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).

Couple seen from behind walking two dogs along a park path

N°085PracticalSeptember 25, 2026

Living in Russia With Your Russian Wife: The Paperwork, Step by Step

One-year family visa, residence permit through marriage or through Decree 702: what a Western man can actually obtain to live in Russia with his wife.

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Ellipsis in Text Messages: What the Three Dots Really Say About You

N°084

RelationshipSeptember 6, 2026

Ellipsis in Text Messages: What the Three Dots Really Say About You

Three dots, two readings. Why a man of fifty and a woman of thirty never read the same message, and what changes once a Russian woman is the one reading it.

The Karpman Drama Triangle, or Why Your Love Stories Repeat

N°083

RelationshipJuly 24, 2026

The Karpman Drama Triangle, or Why Your Love Stories Repeat

Victim, rescuer, persecutor: the Karpman drama triangle explains why your relationships keep repeating. How to spot the roles and step out before the next one.

Getting Married to a Russian Woman: Steps and Key Stages

N°082

MarriageJuly 20, 2026

Getting Married to a Russian Woman: Steps and Key Stages

Getting married to a Russian woman, step by step: where to hold the ceremony, which documents, realistic timelines, and how to bring your wife home.

A Russian Woman's Instagram: What It Really Says About Her

N°081

RelationshipJuly 20, 2026

A Russian Woman's Instagram: What It Really Says About Her

You will look up her profile after the first video calls. What you see there can wreck everything — often wrongly. Decode instead of concluding.

Playing hard to get: the paradox at the heart of desire

N°080

RelationshipJuly 19, 2026

Playing hard to get: the paradox at the heart of desire

Why do we chase the ones who pull away? Where the push-pull instinct comes from, the psychology behind it, and how to find the right distance without games.

The 4 Attachment Styles and How You Love in a Relationship

N°079

RelationshipJuly 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.

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

N°078

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°077

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°076

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.

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.