Aleksander Pushkin, the famous Russian poet and writer once said about Russian fairy tales: "How beautiful these tales are, each tale is a poem".
This saying is most likely explained by the fact that Russian tales are very melodious, rich in adjectives and descriptions, repetitions such as a "gray wolf", a "brave guy" a "fine girl", "to hang one's robustious head", "in a far off Tzardom" etc.
Tales have always been quite simple and clear for people. As mixture of fantasy and reality, a fairy tale was what people were dreaming about. This explains such phenomena as a magic flying carpet, cooking cloth, mysteries assistants that are helping the main hero along the way.

    The main hero of a Russian folk tale is usually Ivan the price, or Ivan the peasant's son or Ivan the fool. This is usually a courageous, kind and a noble man that beats all the enemies and wins the happiness and the main heroine. Quite usually, however he is being helped by animals, magicians and in fact does not do anything special except for just being kind.
A very important figure of a Russian fairy tale is a woman - the princess or just a simple peasant. This is always a beautiful, kind, faithful, sacrificing witty and very hard working heroine. She is the one the main hero relies on, gets counseling, advice, comfort from, and is finally loved by. She is Vasilisa the Wise, Elena the Beautiful, Maria Morevna or The Blue-eyed.
Besides, there is a number of imaginary heroes, that any Russian kid knows perfectly: Baba Yaga - an old often evil and fearsome witch that lives on the edge of forest and hinders the main hero, yet sometimes helps or shows directions.
Another one - Koshchey the Deathless, who kidnaps the main heroine and wants to marry her against her will. He keeps his death in the egg and can be won only after the main hero finds it.
Also there is Gorynych the dragon, a monster with 3 heads, Leshuy, the forest troll, Vodyanoy - the swamp troll, mermaids, kikimoras (swamp mermaids), Domovoy (a small, often amiable home goblin) ets.

    It is hardly possible to translate Russian tales in order to convey perfectly all their beauty, charm and deep meaning that has been so important for Russian people for years, yet some recourses will let you plunge into the world of a Russian fairy tale and touch its magic. Moreover studying the main heroine, her behavior, motives, attitude to life, love will help you understand mysterious soul of a Russian woman, your Russian bride.

Vasilisa the Beutiful	Baba Yaga	Koshchey the Deathless	Kikimora	Ivan Durak

You are welcome to read some Russian folk tales on http://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales.html

More about Vasilisa the Beautiful, Koshchey the Deathless and Baba Yaga - Russian tales, detailed descriptions of characters, fine illustrations of Ivan Bilibin.

Russian Folk tales by Verra Xenophontovna Kalamatiano de. Blumenthal.

Ivanushka the Little Fool as a symbol of the Russian national character