Quick answer
Safe openers: the weather, travel, food, what you do. Keep Как дела́? for people you know — with strangers a greeting is enough.
Openers that work
Keeping it going
Ending it
What to avoid at first
Money, politics and “how much do you earn” are normal between friends and awkward with strangers — the opposite of the English instinct. The weather, food, and anything about where you are from are always safe.
The smile
Russians do not smile at strangers by default, and a permanent smile can read as insincere. It is not coldness — warmth comes once the conversation starts.
Typical mistakes
Как дела́? to a shop assistant
Здра́вствуйте.
It invites a real answer, and with strangers that is odd.
Asking a stranger about politics
Ask about food or the city
Safer everywhere, and genuinely more interesting.
Check yourself
Which is the safest small-talk opener with a stranger?