver of its development.

Science brings nations together. Cooperation between Russia, South Africa and other countries shows that joint research can tackle global challenges — from exploring space to protecting our planet.

I wish scientists, teachers, students and all members of the scientific community inspiration, bold ideas, successful projects and major achievements. May science continue to serve peace and progress worldwide.”

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview to the TV BRICS international media network (Moscow, February 9, 2026)

Read in full

Key talking points

• The global arena is undergoing a transformation that began some time ago with the objective transition toward a multipolar world order. This is neither the bipolarity of the Soviet-American era with the Warsaw Pact and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, nor the unipolarity that emerged after the Soviet Union’s collapse. <...> Multiple centres of rapid economic growth, power, and financial and political influence have thus emerged.

• It is equally important that we develop action plans tailored for each partner country covering trade and economic cooperation, investment, scientific collaboration, and coordinated activity on the international stage, including at the United Nations and other organisations, based on agreements reached between presidents and prime ministers. Particular attention is devoted to #CIS, #EAEU, #CSTO, and the post-Soviet space at large. This day-to-day work relies on long-term planning and delivers tangible mutual benefits to both Russia and its partners.

• Multiple centres of rapid economic growth, power, and financial and political influence have thus emerged. The world is being reshaped through competition. The West is reluctant to relinquish its formerly dominant positions.

• Safeguarding security demands sustained action to ensure that the Nazi state established on our borders in Ukraine – and supported by the West as a vehicle for renewed confrontation – cannot continue to exist in its present form. Nazi foundations must be eliminated. We will ensure, and I have no doubt about it, our own security interests, by preventing the deployment on Ukrainian territory of any weapons threatening us, and, second, by guaranteeing reliable and full protection for the rights of Russian and Russian-speaking people, who have been living in Crimea, Donbass and Novorossiya for centuries, and whom the Kiev regime that came to power after a coup declared subhuman “species” and “terrorists” and unleashed a civil war against.

• Russia chaired #BRICS in 2024. At that time, a summit was held in Kazan, and a number of our initiatives were put into action: alternative payment platforms, payment mechanisms in national currencies, the creation of reinsurance opportunities for trade within BRICS and between the association and its partners, the creation of a grain exchange, and a new investment platform.
All this is not to spite anyone, especially the United States. This is due to the fact that the United States seeks to bring all processes in the areas I mentioned under its strict control and demands unilateral concessions. Without giving up contacts with them, to the extent that they are willing to engage on a mutually beneficial basis, we are interested, together with our BRICS partners, in creating an architecture that will not be subject to the illegal actions of one or another player from the Western flank.

• The Greater Eurasian Partnership was bound to appear on the agenda. Many years ago, at the 2015 Russia – #ASEAN Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested this term which is based on an objective trend of Eurasia becoming the biggest, richest and fastest-growing continent, especially its Pacific part. It is the most heavily-populated continent which, importantly, has seen several great civilisations emerge and continue to exist – the Chinese, Indian, Arab, Persian and Russian civilisations.

☝️ It is for a reason that our initiative on building a common Eurasian security architecture, set forward by President Putin in 2024, is gaining momentum. It is increasingly attracting interest.

📺 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings and video message on Diplomats’ Day (February 10, 2026)

💬 Friends,

Today marks Diplomats’ Day, our professional holiday.

I would like to use this occasion to wish a happy holiday to all Russian diplomats who are working at the Central Office and territorial offices, and diplomats fulfilling their duty abroad.

The history of Russian diplomacy spans many centuries and follows every stage of Russia becoming stronger as a state. Times change, but our spiritual and moral values — sincere, dedicated, and selfless devotion to the Fatherland, and firm commitment to the ideals of truth and justice — remain unshakeable.

We are rightfully proud of the achievements of our outstanding predecessors. We honour the courage of the staff of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs who, during the tumultuous years of the Great Patriotic War, took arms to defend the Motherland.

Their immortal feat stands as a benchmark for Foreign Ministry personnel and staff of subordinate institutions participating in the special military operation.

Other ministerial staff members are also involved and are helping the front line soldiers and their families, and supporting those affected by crimes committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis.

Today, as we are witnessing another turning point in history, Russian diplomacy continues to do everything within its power to ensure safe and favourable external conditions for Russia’s steady domestic development and for improving the quality of life of its people.

In many ways, our consistent and balanced foreign policy course sets the trajectory of global transformations, thus facilitating the emergence of a new multipolar world order.

We seek to further develop honest and equitable international cooperation based on mutual understanding, trust, and neighbourliness.

Following President Putin’s initiative, we are working to establish, across the Eurasian region, architecture of equal and indivisible security and extensive practical cooperation. In this context, we attach particular importance to the conclusion and implementation of bilateral agreements, including our treaties on security guarantees with Belarus and on comprehensive strategic partnership with the DPRK and Iran.

We continue to expand relations across multiple areas with the World Majority, among them countries such as China, India, and other like-minded countries, our strategic partners and allies, primarily within the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the #CIS, as well as the #SCO and #BRICS.

Countering neo-colonial practices of all kinds ranging from unilateral coercive measures to military interventions remains firmly in our focus.

In this context, we reaffirm our solidarity with the peoples of Venezuela and Cuba. We are convinced that only they can determine their own future.

☝️ The country’s leadership and Russian society hold our work to high standards. We are required to demonstrate discipline and dedication, as well as a passionate and creative approach to our duties.

I trust that you will continue to work honourably for the good of the Fatherland and to contribute your share to addressing large-scale foreign policy goals set by the President.

On this day, we express special gratitude to former ministerial employees, who taught us the fundamentals of diplomacy by their example. Many of them, to the extent of their abilities, remain active in the close-knit diplomatic ranks.

By all means, I would like to separately thank all the relatives and loved ones of our employees. Your unconditional support gives us strength and keeps us focused. It is especially important for those who carry out their diplomatic service far from the Motherland.

Once again, happy Diplomats’ Day to all. I wish you excellent health, well-being, and new accomplishments for the benefit of the Fatherland.

#DiplomatsDay

On behalf of the Consulate General in Cape Town, today we also extend our heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day to everyone whose life is somehow related to diplomatic service.

🇷🇺 This professional holiday is traditionally celebrated on February 10 and is closely connected with the rich history of Russian diplomacy. It was on this date in 1549 that the first official reference to the Ambassadorial (Posolsky) Prikaz — the earliest state institution responsible for foreign affairs — appeared in historical documents. Since then, Russian diplomacy has played a vital role in protecting national interests and fostering dialogue between nations.

🤝 This professional holiday brings together those who have dedicated themselves to serving the interests of the state, promoting international cooperation and strengthening mutual trust between countries.

On this day, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and warm congratulations to our colleagues working for the benefit of Russia both in Moscow and abroad. Your dedication, professionalism and commitment make an invaluable contribution to the development of international relations and the strengthening of our country’s position in the world.

We wish everyone good health, professional success, wise decisions and new achievements for the benefit of the diplomatic service. May your work always be in demand and highly appreciated.

🇷🇺🇿🇦📞 On 10 February 2026, President Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone with President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa.

Two leaders discussed further development of mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, economic, and investment areas within the framework of the Russia-South Africa Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The situation in Ukraine was also addressed. President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed support for Russia’s efforts aimed at a political and diplomatic resolution of the conflict.

In exchanging views on the current international agenda, both sides noted the importance of continued coordination between Russia and South Africa, including within the #G20 and #BRICS.

#RussiaSouthAfrica