Hi, Artful Codger - I beg your pardon; I just forgot to add my usual no harm intended.
I know how much the Texanians love their rifles, but I stand unimpressed. I served with the oldest rifle battalion of christianity, the Hessian Jaegers (*1631), of immortal fame.
About the dodgy Russian -y-: I just heard two days ago a Russian female choir singing the Kalinka. Where I expected a clear -y- they sang a clear -i-!