diff --git a/redbot/cogs/downloader/downloader.py b/redbot/cogs/downloader/downloader.py
index 166152c37..0af8ec95d 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/downloader/downloader.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/downloader/downloader.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class Downloader:
         self.LIB_PATH.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         self.SHAREDLIB_PATH.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         if not self.SHAREDLIB_INIT.exists():
-            with self.SHAREDLIB_INIT.open(mode='w') as _:
+            with self.SHAREDLIB_INIT.open(mode='w', encoding='utf-8') as _:
                 pass
 
         if str(self.LIB_PATH) not in syspath:
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/mod/mod.py b/redbot/cogs/mod/mod.py
index c4969e43d..f86a5b374 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/mod/mod.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/mod/mod.py
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ class Mod:
         except discord.errors.Forbidden:
             await ctx.send(_("I'm not allowed to do that."))
         except Exception as e:
-            print(e)
+            print(str(e, encoding='utf-8', errors='replace'))
         else:
             await ctx.send(_("Done. That felt good."))
 
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ class Mod:
             await ctx.send(_("I'm not allowed to do that."))
         except Exception as e:
             self.ban_queue.remove(queue_entry)
-            print(e)
+            print(str(e, encoding='utf-8', errors='replace'))
         else:
             await ctx.send(_("Done. It was about time."))
 
@@ -540,14 +540,14 @@ class Mod:
                 return
             except discord.HTTPException as e:
                 self.ban_queue.remove(queue_entry)
-                print(e)
+                print(str(e, encoding='utf-8', errors='replace'))
                 return
             self.unban_queue.append(queue_entry)
             try:
                 await guild.unban(user)
             except discord.HTTPException as e:
                 self.unban_queue.remove(queue_entry)
-                print(e)
+                print(str(e, encoding='utf-8', errors='replace'))
                 return
             else:
                 await ctx.send(_("Done. Enough chaos."))
@@ -1209,7 +1209,7 @@ class Mod:
                             "Mention spam (Autoban)", until=None, channel=None
                         )
                     except RuntimeError as e:
-                        print(e)
+                        print(str(e, encoding='utf-8', errors='replace'))
                         return False
                     return True
         return False
@@ -1269,7 +1269,7 @@ class Mod:
                                      "ban", member, mod,
                                      reason if reason else None)
         except RuntimeError as e:
-            print(e)
+            print(str(e, encoding='utf-8', errors='replace'))
 
     async def on_member_unban(self, guild: discord.Guild, user: discord.User):
         if (guild.id, user.id) in self.unban_queue:
@@ -1287,7 +1287,7 @@ class Mod:
             await modlog.create_case(guild, date, "unban",
                                      user, mod, reason)
         except RuntimeError as e:
-            print(e)
+            print(str(e, encoding='utf-8', errors='replace'))
 
     async def get_audit_entry_info(self,
                                    guild: discord.Guild,
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/trivia/trivia.py b/redbot/cogs/trivia/trivia.py
index 12d912450..d12b101e7 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/trivia/trivia.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/trivia/trivia.py
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ class Trivia:
             raise FileNotFoundError("Could not find the `{}` category"
                                     "".format(category))
 
-        with path.open() as file:
+        with path.open(encoding='utf-8') as file:
             try:
                 dict_ = yaml.load(file)
             except yaml.error.YAMLError as exc:
diff --git a/redbot/core/events.py b/redbot/core/events.py
index 45131075b..6a78bbc72 100644
--- a/redbot/core/events.py
+++ b/redbot/core/events.py
@@ -140,7 +140,10 @@ def init_events(bot, cli_flags):
 
         print(Fore.RED + INTRO)
         print(Style.RESET_ALL)
-        print(bordered(INFO, INFO2, ascii_border=ascii_border))
+        print(
+            str(bordered(INFO, INFO2, ascii_border=ascii_border),
+                encoding='utf-8', errors='replace')
+        )
 
         if invite_url:
             print("\nInvite URL: {}\n".format(invite_url))
diff --git a/redbot/core/i18n.py b/redbot/core/i18n.py
index e4a2dce8f..62f4ab50f 100644
--- a/redbot/core/i18n.py
+++ b/redbot/core/i18n.py
@@ -180,9 +180,9 @@ class CogI18n:
         try:
 
             try:
-                translation_file = locale_path.open('ru')
+                translation_file = locale_path.open('ru', encoding='utf-8')
             except ValueError:  # We are using Windows
-                translation_file = locale_path.open('r')
+                translation_file = locale_path.open('r', encoding='utf-8')
             self._parse(translation_file)
         except (IOError, FileNotFoundError):  # The translation is unavailable
             pass