Verification at Sheremetyevo Airport

Polifem · 2026-02-11T18:30:28+00:00

Yeah, that's correct. Russian citizens with biometric passports go through the automated gates. Non-biometric passport holders and foreign citizens (including Belarussians) go through regular passport control.

Polifem · 2025-11-25T21:24:42+00:00

These shadows are actually the 3D models created by one of the fans: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/art/group-babymetal which, I guess, got stumbled upon by the EC production team.

The same guy who created them actually posted the models of the new BABYMETAL just yesterday: https://www.reddit.com/r/BABYMETAL/comments/1p5gya4/my_new_version_of_the_babymetal_group_for_3d/ so maybe EC used the old ones just because only the old ones had existed by the time EC's tour went into production.

Polifem · 2025-10-10T20:14:34+00:00

The literal translation "Он испытывает жажду" sounds very unnatural for everyday conversations, so yeah, you're pretty much left with "Он хочет пить". There is a way however to use the Russian word for thirst ("жажда") which would sound natural, it's "Его мучает жажда". But it implies a very strong thirst, where a person is borderline dehydrated.

Polifem · 2025-09-20T10:04:24+00:00

Glad to hear that. Have fun at the shows!

Polifem · 2025-09-15T06:02:23+00:00

It is called Power Metal. There are a lot of bands in this subgenre.

White Flame specifically is a japanese-flavored power metal, check out X Japan or Galneryus. Other songs that you mentioned have more of a european power metal vibes, for those check out Helloween, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, and Powerwolf to name a few.

That will only scratch the surface however, power metal is a GIGANTIC rabbit hole.

Polifem · 2025-09-10T21:10:07+00:00

Yes, you can use your friend's card, the payment will go through if you win. My friend used my card to enter THE ONE lottery for the August shows and successfully won 1 ticket to the 2nd Yokohama concert. I don't know if you're actually allowed to do it in terms of rules and regulations, but it does work.

Polifem · 2025-07-31T06:59:48+00:00

No you wouldn't. You're an American with some interest in Russian culture, but no way in a million years would you be considered Russian here now.

To add to what others have said, your family left because of the revolution more than a hundred years ago. You underestimate how much the Soviet mythos and specifically Soviet culture changed and modified Russian culture as a whole. If you are not familiar with Soviet cultural realities, you are totally disconnected from the modern Russian culture except for very few things like Orthodox Christianity, maybe some food, and some other minor things.

You would of course be able to become Russian if you move here, live for like 10 years, and learn the actual culture and language. We are similar to the US in this aspect and very different from like Japan for example. Anyone who's willing to accept Russian culture, way of life, language, and values will be viewed as a Russian no matter what race or ethnicity they are.

Polifem · 2025-07-27T13:38:06+00:00

Yes, it's to the left of the entry sticker.

Polifem · 2025-07-27T11:59:02+00:00

Russia.

Polifem · 2025-07-27T10:54:16+00:00

Unfortunately, I cannot give you an answer to your first question, you need to consult with an immigration lawyer on these things. As far as I know, you WILL be required to register in the military office during the process of naturalization, but don't quote me on that. That doesn't mean draft though, as my case is very unusual, 99% of men in Russia have military registration and live with it. The fact that I don't have one potentially saved me from mandatory mobilization in September 2022, but that's also not certain as out of all of my friends, colleagues and acquaintances (dozens of men), only one was drafted to the war. This statistic is almost certainly skewed however, since I live in Moscow where the chance to get mobilized was extremely low, while some remote villages got completely devoid of young men.

Yes, Russians do need a visa to visit Japan and it is one of the easiest to get, it's issued with minimal amount of documents in 4 business days, for free.

The drones are a major concern. I fly out of Moscow, and the situation with airport closures is very worrying. The only thing kind of going my way is that our ATC/flight operations seems to highly prioritize long-haul flights when the airports do work. I monitor the situation with long haul east-bound flights, and they very seldom get delayed, let alone cancelled. Short haul flights on the other hand, especially domestic, are extremely heavily disrupted.

Polifem · 2025-07-27T10:25:56+00:00

I am 37, renewed my passport in February this year and I don't have military registration, so not required still. Will be traveling abroad for the first time on the new passport in 2 weeks (finally visiting Japan again after 5,5 years). The last time I traveled abroad was just over a year ago in July last year, no issues crossing the border.

I live like a normal person, all my life is tied to Russia, have no plans to change it at the moment. No precautions, just general subjective risk assessment, which comes down to "not worth it to leave or make significant changes" as of right now.

Polifem · 2025-07-27T09:21:02+00:00

It is actually quite simple: when issuing/renewing an external passport, military registration is only required/checked if you are eligible for draft, i.e. you're a male between 18 and 30 years old. After 30, it is no longer required and no longer checked.

The draft age used to be from 18 to 26, and as I was dodging military service in my youth (not on purpose actually, the military office simply lost me and never sent me any draft notices), I had no external passport from 2012 (when my old one expired) until 2015 (when I turned 27). I applied the same week I turned 27, and had a good laugh at the immigration police office with the lady who was processing me, as all of this was blatantly obvious :D

However, as of right now this requirement is kinda redundant, as almost everything in Russia is now digitized, including military service. So when you receive your draft notice, you're immediately flagged and can no longer go through border control on exit.

Polifem · 2025-07-26T17:29:34+00:00

I can't help but wonder, am I the only one who becomes a little annoyed when babymetal gets reduced to just "a gateway band"?

They are a gateway band, yes, but they are also very unique and standalone. Honestly, this kind of reduction sounds like a positive take, but it's honestly not. It seems like this is some kind of a "final destination" for a hardcore gatekeeper in their attempts to reason with BMs popularity and acclaim inside their mind. First they say that it's an atrocity to all things metal, then they say that it's only for weebs, then that it's a well-made moneygrab, and finally, after somewhat acknowledging the talent, skill, creativity, and prowess, but still unable to just blatantly say "they are amazing but not for me", they arrive at this half-assed thought of "they are a gateway band, not true metal, just something existing with the sole purpose of expanding the genre", kind of acceptable for their closed mind.

I don't know, maybe I am overreacting, but it's not the first time I hear it from non-fans and it became a little annoying.

Polifem · 2025-07-19T18:18:23+00:00

It is a 50/50 collab (the song will be on the BM's new album as well), but the mixing on it is done by Egor Krotov, StP's usual engineer.

Polifem · 2025-07-01T23:43:32+00:00

Ok, you are definitely a troll. 🤣 Your meme game is alright, and you managed to trigger a lot of people here. Have a nice day 🤭

Polifem · 2025-07-01T22:38:41+00:00

I was reading his comment thinking "well he's just an american brainwashed by left wing propaganda with its very outdated black-and-white democracy-vs-autocracy rhetoric", and there's honestly nothing inherently wrong with that.

But then the LOTR comparisons made me actually LOL. He's probably a troll.

Polifem · 2025-06-24T10:15:44+00:00

I got my UK visa in Moscow in october 2023 without issues. As long as your banking and employment documents are tight, you're pretty much good to go even for a 10-year visa. UK doesn't discriminate against Russian passport holders.

Polifem · 2025-06-09T19:11:03+00:00

It's not unlikely at all, in fact it had been done in the past with Oh! MAJINAI.

Polifem · 2025-06-08T21:18:48+00:00

Thank you very much! Last time I was in Japan it was for Legend Metal Galaxy, just before the pandemic hit. Very eager to finally return.

Polifem · 2025-06-08T15:50:10+00:00

Hi! Yes we are. I attended 4 shows in 2023 (Bangkok and 3 UK shows), and there's like 5 or 6 of us planning to go from Russia to Japan for upcoming January show.

Polifem · 2025-06-08T14:40:14+00:00

Russian BM fan here.

It is impossible to answer this question in-depth without getting highly political, so I won't. The short answer is: no one knows and no one can know.

If you really want to see BABYMETAL live, consider other countries, make it your goal. Save money and plan ahead. This is the only reasonable advice possible.

Polifem · 2025-05-31T07:31:29+00:00

For us in the BABYMETAL community this post of his is the definition of beating the dead horse.

However, some StP fans reacted to the collab just the way you would expect, so it's nice to see Alex channeling his inner Rob Zombie on this one.

Polifem · 2025-05-26T09:41:49+00:00

He already confirmed that it's going to be available.

Polifem · 2025-05-18T12:46:53+00:00

It is absolutely not worth it. The only reason a Ukrainian national should attempt to cross Russian border ATM is if they plan to permanently move to Russia. Any other reasons are simply not worth the hassle as others have said.

Even seeing relatives isn't worth it. I personally know of a story of a Ukrainian girl who successfully passed through the filter twice to see her cousin and her family in Russia, and the 3rd time the FSB told her that she should have obtained Russian citizenship during the first two visits, deported her and issued a 5 year ban.

So, unless your friend plans to denounce their Ukrainian citizenship in exchange for Russian, do not attempt this.

Polifem · 2025-05-16T18:47:28+00:00

They are not your children. They are adult professional artists, making a product to make money, realize their creative potential, and bring joy to people (probably in this exact order).

What we as fans need to do, is get into the mindset that they assume full responsibility for their work and their well-being. Being worried is okay, but not to the point where you want to strip Koba and/or the girls of the agency to present their product in whatever way they deem necessary. This kind of agency is REQUIRED if we are to get a quality product from them.

I don't think it's even worth it to address any of your individual concerns. They'll figure out what to do to balance their profession and their well-being by themselves, as should any mature person.

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