Americans haven’t had a draft for over 40 years, but in Russia military service has been continuously compulsory. Enforcement of the draft has been lax enough to encourage many you Russians who feel they have better things to do skip time with the army. Future draft dodgers may not have such an easy time if the Army gets its way.

An increasing number of recruits are now skipping town to avoid the draft, with 5,849 going missing in spring 2008 and 8,195 disappearing in the same period this year.

But now the army’s big shots are saying they will find the deserters and clamp down on them.

“We don’t know where they disappear, in the Sorbonne or at grandmother’s dacha in the village,” the military’s head of organisation and mobilisation, Vasily Smirnov, told RIA Novosti. “But we will send lists of these citizens to law-enforcement agencies whose duties include searching and driving them into draft commissions.”

Prosecutions of runaways remain rare, with only 115 convictions last year and 127 in 2007, but authorities hope to use the full weight of the law behind their clampdown.

“If people have broken the law, and knew precisely what they were doing, then it will inevitably be followed with the corresponding punishment,” added Smirnov. (Moscow News)

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Russia has big plans for Russkiy island that is just off the Vladivostok coast. It’s slated to host a summit in 2012.Resorts and even a movie studio are planned.

Just off the coast of the Russian city of Vladivostok there’s a forgotten island. For much of its population of 5,000, it feels like the mainland is oceans away. Pacific winds can be unpredictable and sometimes no one can leave the island for days.

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Moscow is one of the world’s most congested cities. In the opinion of many, it’s the worst. Everywhere in the world, the governments of large, congested cities have been trying to convince their residents to quite driving. It’s no secret most of us will vote out manipulating politicians before we give up our cars. Most Moscovites don’t own a car. The vast majority that don’t own a car dream of having one. It’s a safe bet that Moscow will not be less congested in the future.

The initiative - to celebrate “No Car Day” - is happening for the second year running on September 22, in line with events in 2,000 cities around the world.

But Moscow residents or even officials aren’t exactly optimistic that the city’s baby steps will make much of a difference.

Among the tricks proposed to keep cars off the streets are halving bus fares, said Pyotr Ivanov, general director of Mosgortrans, RIA Novosti reported.

But the discount applies only to one-time tickets bought at a ticket vendor, and not to tickets bought in the bus from the driver, or to monthly tickets. Although it was possible to buy these discount tickets from last weekend, they are valid only on Tuesday, September 22.

Ivanov said that he himself would only walk or use public transport that day.

“I’ll try to take a little load off the streets that way,” he told reporters.

The city is appealing to employers to ask their employees not to bring their cars into work that day, Ivanov said. But as it’s a voluntary scheme, not much difference is expected. (Moscow News)

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The city of Vladivokstok is the largest in the Russian far east. The Trans Siberian Railway terminates in the city, and it is Russia’s main Pacific port. The online publication Vladivostok News offers a insightful collection of photos from the city and surronding areas.

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There’s a place not far from Moscow known as the city of brides. The Wayfarer starts by observing the city and looking how a textile mill works. Then he finds himself in the model agency where he easily wins girls’ hearts. So, if there are so many wannabe brides here, why shouldn’t the Wayfarer try to find a bride for himself? Take a look at the difficult choice of the Wayfarer in the city of Ivanovo.

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Russians have enjoyed their unique mix of dairy products as a dietary staple for centuries. Moscow News recently published an article on Russia’s top 15 milk products. Some are familiar, any are not. All are worth a try if you visit Russia or even a local Russian food market.

Russia is a dairy lover’s heaven. Any Russian would tell you that their milk and dairy products are the best in the world, and they do not exaggerate - the Russians have more names for dairy products than one can translate. Only in Russia can one make a list of ten great dairy. Actually, I got a bit carried away and decided that ten is not enough. So enjoy the following fifteen reasons to stay in Russia! (Moscow News)

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Fishing is a traditional male obsession in Russia. As a consequence, a large variety of dishes using fresh caught fish as a main ingredient have evolved. Ukha is a traditional soup that is typically prepared with the days catch, but frozen or canned fish will suffice if you want to give it a try.

True, ukha is meant to be made over a campfire on the banks of a river, using freshly caught fish. However, if the closest you ever get to a river is driving over one on your way to work, have no fear; the soup comes out just as well in the kitchen, despite what those fishermen say. The beauty of this soup, in fact, is that there isn’t any hard and fast recipe for preparing it – it’s an “anything goes” dish that encourages experimentation. (Russia beyond the Headlines)

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