Reading Russian well (see Russian Reading & Writing) means working around one specific limitation: stress isn't marked in standard text, which affects both pronunciation and, indirectly, comprehension.
Rather than skipping past stress uncertainty, briefly check and mentally (or physically) mark it for new words as you encounter them — this habit compounds into much stronger reading-aloud ability over time.
Since Russian cursive can look substantially different from print, build solid print-reading skill first before adding cursive material like handwritten notes or informal signage.
Short news items, simple stories, or social posts at your actual level build more genuine reading confidence than struggling through long, complex texts too early.
Reading aloud connects your visual recognition of a word to correct stress and pronunciation — silent reading can hide stress uncertainty that reading aloud immediately reveals.
See also the reference page: Russian Reading & Writing.
Stress isn't marked in standard text, so building the habit of looking up and noting stress for new words as you read compounds into much stronger reading-aloud ability over time.
Not necessarily — since Russian cursive can look substantially different from print, building solid print-reading skill first is generally more efficient.
Short, real material at your actual level — it builds more genuine reading confidence than struggling through long, complex texts too early.
Not always — reading aloud connects word recognition to correct stress and pronunciation, revealing uncertainty that silent reading can mask.