Reddit reviews Sputnik: An Introductory Russian Language Course, Part I

Duolingo is a nice supplement. I've been going through the Russian course for over 3 months now, and I find that it's helpful in getting a feel for the language. It also teaches you vocabulary without the tedium of flashcards, which is a major plus. Don't rely on it for grammar, though.

Recently, I also received Sputnik as a gift, plus the accompanying workbook. So far, I find it to be concise and accessible, and the workbook exercises are great at solidifying the concepts you learn in each lesson. Aesthetically-speaking, the illustrations are extremely cute. The author of the textbook, Julia Rochtchina, also runs the site Russian for Everyone, which has tons of useful materials.

Finally, I'll also suggest the YouTube channel Real Russian Club, which is operated by a Russian language teacher. The teacher takes things very slowly and is quite thorough, so if that's your thing, maybe this can also be of use.

Удачи!

I'd say start with the alphabet. Familiarize yourself with the letters and the sounds they make. If you need a textbook, Sputnik is really awesome. I have part one and two, as well as the workbooks! It's the best.

So this?