I know that the LDS Church has been microfilming in Russia. One of the archives they filmed at turned out to have not just Russian records which were expected, but records from all over Eastern Europe. (A bit sticky-fingered were the Communists, you understand.) They microfilmed everything there, since they had permission to microfilm the archives. I also read recently that all records of genealogical value for the Ukraine had been microfilmed. This doesn't mean they are currently available because it takes awhile to get them catalogued because of the volume of records involved. If the Family History Library Catalog does NOT have the references you need, ask the FHC volunteer for a REFERENCE QUESTIONAIRE. (Unfortunately, a lot of volunteers in some FHC's aren't aware of what they are, or what they are supposed to be used for, so you have to ask for it.) You can fill out the questionaire, explain what you're looking for, ask if has been microfilmed, and if so, when it will be available. After all, if it isn't on the FHC catalog, it does not necessarily mean it isn't in Salt Lake, waiting it's turn to be catalogued, or possibly already on the shelves for use. At the arrival rate of somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000 reels of microfilm per week and another huge # of books arriving, there is no way that any local catalog system is going to be current for all of the holdings. Mail the questionaire to the address given and someone will get back with you. Although there is a professional staff at the FHC in Salt Lake, many of the people working there are also volunteers, and it may take awhile to get back with you, especially if you are requesting information about something a bit off the beaten track--which Russian records would be. I know that a friend requested information about some Russian Jewish records via RQ, and they were told the records requested will be ready for ordering some time this fall...that they had been microfilmed. The Reference Questionaire won't get your personal ancestral research done for you, but can get questions answered about availability of source material, translation of a bit of material (I don't know how much they'd be willing to do for you--you'd have to ask), or copies of a few pages of a book or microfilm (you have to give them the reference you want copied--they won't look it up) for cost. Karen