It has long been suggested that the Russian palatalization contrast is primarily one of pharyngeal cavity expansion (and more recently, ATR). Based on an ultrasound study, an analysis of consonant-vowel interactions in the phonology, and the typology of ATR systems, we argue that the contrast is one of the tongue body, and that non-palatalized (velarized) consonants are [+high, +back]. We find no evidence for an active pharyngeal component to the contrast. Our ultrasound study examines consonants in the context of high vowels, something that has very rarely been done.