Area Total | 17,098,242 sq km |
Climate | ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast |
Natural Resources | wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, bauxite, reserves of rare earth elements, timber |
Imports | China 21.2%, Germany 10.7%, US 5.6%, Belarus 5%, Italy 4.5%, France 4.2% (2017) – machinery, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, plastic, semi-finished metal products, meat, fruits and nuts, optical and medical instruments, iron, steel |
Government | semi-presidential federation |
Capital | Moscow |
Population | 142.1 million (July 2018 est.) |
Ethnicity | Russian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Chechen 1%, other 10.2%, unspecified 3.9% (2010 est.) |
Language | Russian (official) 85.7%, Tatar 3.2%, Chechen 1%, other 10.1% (2010 est.) |
Exports | China 10.9%, Netherlands 10%, Germany 7.1%, Belarus 5.1%, Turkey 4.9% (2017) – petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, metals, wood and wood products, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures |
News about Russia
- ‘This crime was not random’. Prominent Ukrainian politician Andriy Parubiy’s murder was months in the making. Here’s what we know about the assassination and the suspect.by Meduza.io on September 1, 2025
On August 29, an assassin fired eight bullets at Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Parubiy in Lviv, killing him instantly. Parubiy, the former speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, had long been a target of Russian propaganda, and Ukrainian officials have already begun pointing to Moscow as the likely orchestrator of the killing. Here’s what we know so far […]
- Ukraine in NATO would mean civil war – former presidentby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on September 1, 2025
Viktor Yanukovich said he wanted Ukraine to join the EU, but knew that membership in the military bloc would be “a disaster” Read Full Article at RT.com
- ‘The Future of the World’ Open Dialogue to kick off in Russiaby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on September 1, 2025
Leading international experts, including from the UN and India, will meet in Vladivostok to discuss fragmentation and new global trade rules Read Full Article at RT.com
- Putin calls for international focus on ‘traditional values’by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on September 1, 2025
Russia earlier said the West is using propaganda on gender relations to undermine its statehood Read Full Article at RT.com
- ‘Clear disrespect for society’. Russian man arrested after juggling with live hedgehog at first-day-of school celebrationby Meduza.io on September 1, 2025
Police in the Russian city of Novosibirsk arrested a local man on Monday after he staged a performance outside a school that involved juggling with a live hedgehog, according to local Telegram channels.
- Kiev points finger at Russia over neo-Nazi politician’s murderby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on September 1, 2025
The Ukrainian authorities say finding “evidence” of Moscow’s involvement in the shooting of Andrey Parubiy is a priority Read Full Article at RT.com
- No more phone sharing, VPN ads, or ‘foreign agent’ teachers. An inexhaustive list of the bans going into effect in Russia on September 1by Meduza.io on September 1, 2025
More than three and a half years into the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Russian authorities continue to churn out repressive legislation. Many of the bans in their latest batch have been rolled out under the banner of combating phone and Internet fraud — a genuinely serious problem in recent years. But in most cases, that explanation appears […]
- Türkiye’s mediation on Ukraine remains in demand – Putinby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on September 1, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for hosting Russia-Ukraine peace talks Read Full Article at RT.com
- Drone-sparked forest fire near ‘Putin’s palace’ extinguished after four daysby Meduza.io on September 1, 2025
A forest fire that broke out Wednesday night about 10 kilometers (six miles) from the Russian president’s seaside mansion known as “Putin’s palace” was extinguished on Sunday. According to Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev, more than 500 people battled the blaze over four days, using around 100 pieces of equipment, including two Mi-8 […]
- From czars to zoomers: Russia’s school uniform never diedby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on September 1, 2025
From imperial tunics to today’s national standards, the uniform has shaped how Russians see equality, order, and tradition in the classroom Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ivan Zhdanov replaced as head of Navalny-founded Anti-Corruption Foundation after nearly seven-year tenureby Meduza.io on September 1, 2025
The Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), the nonprofit founded by the late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, has a new director as of September 1, Yulia Navalnaya announced on Monday.
- Ukraine planning new strikes deep in Russian territory, Zelensky saysby Meduza.io on September 1, 2025
Ukraine is planning new long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday.
- ‘No one bothers anyone’ within SCO – Putin envoyby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on September 1, 2025
Russian presidential aide Kirill Dmitriev has praised the spirit of cooperation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Read Full Article at RT.com
- Man rams car into gates of Russian Consulate General in Sydneyby Meduza.io on September 1, 2025
A vehicle rammed the gates and drove onto the grounds of the Russian Consulate General in Sydney on Monday morning
- Suspect arrested in murder of former Ukrainian parliament speaker Andriy Parubiyby Meduza.io on September 1, 2025
The Ukrainian authorities have arrested a suspect in the murder of former parliamentary speaker Andriy Parubiy, who was shot in Lviv on Friday, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Russia’s Belgorod covers kindergartens in anti-drone nets as children head back to schoolby Meduza.io on September 1, 2025
In Russia’s Belgorod region, which shares a border with Ukraine, many buildings have been covered in nets to protect them from Ukrainian drones. While anti-drone netting was first installed on buildings (and ambulances) in areas along the border, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced in late August that the regional capital and the surrounding district […]
- Suspected assassin of neo-Nazi Ukrainian MP detained – Zelenskyby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 31, 2025
Ukrainian law enforcement has detained a suspect in the killing of far-right MP and former parliamentary speaker Andrey Parubiy Read Full Article at RT.com
- European ‘war party’ hindering Ukraine peace process – Kremlinby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 31, 2025
European leaders are attempting to derail US president Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, Dmitry Peskov has claimed Read Full Article at RT.com
- Zelensky threatens ‘new deep strikes’ into Russiaby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 31, 2025
Kiev has regularly attacked civilian areas and critical infrastructure in the neighboring country Read Full Article at RT.com
- The dark secret of Zelensky’s Ukraine behind the assassination of one of its foundersby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 31, 2025
Kiev will blame Russia for the murder of Maidan commandant Andrey Parubiy – but everyone knows the killers are much closer to home Read Full Article at RT.com
- Russia strikes Ukrainian port infrastructure – MODby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 31, 2025
Kiev has acknowledged damage to energy facilities in Odessa Region Read Full Article at RT.com
- ‘EU warmongers sabotaging’ Trump’s Ukraine peace efforts – Putin envoyby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 31, 2025
Kremlin aide Kirill Dmitriev has accused the EU of deliberately undermining US-led peace efforts in Ukraine with “impossible demands” Read Full Article at RT.com
- Could Russia have joined NATO?by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 30, 2025
Why Moscow and Washington-led military bloc were never destined to merge Read Full Article at RT.com
- Russia’s top general gives update on territorial advancesby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 30, 2025
General Valery Gerasimov has given an update on Russia’s territorial gains during the spring-summer campaign Read Full Article at RT.com
- Assassinated Ukrainian MP ‘directly ordered’ shelling of Donbass civilians – ex-diplomat (VIDEO)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 30, 2025
Andrey Parubiy helped stoke the “civil war” that eventually led to the Ukraine conflict, Andrey Telizhenko has told RT Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ukraine operation will continue – top Russian generalby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 30, 2025
Kiev’s forces are retreating and being forced to “plug holes” in their front line, Valery Gerasimov has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- Staunch neo-Nazi and Maidan kingpin assassinated: Who was prominent Ukrainian MP Andrey Parubiy?by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 30, 2025
Former parliament speaker Andrey Parubiy, long linked to Ukraine’s far-right, was shot dead in Lviv on Saturday Read Full Article at RT.com
- Surveillance footage shows moment Ukrainian far-right MP is shot (VIDEO, PHOTOS)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 30, 2025
Andrey Parubiy, who played a key role in the 2014 Maidan coup, was killed in Lviv after being shot eight times by an unknown gunman Read Full Article at RT.com
- Prominent Ukrainian far-right MP shot dead in Lviv (VIDEO)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 30, 2025
Andrey Parubiy, a former parliament speaker, once praised Adolf Hitler as the “greatest man who practiced direct democracy” Read Full Article at RT.com
- Putin’s interview ahead of China visit (FULL TEXT)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on August 29, 2025
President Vladimir Putin has outlined the deepening alliance between Russia and China, highlighting their shared legacy and common vision Read Full Article at RT.com