Mika Stetsovski

It isn't sunny (in the USSR)


There are countless portrayals in various Western movies and TV shows depicting the USSR or ex-Soviet countries, such as Russia or Ukraine, as realms of eternal frost, darkness, despair, and buildings falling to pieces amidst abundant snow. Well, this is largely mythologization and cinematographic projection. However, as someone born in the USSR, who grew up during its collapse, and has whole life until now in its aftermath, I must say that those images aren't entirely untrue. Sometimes they are quite precise.


Over the last dozen years, I have wandered around, seeking moments to capture the very essence of the post-Soviet gloomy winter mood.


I have added descriptions to the photos, providing context and drawing the viewer's attention to small details that I found interesting.

View from Novogireyevo Bridge in the east of Moscow towards the local postal sorting office and Perovskaya Street, extending in the direction of a large industrial zone that separates the eastern districts of the city from the central part.

Sunset view from Novogireyevo Bridge in the east of Moscow towards the local postal sorting office and Perovskaya Street, extending in the direction of a large industrial zone that separates the eastern districts of the city from the central part.

View from Borodinsky Bridge in the center of Moscow towards the Smolensky Metro Bridge and the so-called "White House" (House of the Russian Government) in the background.

View from Borodinsky Bridge in the center of Moscow towards the Smolensky Metro Bridge and the so-called "White House" (House of the Russian Government) in the background. You can see a metro train traveling between Kievskaya and Smolenskaya stations on the Filevskaya line.

This shot was taken through the roof window of "The Voice of Russia" radio station building located on Pyatnitskaya Street in the center of Moscow.

This shot was taken through the roof window of "The Voice of Russia" radio station building located on Pyatnitskaya Street in the center of Moscow. You can see the sloping roofs of relatively old apartment buildings, some newer Soviet-era buildings a bit further away (which are rectangular and slightly taller), and an old Orthodox church nestled between them.

The Soviet-era "Kyiv" hotel, located on the edge of Mariinskyi Park in the Ukrainian capital, with the Monument to the Participants of the January Armed Uprising of 1918 in front of it (which is currently demolished).

The Soviet-era "Kyiv" hotel, located on the edge of Mariinskyi Park in the Ukrainian capital, with the Monument to the Participants of the January Armed Uprising of 1918 in front of it (which is currently demolished).

This is a young woman named Ksenia (who I am happy to call my friend) standing on the pavement of 5th Avenue in Novogireyevo, Moscow, lined with old poplars. You can see an old Lada (either model 2105 or 2107) parked nearby, with another Lada passing by.

This is a young woman named Ksenia (who I am happy to call my friend) standing on the pavement of 5th Avenue in Novogireyevo, Moscow, lined with old poplars. You can see an old Lada (either model 2105 or 2107) parked nearby, with another Lada passing by.

A Soviet Ukrainian-made "Zaporozhets" microcar parked somewhere about Plyushchikha Street in the center of Moscow. Notice how the snow has become dirty along the left side of the parked car (the right side from our point of view).

A Soviet Ukrainian-made "Zaporozhets" microcar parked somewhere about Plyushchikha Street in the center of Moscow. Notice how the snow has become dirty along the left side of the parked car (the right side from our point of view).

The Moscow River embankment not far from Kiyevsky Railway Station is covered with tire tracks. On this snowy evening, there's only one person walking along the riverbank, and a car dealership advertisement closer to us humorously says 'Yeeehaaa!'. ​

Left: The Moscow River embankment not far from Kiyevsky Railway Station is covered with tire tracks. On this snowy evening, there's only one person walking along the riverbank, and a car dealership advertisement closer to us humorously says 'Yeeehaaa!'

Right: Cars are driving towards one of Moscow's "Stalin's Skyscrapers", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with an advertisement screen in front of it that is brighter than everything else around.

A 2104 Lada is driving through a frozen landscape somewhere near Zaraysk, Moscow Oblast. The snow is very dirty along both edges of the road. ​

A 2104 Lada is driving through a frozen landscape somewhere near Zaraysk, Moscow Oblast. The snow is very dirty along both edges of the road.

Old telegraph line posts in front of trees, somewhere near Zaraysk, Moscow Oblast

Old telegraph line posts in front of trees, somewhere near Zaraysk, Moscow Oblast

​Left and right: Old telegraph line in front of trees, somewhere near Zaraysk, Moscow Oblast.

Left and right: Old telegraph line in front of trees, somewhere near Zaraysk, Moscow Oblast.

A graffiti-covered bridge over the pond in Raduga Park, in the eastern part of Moscow. In the background is the restricted area of the Moscow University for Humanities, surrounded by a dense forest.

A graffiti-covered bridge over the pond in Raduga Park, in the eastern part of Moscow. In the background is the restricted area of the Moscow University for Humanities, surrounded by a dense forest. A lone person is walking over the bridge, while two more people are seen on the pavement along the fence of the restricted area.

Nets attached to one of the buildings in the center of Kyiv, Ukraine, protect the pavement from falling snow and ice from the roof.

Nets attached to one of the buildings in the center of Kyiv, Ukraine, protect the pavement from falling snow and ice from the roof.

All pictures were taken somewhere near Zaraysk, Moscow Oblast.
Top left: A private garage with the entrance covered by snow, indicating it is not used often.

Top right: A "Volga" (GAZ 3110) car covered in snow, with its rear wheels detached, standing on an improvised dais. An old village house is in the background.

Bottom left: Used truck tires dug into the ground, possibly for sitting or for children to play by jumping from one to another, now covered in snow.

Bottom right: A quiet, fluffy cat sitting on a wooden fence in front of an old village house.

All pictures were taken somewhere near Zaraysk, Moscow Oblast.
Branches covered in snow over the frozen pond in Kuskovo Park, in the eastern part of Moscow.

Branches covered in snow over the frozen pond in Kuskovo Park, in the eastern part of Moscow.

Lamps hanging from the ceiling are turned on during a gloomy and dark winter day. This is the office of one of the media companies I worked for, located in the prestigious Khamovniki district, close to the center of Moscow.

Lamps hanging from the ceiling are turned on during a gloomy and dark winter day. This is the office of one of the media companies I worked for, located in the prestigious Khamovniki district, close to the center of Moscow.

Left: Snow is seen falling in the light of a street lamp. Right: As a result of intense snowfall, a Lada car, along with the pavement and everything else around it, is covered by a thick layer of snow.
Left: Snow is seen falling in the light of a street lamp. Right: As a result of intense snowfall, a Lada car, along with the pavement and everything else around it, is covered by a thick layer of snow. Both pictures were taken in Moscow.
Winter sunset view depicting hundreds of bare branches in front of Soviet-era apartment buildings. Novogireyevo, Moscow.

Winter sunset view depicting hundreds of bare branches in front of Soviet-era apartment buildings. Novogireyevo, Moscow.

Left: A construction fence with the inscription "God has rejected the western world". Right: A monument to Vladimir Lenin covered in a thick layer of snow. Both pictures were taken in Novogireyevo, Moscow.​
Left: A construction fence with the inscription "God has rejected the western world". Right: A monument to Vladimir Lenin covered in a thick layer of snow. Both pictures were taken in Novogireyevo, Moscow.
Left: Snow covered with stripes of tree shadows on a sunny winter day. Right: Snow falling diagonally during a windy day. Both pictures were taken in Moscow.
Left: Snow covered with stripes of tree shadows on a sunny winter day. Right: Snow falling diagonally during a windy day. Both pictures were taken in Moscow.
A Soviet-made Tupolev (Tu-134 or Tu-154) airplane is landing at Vnukovo Airport, Moscow. The airport area is enclosed by a concrete fence and protected with barbed wire to prevent unauthorized access.

A Soviet-made Tupolev (Tu-134 or Tu-154) airplane is landing at Vnukovo Airport, Moscow. The airport area is enclosed by a concrete fence and protected with barbed wire to prevent unauthorized access. This is the airport where the Russian government's special flight squadron is based.

A heat and power station is producing a lot of steam on a cold winter day in Moscow. You can see a mix of apartment buildings from different eras. On the left edge of the picture are some of the newer buildings, while closer to the right are older ones.

A heat and power station is producing a lot of steam on a cold winter day in Moscow. You can see a mix of apartment buildings from different eras. On the left edge of the picture are some of the newer buildings, while closer to the right are older ones.

2009–current
Digital/Film

Using Format