The aim of the paper is to make a structural comparison of the Russian and Slovak folktales. J. Polívka, K. Horálek and R. Jakobson state in their ethnographic works, that there is a great difference between the Russian and the West-Slavonic folklores. Likewise, they consider the Russian folktales to be of a unique character. These researchers accent the role of specific elements in the opening and closing structures of the Russian folktales as they determine the tales’ importance and emotional character. The results of the author´s comparative research show more similar elements in the structures of the Russian and Slovak folktales. The author has used the tale collections edited by renowned researchers in the field of Slavonic folklore such as A. N. Afanesiew, P. Dobshinsky, and S. Czambel. He has been able to find out similarities not only in the morphology of the tale structures but also in their function, expressivity and humour. The author has examined the cultural and linguistic contacts of the area referred to the Russian cultural zone by N. S. Trubetzkoy. The results of this research show further similarities in the folktales of the Finno-Ugoric and Turkish peoples. The similarities revealed between the structural elements of the Russian and Slovak folktales complete and refine the conclusions of Slavonic researchers concerning the character of the folktales in the examined area. The areal character of the similarities found in the folklore of the Russian cultural zone attests that the theory of N. S. Trubetzkoy concerning the importance of cultural contacts is valid.