旅人る - Tabibito

 

Kotovsk

 

A small town near Tambov, founded in 1914 as a village for workers of the gunpowder factory, which was hastily erected after outbreak of WWI. Factory is intact, produces gunpowder and also "nevalyashki" - Russian tumbler dolls. The administration of the factory is located in a pre-revolutionary building with a statue of Lenin in front of it.

 

The town is named after Grigory Kotovsky, a gangster and bank robber who eventually became a Red Army commander. His last name is derived from the word "kot", which means cat in Russian. Therefore there a lot of cats in this town. And they really seen some shit in their lives!

 

Few remnants of the food shortages occurred after February 24. The handwritten sign on the door of the small grocery shop says: "We don't sell sugar! There is no salt!" However, in April there were no problems with basic products.

 

In March 2022 Instagram social network was blocked in Russia. It's insignia have been declared "extremist" and everyone was told to remove it. But hardly anyone took notice.

 

Not much to see in Kotovsk: just some houses built in the first half of the twentieth century. And the potholes around.

 

All of a sudden Transamerica freight container.

 

Graffiti says: "It's good in Kotovsk." That's probably how it is.

 

Where to eat (as of April 2022): "Pyaterochka" and "Magnit" convenience stores have some snacks if you feel hungry.

Where to stay: anywhere in Tambov.

What to buy: "nevalyashka" tumbler dolls would make a great souvenir, but the factory shop is located in an obscure location close to the factory entrance. You can be detained as a spy, just for asking for directions to it. Moreover you could be detained just for visiting this town. Stay safe.

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