Dinner at a local restaurant ,got chatting to a group of Russians sitting next to us .Tentatively asked them for help in reading the menu – all in Russian!

To cut a long story short – It started tentatively but they got really friendly and treated us with Russian cognac and vodka

It was only later we found out they were all plain clothes policeman – confirmed by seeing their id !
One of them gave us a tour of the city and escorted us back to our hotel -how cool was that.
Have only experienced wonderful hospitality from the Russian people,during our short stay in Russia