A Ukrainian serviceman from an anti-drone mobile air defence unit uses his mobile device near a ZU-23-2 anti aircraft cannon as he waits for Russian kamikaze drones, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region, Ukraine on June 11, 2024. (Photo by Ivan Antypenko/Reuters)

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 47th “Magura” Separate Mechanized Brigade plays with a cat, which his unit evacuated from a frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at undisclosed location in Donetsk region, Ukraine on February 8, 2024. (Photo by Alina Smutko/Reuters)

Malabon Zoo owner Manny Tangco holds a full-grown but very small rooster named “Small But Terrible” from Malaysia to compare it with the giant red rooster from France named “Mr. Universe” as they are shown to the media as part of the “Roosters of the World” exhibition to celebrate the “Red Fire Rooster” in the Chinese lunar calendar Friday, January 27, 2017 in suburban Malabon city north of Manila, Philippines. The Roosters of the World exhibition features roosters from countries as the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, France, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Poland. (Photo by Bullit Marquez/AP Photo)

To produce the images that convey his fatalistic and ironic approach to life, tinged with hope, he needed the environment and knowledge of Mother Russia, oiled with a bit of bribery to certain circus trainers. Enter the Great Russian Bear, the personification of Russia for the last several centuries, onto center stage and into his studio. The bear is recognized as both brutish and cute – Misha was the mascot for the 1980 Olympic Games – and has remained a symbol of Russia since Tsarist times. In 2009 it is the symbol of the United Russia Party.

The report, prepared by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Earth Institute at Columbia University, showed Syria, Afghanistan and eight sub-Saharan countries as the 10 least happy places on earth to live. The top 10 this year were Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden. Denmark was in third place last year, behind Switzerland and Iceland. The bottom 10 were Madagascar, Tanzania, Liberia, Guinea, Rwanda, Benin, Afghanistan, Togo, Syria and Burundi. The United States came in at 13, the United Kingdom at 23, France at 32, and Italy at 50. Here: #8. NEW ZEALAND: A woman dives from a platform into a giant air bed at a park in Palmerston North September 29, 2011. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)

Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov of the United States compete in the Pairs Short Program during day 1 of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup at Megasport Arena on November 15, 2019 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

Russian servicemen look on as a Mi-24 helicopter fly overhead during the Open Water competition for pontoon bridge units, as part of the International Army Games 2018, outside Murom, Russia August 3, 2018. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

A handout photo made available by Limex Images of Pete McLeod of Canada (R) and Kirby Chambliss of the United States flying over the city of Kazan prior to the fifth stage of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Russia on August 22, 2018. (Photo by Joerg Mitter/EPA/EFE/Limex Images)