After the tragic evacuation from Crimea, tens of thousands of Russian refugees found themselves in Turkey. From the very first days, they faced hardships: many were left without means of subsistence and a roof over their heads, and there was a shortage of food. It got to the point where emigrants exchanged gold jewelry and sable fur for bread and canned meat. The American Red Cross and the Union of Zemstvo and City Activists Abroad provided assistance to the Russian refugees. In 1920, two free canteens opened in Constantinople, where long lines formed from early morning for a serving of semolina porridge and a glass of hot tea.

While the food situation was somewhat resolved, the housing situation was much more complicated. From the first days, the embassy and church courtyards were overcrowded, and most had to seek shelter in filthy lodgings. Ivan Bunin recalled that for some time he lived in a former leper hospital. Difficulties also arose with finding work. Creative and scientific intelligentsia, generals, and officers agreed to work for meager pay just to avoid starving. Others sold their belongings on the streets, while some engaged in illegal gambling on the outskirts of the city. Armored car drivers became taxi drivers, and medical workers found jobs in hospitals.

The Russian people showed remarkable resilience. Constantinople gradually began to Russify: national cafes opened, and enterprising emigrants started their own production. For example, the descendants of merchant Pyotr Smirnov established the production of lemon vodka, which the local Turks nicknamed 'yellow vodka.'

The situation changed after the signing of the armistice between the Entente and Turkey. The local government issued a harsh ultimatum to the refugees: either accept Soviet citizenship or leave the country. Most chose the latter option. By the mid-20th century, about 2,000 emigrants remained in Turkey, some of whom worked as tour guides. One such character was depicted in the film 'The Diamond Arm.'