Vem a Mim Língua Russa
By far the largest Portuguese-language channel about Russia: 674,000 subscribers, built by a Brazilian who learned the language on his own and then went to use it. He bought a Lada, drove into the provinces, walked into villages unannounced and filmed how people received him — including the uncomfortable moments about being Black in the Russian countryside.
One honest caveat: he is not a permanent resident with a flat and a job in Moscow. He works between Brazil and long stretches inside Russia, and we label him that way rather than pretending otherwise. For Portuguese speakers he is still the single best window into the country, because the footage is from places tourists never reach.
- From
- Brazil
- Lives in
- The Russian provinces, by car
- Does for a living
- Thiago de Melo, a Brazilian who taught himself Russian and now teaches it.
- Films in
- Portuguese
- Topic
- Russian language · Village life · Regions · Everyday life
What this channel shows better than anyone
- The Russian provinces by car, filmed in Portuguese and in Russian conversation.
- Learning Russian as an adult — the actual method, not motivational talk.
- How strangers in small towns react to a foreigner who speaks their language.
Five videos to start with
Plays here, on their channel's terms — nothing loads until you click.
A Lada and a road trip: the provinces at ground level.
The whole premise in one video: unannounced, in the local language.
Includes the awkward moments, which is why the channel is credible.
A local doing the explaining, with him translating — a good format.
A second opinion
Where we would add a number or a correction — not a complaint.
“The channel is often taken as "a Brazilian who lives in Russia".”
He travels for long periods rather than holding permanent residence, so his footage answers "what is it like to be there" better than "what is it like to settle there". For the settling part, the visa and cost guides are the place to look.
Where to follow
Details checked: 2026-09-08
