06 November 2026 In Chuvashia, the Bichurinsky spring was restored ahead of the upcoming anniversary of the Orientalist

In the village of Akulevo in the Cheboksarsky municipal district, the Bichurinsky spring was opened after improvement. It became the third source in Chuvashia restored with the support of the Rosselkhozbank Ecology Fund in cooperation with the Russian Geographical Society (RGO).

The spring is located at the foot of a hill on the bank of the Ryksha River, near the Assumption Church. Residents of nearby villages and Cheboksary come here for water. However, the spring’s facilities had deteriorated, and the lack of convenient access made it difficult to reach in bad weather. After improvements, using the spring has become more convenient.

“The ‘Ecology’ Fund supports environmental protection projects all over Russia: we help restore forests, clean the shores of water bodies, and preserve rare species of animals and fish. In different regions, this work addresses different tasks, but its purpose is the same — to protect nature. In Chuvashia, one of these directions has become the improvement of springs. The spring in Akulevo is already the third one restored in the republic with the support of the Fund,” noted Elmira Morozova, Director of the ‘Ecology’ Fund at RSHB.

Funds for the restoration of the sources come, among other things, from the sale of charitable certificates. The Chuvash branch of Rosselkhozbank became the leader in their sales among the bank’s branches: by early October 2026, more than 478 certificates had been purchased there. In total, the Foundation allocated 2 million rubles for the improvement of the Bichurinsky spring. The project was supported by more than 1,170 people.

“Behind these numbers are people who decided to support the restoration of springs. The branch employees talked about the project, and the clients responded, understanding where the money would go. Now there is another well-maintained spring in the republic, and this is a concrete result of joint work,” emphasized Irina Pismenskaya, Director of the Chuvash branch of Rosselkhozbank.

Including the source in the project was proposed by the Russian Geographical Society — ahead of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Orientalist Nikita Bichurin, also known by his monastic name Father Iakinf. The scientist’s jubilee will be celebrated in 2027. Bichurin was born near Akulevo, and his father served as a deacon in the village itself. One of the founders of Russian sinology, Bichurin headed the Russian spiritual mission in Beijing and dedicated his works to the history, geography, and culture of Asian peoples.

“The improvement of the Bichurinsky spring is not just the preservation of a natural site, but also a contribution to preserving the historical and cultural memory of our country. It is especially symbolic that it is becoming the third spring of the Russian Geographical Society and the Ecology Fund in the Chuvash Republic. It is important for us that such places not only gain new life, becoming accessible and comfortable for people, but also remind us of outstanding figures in domestic science. The spring’s name is connected with Nikita Yakovlevich Bichurin — an outstanding Russian orientalist, one of the founders of domestic Sinology. Preserving the memory of such scientists and researchers is an important part of our work, as their efforts enriched world science and became an integral part of Russia’s intellectual heritage,” noted Polina Romanova, advisor to the Regional Development Department of the RGS Executive Directorate.

At the conclusion of the opening ceremony of the improved spring for 130 students of Kugesi Secondary General Education School No. 1, Anastasia Masterova gave a lecture on polymers and microplastics.

Recall that earlier, with the support of the Foundation and the Russian Geographical Society, the “Spring of Life” on the territory of the Cheboksary Botanical Garden, as well as a spring in the village of Yaushi, were landscaped in the republic.