In Dmitrij Kapitelman's novel 'Russiske specialiteter', the narrative takes readers to a war-torn Ukraine, reflecting the intricate ties between language, identity, and cultural memory in a post-Soviet landscape. The protagonist, who shares the author's background as a quota refugee from Kyiv to Germany in the 1990s, navigates life in Leipzig through the lens of a small Eastern European specialty store that sells various goods while symbolizing nostalgia for a lost homeland. The story delves into the nuances of how the Russian language is perceived in contemporary society, particularly following the current geopolitical tensions. The protagonist’s mother, depicted as absorbed by Russian propaganda on television, illustrates the conflict between personal history and the broader political narratives that shape public perception of language and culture. This dynamic serves as a poignant backdrop against which individual and collective identities are reexamined. As listeners and readers engage with this layered exploration, Kapitelman's work prompts critical reflections on the implications of language as both a vehicle of heritage and a marker of division, ultimately questioning what it means to carry a language that has become synonymous with a troubled past. Thus, the novel not only tells a personal story but also alludes to wider societal themes relevant to the ongoing discourse surrounding Ukraine and Russian influence.