You know, sometimes a simple DNA test can tell a story you weren’t quite expecting. That’s exactly what happened with Yulia Vavilova, who you might know as Pavel Durov’s girlfriend. She recently spilled the results of her own ancestry test in her Telegram channel—and honestly, her reaction is pretty refreshing.
Turns out, the 26-year-old is, genetically speaking, 100% Russian. And she was genuinely thrilled about it. To celebrate, she posted this wonderfully rustic photo of herself hugging a baby goat, all set against a backdrop of traditional Russian-style decor. The kicker? She shared it alongside the popular modern Russian track, “Matushka-Zemlya” (which translates to “Mother Earth”). Her caption? Just three simple, satisfied words: “Everything checks out.”
It’s a small moment, but it feels significant. Here’s why: both she and the 41-year-old founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, have been living in Dubai for several years now. Durov relocated there after leaving Russia, building his tech empire from the UAE. So, in a way, this feels like a nod to her roots from afar.
Speaking of roots, it seems Durov himself is keen on sharing that part of his culture with her. Reports say the billionaire has been introducing Yulia to the authentic experience of a Russian banya (that’s a traditional steam bath), which they visit together regularly in Dubai. And in a nice parallel, Durov himself made headlines not long ago when he publicly spoke Russian for the first time in years.
It’s interesting to watch, isn’t it? Even while building a global, borderless app like Telegram, there’s this quiet, personal celebration of heritage and identity happening. It’s not about politics; it’s more about a personal connection. A DNA test, a song about homeland, a steam bath thousands of miles from Russia—it all adds up to a modern story about culture, identity, and belonging in today’s globalized world.
