On the front of this card reads, When I wake up in the morning, you are all I see; When I think about you, and how happy you make me. You're everything I need. I look at you and know, that you are all to me. The card is an old map of Japan. 

Kirov, Russia was known as Vyatka for much of its history. In 1934, the city was renamed in honour of Sergey Kirov (1886–1934), a prominent Communist Party figure. Kirov was assassinated on 1 December 1934 by Leonid Nikolaev . His death had far-reaching consequences: Joseph Stalin used the event as a pretext to launch widespread political repression, which became known as the Great Purge . There have been occasional efforts to restore the city’s original name, Vyatka, but none have gained lasting momentum. In 2024, Kirov celebrated its 650th anniversary, marking the occasion with a series of events and local initiatives.

The sender writes that this card is one of a series devoted to children’s drawings, which gives it a playful and personal feel. She is from Nizhny Novgorod , an old city in central Russia , located at the confluence of the Oka River and the Volga River . The city was founded in 1221 by George II of Vladimir . The name “Novgorod” translates to “new town,” which makes me smile a bit—especially since my previous post was from a place called Newtown in the United States. Despite the similar meaning, the two places are worlds apart. In 1932, the Soviets renamed the city Gorky in honour of Maxim Gorky (1868–1936), a writer and journalist known for his support of socialist ideas. The original name, Nizhny Novgorod, was restored in 1990. During the Soviet era, the city was closed to foreigners because of its military research and industrial importance. Even within the Soviet Union, access to detailed maps and information about the city was limited, add ing to its sense of secrecy.

This is a beautiful winter view of the Katun ( Катунь)   River , its icy waters cutting through a snow-covered landscape. The river flows through the Altai Republic and Altai Krai in southern Russia . It eventually joins the Biya River to form the mighty Ob River , one of the great rivers of Siberia. The Katun stretches for about 688 kilometres, and its drainage basin covers nearly 61,000 square kilometres. Its source lies high in the Altai Mountains at the Katun Glacier . Looking at this postcard, it’s easy to imagine how remote and quiet this region must feel in winter, with the river winding through vast stretches of snow and mountain scenery.

The sender writes that this postcard comes from her favourite tea spot in Tyumen (Тюмень). The city lies along the Tura River and has a population of roughly 850 000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the Ural region of Russia . Tyumen was founded in 1586 and is considered the first Russian settlement in Siberia, established to support the country’s eastward expansion. Over the centuries, it has grown into an important industrial and economic centre east of the Ural Mountains. Today, Tyumen serves as a key transportation hub and plays a significant role in Russia’s energy sector, with many oil and gas companies operating in the region. Its development is closely tied to the vast natural resources of western Siberia. It’s nice to imagine this postcard being written in a quiet tea shop along the river—one small, personal moment set against the backdrop of a city with such a long and important history.

A Postcrossing Meet Up card held in Ryazan in July 2025. It looks like about 9 or 10 people attended. 

A beautiful photograph of autumn in Russia . The warm colours of the leaves make a striking contrast with the cooler tones of the landscape, giving the scene a calm, almost nostalgic feeling. However, the sender points out that one of the postage stamps celebrates Moscow’s football club, FC Torpedo Moscow . FC Torpedo Moscow ( ФК "Торпедо" Москва)  was founded in 1924 and was historically one of the major Moscow clubs, enjoying significant domestic success during the Soviet era. In more recent times, however, the club has struggled. They were expected to compete in the Russian Premier League for the 2025–26 season, but were excluded due to a match-fixing scandal and forced to return to the Russian First League. In post-Soviet Russia, the club has faced ongoing financial difficulties and poor management, which have seen them relegated multiple times. Since their first relegation after the 2006 season, they have only appeared in the top flight twice—during the 2014–15 and 2022–...

This postcard features a painting of Saint Basil's Cathedral , officially known as the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat ( Собор Покрова Пресвятой Богородицы, что на Рву ).  This Russian Orthodox church stands in Red Square and is one of the most recognizable cultural symbols of Russia , famous for its colourful onion domes and fairytale-like appearance. The cathedral was built between 1555 and 1561 on the orders of Ivan the Terrible to commemorate his military victories, particularly the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. Contrary to what many people assume, the cathedral was largely completed in 1561, although some additions and modifications were made later. During the Soviet era, the church was confiscated by the government and, in 1928, it was turned into a branch of the State Historical Museum . Like many religious buildings at the time, it lost its original function and was preserved mainly as a historical monument. In 1991, following the ...

Voronezh (Воронеж) is a city of about 1.1 million people and the administrative centre of Voronezh Oblast . Key sectors of its economy include mechanical engineering, metalworking, electronics, and food production. Voronezh is home to Buran Voronezh (Буран Воронеж), a professional hockey team that plays in the Supreme Hockey League (VHL) , the second tier of Russian hockey. The team is affiliated with Dynamo Moscow . The team was founded in 1949 and has played in a variety of leagues, including several levels of the Soviet hockey system (Class B, A3, A2), as well as the Vysshaya Liga, the Pervaya Liga, and the All-Russian League.

This is a nice Postcrossing Meetup card depicting Julia Roberts from the movie Pretty Woman . It look like there was about 9-10 participants. 

This card features an image by Marysya Rudska titled Fox Sleep . The sender is from Chernihiv ( Чернігів) , a Ukrainian city of nearly 300,000 people with a history stretching back over a thousand years. During the ongoing Russo-Ukraine War, Chernihiv was besieged by Russian forces and completely encircled in March 2022. Russian troops withdrew in early April but left landmines in many areas surrounding the city. It is estimated that up to 70% of the city was damaged or destroyed during the siege. Russian forces included the 41st Combined Arms Army, while Ukrainian defenders consisted of units such as the 1st Tank Brigade, the 58th Motorized Brigade, and the 27th National Guard Regiment. As a result of the siege, around 350 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, along with approximately 700 civilians, and about 40 civilians were reported missing. Russian losses were reported to include 132 soldiers killed and around 250 taken as prisoners of war.

Ivanovo ( Иваново)  is located about 250 kilometres northeast of Moscow.  It lies on the Uvod River and has a population of 360 000 people. It became a major player in the textile industry, but that decreased dramatically after the fall of the Soviet Union. 

Murom is an ancient city dating back to the 9th century. Today it has a population of about 108,000. Vladimir K. Zworykin (c.1888–1982) was born here. He was an inventor, engineer, and pioneer of television technology. Zworykin developed a television transmitting and receiving system employing cathode-ray tubes and played an important role in the practical development of television from the early 1930s. His work included charge-storage tubes, infrared image tubes, and contributions to the development of the electron microscope. Zworykin studied at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Technology with Boris Rosing . Together they experimented with television in Rosing’s private laboratory at the School of Artillery in Saint Petersburg . Their work focused on what was then called “electrical telescopy,” an early term for television. Rosing had filed his first patent for a television system in 1907, and his demonstration in 1911 is considered the world’s first demonstration of television ...

A nice meetup card from Bryansk, Russia in July 2025. 

Kostroma ( Кострома́)  was founded in 1152 by Yury Dolgoruky, but it is thought to be much older. Today it has a population of 270 000 people. 

 

 

 

J oensuu was founded by Tsar Nicholas of Russia in 1848, when the Grand Duchy of Finland belonged to Russia. By the end of the 1800s, Joensuu was the largest harbour city in Finland.  Joensuu is home to the European Forest Institute, It was established in 2022 with 30 member countries, and about 130 member organizations from 40 countries working in diverse research fields.  It role is to provide policy support on forest related issues. It also facilitates and stimulates forest related networking as well as promotes the supply of unbiased and policy relevant information on forests and forestry. It advocates for forest research and for scientifically sound information as a basis for policy making on forests. 

A beautiful card from Jixi, in north east China. Jixi  鸡西  has a population of 1.5 million people. It is 30 kilometres from the border of Russia. It is an important coal mining base in China.  Zhenbao Island  珍宝岛  is located near Jixi and was the site of a territorial dispute with the Soviet Union in 1969. The island is located on the Ussuri River.  On 2 March 1969, People's Liberation Army soldiers ambushed Soviet border guards on Zhenbao. The Soviets suffered 58 dead and wounded, while the Chinese reported 29 dead (the Soviets claim it was 248 Chinese soldiers killed, and 32 Soviet border guards killed with 14 wounded). On 15 March, Chinese artillery fire bombarded the island forcing the Soviet to leave. The Soviets counterattacked with tanks and mechanized infantry and artillery, forcing the Chinese to retreat. There were a few small skirmishes after that.  On 21 March, the Soviets tried to call China to discuss a ceasefire. Mao refused the take th...