Elegant woman reading — Valentin journal

Field notes — Valentin, from Moscow

Agency notes

The working journal of a matchmaker who lives what he writes (and vice versa).

Mid-century illustration of the four attachment styles in love

N°078RelationshipJuly 10, 2026

The 4 Attachment Styles and How You Love in a Relationship

Why do some relationships hold and others fall apart? Often it comes down to your attachment style. Here are the four profiles and how to recognize yours.

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The 36 Questions to Fall in Love, and Why They Work

N°077

RelationshipJuly 10, 2026

The 36 Questions to Fall in Love, and Why They Work

Can 36 questions really make you fall in love? The full list, the mechanism that builds intimacy, and how to actually use it on a date or at a distance.

Matchmaking Agencies: Real Effectiveness and Success Rates

N°076

PracticalJuly 5, 2026

Matchmaking Agencies: Real Effectiveness and Success Rates

No independent body audits matchmaking agency success rates. Here is how to measure an agency's real effectiveness before you sign, in five indicators.

Value differences in a couple: what can not be negotiated

N°075

RelationshipJune 25, 2026

Value differences in a couple: what can not be negotiated

Many men think everything can be talked out. But a value difference with a Slavic woman is not a misunderstanding to solve — it is a foundation to face.

French-style seduction facing a Slavic woman

N°074

SeductionJune 25, 2026

French-style seduction facing a Slavic woman

Marivaudage — the French art of seducing through conversation — is a real asset. But a Slavic woman may read it as a lack of intention. Here is how to bridge it.

Idealizing Russian Women: When the Fantasy Sabotages Everything

N°073

RelationshipJune 21, 2026

Idealizing Russian Women: When the Fantasy Sabotages Everything

Falling in love with 'the Russian woman' before ever meeting a real woman is the costliest mistake there is. A Frenchwoman living in Russia recounts the same trap, in reverse.

How to Seduce a Russian Woman Without the Missteps

N°072

RelationshipJune 18, 2026

How to Seduce a Russian Woman Without the Missteps

Seducing a Russian woman cannot be improvised: initiative, gallantry, seriousness. The cultural codes that actually work, seen from Moscow.

Matchmaking Agency or Dating App: The Human Comeback

N°071

PracticalJune 13, 2026

Matchmaking Agency or Dating App: The Human Comeback

Dating-app revenues are falling while demand for human matchmaking climbs: why men who want a serious relationship are leaving the swipe for a matchmaking agency in 2026.

Slavic Women: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova Compared

N°070

PracticalMay 3, 2026

Slavic Women: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova Compared

The term "Slavic woman" groups together four distinct nations with very different profiles. A guide to understanding the nuances and choosing the right dating strategy.

Best matchmaking agency for Eastern European brides (UK)

N°069

PracticalMay 3, 2026

Best matchmaking agency for Eastern European brides (UK)

British men seeking serious relationships with Russian, Belarusian or Ukrainian women face a specific UK regulatory and logistical context. Honest 2026 guide.

How to read these notes

How to read this journal

A few clarifications before you read.

I've lived in Moscow since 2021 and founded my agency in 2022. Every entry comes from a real question I'm asked, or a situation I see on the ground. It's an agency working journal, not an editorial calendar.