On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a “special military operation” in Ukraine. During this time, a lot happened not only in the conflict zone, but also inside Russia. “Things like this” continue to record the state of Russian society, to which what happened four years ago will resonate for many decades to come.

In the mid-eighties, a mysterious object in the form of a giant ball appeared in a forest in the Tver region. Where it came from and what it was needed for, no one really knew. Today, when the usual celebration of Maslenitsa can turn into a visit from riot police, it is difficult to imagine that an entire cult has been formed around the Ball for 40 years, giving rise to many legends.