Russia

Vegan Friendliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (3/5)
Vegetarian Friendliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)
Best For: Cities, markets, soups, bread, vegetable dishes
Challenging Because: Meat broths and dairy dominate traditional recipes

🥗 What to Eat

• Borscht (beet soup — confirm no meat stock)
• Vinegret (beet & vegetable salad)
• Blini (pancakes — ask no eggs/milk)
• Kasha (buckwheat, oats, or other grains)
• Pickled vegetables and bread from markets

🚫 Watch Out For

• Meat or fish broth in soups
• Butter, sour cream, and eggs in baked goods
• Sausages and smoked fish

🗣️ Survival Phrases (Russian)

• I am vegetarian: Я вегетарианец / вегетарианка
  (Ya veh-geh-tah-ree-AHN-ets / -kah)
• I am vegan: Я веган / веганка
  (Ya VEH-gan / -kah)
• No meat: Без мяса
  (bez MYA-sa)
• No dairy: Без молочных продуктов
  (bez MO-loch-nih pro-DOOK-tov)

🧭 Veggie Trip Tip

Major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg have vegan restaurants and markets; in rural areas, grains, vegetables, and soups are safest.