I'm not much of a Second World War buff, but I read lots and lots of Russian folktales when I was little, and I just love the image of Comrade Stalin seeking the counsel of Baba Yaga in the darkest days of the war. Very politely. As you do.

Although, she's being AWfully generous, even considering the circumstances; it wouldn't be out of character for her to demand three impossible tasks of him first, on pain of being eaten. I suppose it might be because he asked in the name of the rodina, rather than for himself only.