Amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic, August of 2020 was a month when many people rushed to make the best of what summer usually offers: swimming, sunbathing, looking into starlit skies and having a real rest that was certainly different from what we all had while self-isolating several months ago.
As life is gradually getting back to normal in Russia with strict coronavirus restrictions being lifted, different sports and cultural events have been taking place in the country, allowing people to meet with friends and learn something new.
Sputnik has selected the creme de la creme out of its vast collection of pictures, check them out to have a virtual trip into the Russian summer.
© Sputnik / Aleksey Maishev / Go to the mediabankThe winner of the Miss MAXIM-2020 beauty and sexuality contest, Oktyabrina Maksimova (Veliky Novgorod) (C) and the finalists

The winner of the Miss MAXIM-2020 beauty and sexuality contest, Oktyabrina Maksimova (Veliky Novgorod) (C) and the finalists
© Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko / Go to the mediabankProtesters and a security officer in Minsk, Belarus. 14 August 2020

Protesters and a security officer in Minsk, Belarus. 14 August 2020
© Sputnik / Alexandr Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankPeople rest in the Burlinskoye lake in Russia's Altay region. A railway line is needed to remove salt which is being extracted from the lake.

People rest in the Burlinskoye lake in Russia's Altay region. A railway line is needed to remove salt which is being extracted from the lake.
© Sputnik / Alexey Maishev / Go to the mediabankGirls run across the road during the rain in Moscow.

Girls run across the road during the rain in Moscow.

Explosion at the port of Beirut, Lebanon.
© Sputnik / Valeriy Melnikov / Go to the mediabankAnti-government protesters clash with riot police in Beirut.

Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Beirut.
© Sputnik / Ekaterina Chesnokova / Go to the mediabankChildren take part in the CINEMA FASHION show at the Mosfilm studio in Moscow.

Children take part in the CINEMA FASHION show at the Mosfilm studio in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Alexander Vilf / Go to the mediabankSu-35C jets of the "Russian Knights" aerobatic team perform a demonstration flight at the Army-2020 forum outside Moscow.

Su-35C jets of the "Russian Knights" aerobatic team perform a demonstration flight at the Army-2020 forum outside Moscow.

Vacationers on an embankment in Koktebel, Crimea.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankRoad maintenance vehicles in Tverskaya street in Moscow

Road maintenance vehicles in Tverskaya street in Moscow
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankUzbekistan's T-72 tank during the 'Tank Biathlon-2020' competitions in Alabino outside Moscow.

Uzbekistan's T-72 tank during the 'Tank Biathlon-2020' competitions in Alabino outside Moscow.
© Sputnik / Konstantin Mihalchevskiy / Go to the mediabankArchpriest Bogdan Severin during a festive service in a church in Simferopol.

Archpriest Bogdan Severin during a festive service in a church in Simferopol.
© Sputnik / Aleksey Nikolskyi / Go to the mediabankRussian President Vladimir Putin during an online conference with members of the cabinet on 11 August 2020

Russian President Vladimir Putin during an online conference with members of the cabinet on 11 August 2020
© Sputnik / Vladimir Pesnya / Go to the mediabankParticipants of the international SUP-surfing festival, Fontanka-SUP, in Saint Petersburg.

Participants of the international SUP-surfing festival, Fontanka-SUP, in Saint Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Golenkov / Go to the mediabankSoldiers of the Russian Baltic Fleet get off a Ka-27 PC helicopter during drills.

Soldiers of the Russian Baltic Fleet get off a Ka-27 PC helicopter during drills.
© Sputnik / Ilya Naymushin / Go to the mediabankA male Siberian lynx called Buran rests in a hammock at the Royev Ruchei park in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.

A male Siberian lynx called Buran rests in a hammock at the Royev Ruchei park in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.
© Sputnik / Alexandr Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankSoldiers of the Republic of Congo's army during the Army-2020 international competitions in Russia's Novosibirsk.

Soldiers of the Republic of Congo's army during the Army-2020 international competitions in Russia's Novosibirsk.

Vacationers in Crimea
© Sputnik / Pavel Lvov / Go to the mediabankCleaning up for oil spilled from the Saida vessel which capsized following a fire in Murmansk

Cleaning up for oil spilled from the Saida vessel which capsized following a fire in Murmansk
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov / Go to the mediabankDog handler at the Vladivostok search and rescue department of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, Yekaterina Vorontsova, with her mittelshnauzer Wolt during exercises.

Dog handler at the Vladivostok search and rescue department of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, Yekaterina Vorontsova, with her mittelshnauzer Wolt during exercises.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankChildren play in the street in Lorino village in Russia's Chukotka.

Children play in the street in Lorino village in Russia's Chukotka.

A woman takes part in a half-marathon in Moscow
© Sputnik / Ilya Naymushin / Go to the mediabankUrsula the white bear which was found as an abandoned cub in the Arctic in 2018 plays in a pool at the Royev Ruchei park in Krasnoyarsk.

Ursula the white bear which was found as an abandoned cub in the Arctic in 2018 plays in a pool at the Royev Ruchei park in Krasnoyarsk.
© Sputnik / Ilya Naymushin / Go to the mediabankSports coach Yulia Boyarintseva (L) and businesswoman Yelena Pyatovskaya during a yoga class on SUP-boards in the Yenisei river in Krasnoyarsk region.

Sports coach Yulia Boyarintseva (L) and businesswoman Yelena Pyatovskaya during a yoga class on SUP-boards in the Yenisei river in Krasnoyarsk region.
© Sputnik / Vitaly Timkiv / Go to the mediabankStarlit sky during the Perseid meteor shower observed in Russia's Krasnodar region.

Starlit sky during the Perseid meteor shower observed in Russia's Krasnodar region.
© Sputnik / Alexey Maishev / Go to the mediabankA paratrooper is taking selfie with his family on the Airborne Forces Day in the Gorky Park in Moscow.

A paratrooper is taking selfie with his family on the Airborne Forces Day in the Gorky Park in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Konstantin Mihalchevskiy / Go to the mediabankA stuntman at an international bike show outside Sevastopol

A stuntman at an international bike show outside Sevastopol
© Sputnik / Vitaly Ankov / Go to the mediabankBlooming lotuses in a lake outside Ussuriysk in Russia's Primorsky region.

Blooming lotuses in a lake outside Ussuriysk in Russia's Primorsky region.

Participants in the 10-km Night Race 2020 in Moscow

Whalers are hunting in the Bering Strait
© Sputnik / Artur Lebedev / Go to the mediabankEmployees of the Russian Railways wait for passengers near a new tourist train "Sochi"

Employees of the Russian Railways wait for passengers near a new tourist train "Sochi"
© Sputnik / Vitaly Timkiv / Go to the mediabankMan collects melons and watermelons in Krasnodar region

Man collects melons and watermelons in Krasnodar region