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
- District official in Kursk region resigns amid blame for failing to evacuate locals ahead of Ukrainian incursionby Meduza.io on April 2, 2025
After months of resisting calls to step down, Marina Degtyareva resigned on Wednesday from her post as the head of the Kursk region’s Korenevsky district. She faced intense criticism for her district’s failure to organize timely evacuations ahead of Ukraine’s surprise incursion in August 2024. Degtyareva made the announcement during an emergency […]
- Yeltsin Center cancels ‘I Killer the Tsar’ performance in Yekaterinburg amid online conservative backlashby Meduza.io on April 2, 2025
Without explanation, the Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg has canceled a performance of I Killed the Tsar scheduled for June 5. The play is a post-documentary drama about the execution of Russia’s last emperor, Nicholas II, and his family in 1918. The performance was part of a tour by the Moscow-based theater Vnutri Space. Online conservative groups […]
- The man behind the burning Kremlin. Zelensky’s most talked-about painting was created by an artist from Georgiaby Meduza.io on April 2, 2025
A painting by Georgian artist Sandro Antadze depicting the Moscow Kremlin in flames drew global attention after Time Magazine published a photo of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posing in front of it in his bedroom. After tracking down the man behind the painting, Novaya Gazeta Europe published a profile of Antadze and his work, examining how a man […]
- Russian military court sentences two officers to a combined 38 years in prison for murder, torture, and desecration of bodiesby Meduza.io on April 2, 2025
A Russian military court has sentenced Colonel Yevgeny Malyshko and Senior Sergeant Roman Timonin to 20 and 18 years in prison, respectively, on charges of murder, torture, and desecration of the bodies of seven fellow servicemen. Journalists at Mediazona reported the verdicts on April 2, though the rulings were handed down on February 6 and March 31.
- Breaking the ice: How Russia’s nuclear fleet outpaces rivalsby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
The Cold War never ended – it just moved to the Arctic and got nuclear Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ukraine continuing attacks on Russian energy facilities – MODby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
The Russian Defense Ministry has reported new Ukrainian drone strikes against energy facilities in Kursk Region Read Full Article at RT.com
- Kremlin responds to Trump threat to sanction Russian oilby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
The US president has warned of restrictions if Moscow “is to blame” for a failed Ukraine ceasefire Read Full Article at RT.com
- RT editor-in-chief proposes response to ‘unjust’ detentions abroadby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
Margarita Simonyan says legal aid should be offered to those arrested for supporting Russia Read Full Article at RT.com
- Visit by Putin envoy to Washington ‘possible’ – Kremlinby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
Western media earlier reported that Kirill Dmitriev will meet Donald Trump’s Ukraine negotiator Steve Witkoff later this week Read Full Article at RT.com
- ‘I couldn’t keep hiding’. Russian-born tennis star Daria Kasatkina came out as gay and denounced the war. Now she’s joining Team Australia — and being branded a ‘traitor.’by Meduza.io on April 2, 2025
Daria Kasatkina, who spent years as Russia’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, has announced that she’s changing her sporting nationality. The 27-year-old will now represent Australia — a country she began calling home after publicly opposing Russia’s war in Ukraine and coming out as gay. She hasn’t returned to Russia since. Novaya Gazeta Europe […]
- US ignoring Ukraine’s energy ceasefire violations – Kremlinby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
Washington is ignoring Kiev’s violations of the US-mediated moratorium on attacks against energy infrastructure, Dmitry Peskov has said. Read Full Article at RT.com
- Putin creates new agency to crack down on illegal immigrationby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
The service will also oversee citizenship issues, according to the Kremlin Read Full Article at RT.com
- Germany deploys troops to Russia’s doorstep for first time since the Nazisby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
The German Army has officially activated its 45th Armored Brigade, now permanently stationed in Lithuania Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ukrainian drone raid hits Russian residential blocks – officials (PHOTOS/VIDEO)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
A Ukrainian drone strike damaged apartment blocks in Taganrog, injuring two people, officials have said Read Full Article at RT.com
- Putin reveals main guest for Moscow Victory Day celebrationsby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 2, 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Russia in May for a full state visit Read Full Article at RT.com
- Eight injured as 15 Russian drones hit Ukraine’s Kharkivby Meduza.io on April 2, 2025
Fifteen Russian drones struck the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, injuring at least eight people, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on Wednesday. He said the wounded included children.
- Russian authorities vow to take ‘all measures’ to extradite and arrest exiled Navalny associates, calling them ‘traitors to the Motherland’by Meduza.io on April 2, 2025
The Russian Interior Ministry issued a press release on Tuesday stating that it continues to provide “operational support in criminal cases against individuals accused of terrorism- and extremism-related offenses.”
- Trump believes Putin is stalling on Ukraine ceasefire, may impose ‘aggressive sanctions enforcement’ — Fox Newsby Meduza.io on April 2, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump believes that the Russian authorities are deliberately “slow-rolling comprehensive ceasefire talks,” according to Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich, who cited a source familiar with the talks.
- Lead Russian negotiator to visit Washington this week for talks with Trump envoy — CNNby Meduza.io on April 2, 2025
Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund who has played a key role in Moscow’s talks with the Trump administration, is expected to visit Washington “this week” for a meeting with President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, CNN reported, citing three sources.
- Putin assesses partnership with Chinaby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 1, 2025
Russia and China will continue to work together at the UN and other international formats, President Vladimir Putin has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- U.K. adds Russia to ‘enhanced tier’ of threats identified under new Foreign Influence Registration Schemeby Meduza.io on April 1, 2025
The U.K. has placed Russia in the “enhanced tier” of its new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which will require individuals and companies in Britain working on behalf of hostile foreign government entities to declare this connection. London had previously designated only Iran under this heightened risk category.
- ‘Progress’ emerging in US talks – Lavrovby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 1, 2025
Moscow and Washington are preparing a new round of diplomatic negotiations, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Read Full Article at RT.com
- ‘Astro-planetary karate’ loses again. Argentina arrests notorious Russian cult leader after hospital scandal alerts policeby Meduza.io on April 1, 2025
On March 28, police in Argentina arrested 14 people in a human trafficking case as the suspects attempted to fly to Brazil. Almost everyone apprehended is a Russian national. Police arrested eight suspects at the airport in the city of Bariloche and another six in Buenos Aires. According to the newspaper Economicas Bariloche, Konstantin Rudnev, the founder […]
- Ukraine not honoring energy ceasefire agreement – Lavrovby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 1, 2025
Ukraine is not observing the US-brokered energy ceasefire deal with Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ramzan Kadyrov’s teenage son (who beat a prisoner on camera) is appointed to oversee Chechnya’s policeby Meduza.io on April 1, 2025
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has rewarded his son Adam with another government role, this time appointing the 17-year-old boy to oversee the republic’s Internal Affairs Ministry. According to local state television, Adam Kadyrov has already issued a handful of first directives in the role.
- Russian state censor forces news outlet to unpublish ‘discrediting’ report about drone strike on Kharkiv that didn’t even mention Russia’s militaryby Meduza.io on April 1, 2025
Russia’s recently introduced “blog registry” is making its presence felt with a takedown order issued to the Telegram news channel “Ostorozhno, Novosti” against a post reporting a deadly drone attack against the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. According to editor-in-chief Sergey Titov, the federal censor contacted his outlet through the same email […]
- Kyiv’s buried treasure. An on-the-ground look at the Ukrainian mineral deposits Trump wants to get his hands onby Meduza.io on April 1, 2025
In late March, Bloomberg and the Financial Times published details of a new draft agreement on mineral resources between Ukraine and the United States, which American officials had handed over to Kyiv just days earlier. While the original deal was expected to cover only rare earth elements, the latest version now includes coal, oil, natural gas, and […]
- Amid mutual allegations of moratorium violations, Russia complains to U.S. and U.N. that Ukraine keeps attacking its energy infrastructureby Meduza.io on April 1, 2025
The Russian government has filed complaints with the U.N. and the U.S., accusing Ukraine of violating a moratorium on strikes against its energy infrastructure, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. On April 1, Moscow and Kyiv again traded accusations that the other attacked its energy facilities. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that […]
- ‘A devil’s bargain’. Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko explains why talk of a ‘New Yalta’ between Putin and Trump misses the markby Meduza.io on April 1, 2025
Ahead of a call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on March 18, a Russian state media reporter asked Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov if the two leaders planned to discuss a “new Yalta.” Peskov said that no, “global reorganization” wasn’t on the agenda — though he acknowledged that there were “emotional expectations” surrounding the […]
- Transgender teenager is sixth Russian LGBTQ asylum seeker to die in Dutch detention in three yearsby Meduza.io on April 1, 2025
A 17-year-old transgender girl from Russia has died at the Ter Apel refugee detention center in the Netherlands, the organization LGBT Asylum Support reported on Monday.