At the Krasnopresnenskaya station, the benches come from the Cathedral of Christ-Sauveur, which was built from 1839 to 1883 in memory of the victory of Russia against the army of Napoleon I. The cathedral was destroyed under Stalin in 1931, but the benches remained intact. Metro architects decided to install them in some stations. (Photo by Didier Bizet/The Washington Post)

Artist German Vinogradov acts in the performance of the burning of installation, devoted to Maslenitsa, or Pancake Week, a pagan holiday marking the end of winter, in the village of Nikola-Lenivets, Kaluga region, Russia, February 17, 2018. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

Painted glass Christmas and New Year decorations are pictured at the “Yolochka” (Christmas tree) factory, which has been producing glass decorations and toys for the festive season since 1848, in the town of Klin outside Moscow, Russia, November 24, 2016. (Photo by Maxim Zmeyev/Reuters)

Servicewomen march in formation during a Victory Day military parade marking the 74th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War, the Eastern Front of World War II, in Moscow's Red Square, Russia on May 9, 2019. (Photo by Valery Sharifulin/TASS)

To an outsider, their passion is at times illegal and often on the verge of life and death. But climbing rooftops of high-rise buildings and exploring abandoned facilities is in the blood of these young Muscovites. The small group calls itself “Rudex”, which stands for “roof and decay exploration”, and is akin a Western youth craze known as urbex or “urban exploration” of man-made structures. Here: Urban explorer Vad Him of Rudex team jumps whilst on a rooftop in Moscow, Russia, August 14, 2017. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

Womentake a selfie in front Russian military vehicles during a rehearsal for the WWII Victory Parade in Moscow on June 17, 2020. Russia's President Putin on June 24 will preside over a massive military parade to mark Soviet victory in World War II, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP Photo)

Coco Gauff celebrates during her victory over Aryna Sabalenka of Russia in the women's final of US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 09, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Ukrainian servicemen of the 128th separate mountain assault Transcarpathian brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine take part in tank drills, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)