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
- WATCH Putin award Russian soldier from viral hand-to-hand combat videoby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 23, 2025
Vladimir Putin has awarded Corporal Andrey Grigoryev with a Gold Star medal for “bravery and heroism” Read Full Article at RT.com
- ‘Loathsome heirs of fascism will face inevitable retribution’: Medvedev’s resolute call for Russia’s futureby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 23, 2025
Former President Dmitry Medvedev marks Russia’s Defender of the Fatherland Day by honoring heroes and denouncing neo-Nazism in Ukraine Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ex-Zelensky aide threatens to jail him for lifeby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 22, 2025
Former aide to Vladimir Zelensky, Aleksey Arestovich, has pledged to jail his ex-boss and his whole “gang” Read Full Article at RT.com
- No peace without a price: The real story behind Trump’s Ukraine demandsby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 22, 2025
The US president’s ‘America first’ policy means Kiev will have to pay its own bills Read Full Article at RT.com
- Russian business should ‘cooperate’ with Musk – Putinby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 22, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has encouraged domestic companies to work with Elon Musk after he is done reforming the US government Read Full Article at RT.com
- Washington demands access to Ukraine’s natural resources. Trump says America stands to gain $500 billion, but there’s reason to doubt his math.by Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
Donald Trump has bothered with no niceties in pursuing an agreement with Kyiv to carve up Ukraine’s natural resources. At first, the White House appeared to seek American mining rights on “rare earth” metal deposits as compensation for past and future U.S. military and financial aid. However, when direct negotiations began, Washington demanded even […]
- G20 welcomed Riyadh talks – Lavrovby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 21, 2025
G20 nations have expressed support for the renewed dialogue between Russia and the US, according to Russia’s foreign minister Read Full Article at RT.com
- A newly leaked database contains details about 166,000 wounded Russian soldiers. Here’s what it reveals.by Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
RFE/RL's Russian service, Radio Svoboda, has obtained a database from the Russian Defense Ministry’s Main Military Medical Directorate (GVMU) containing records on 166,000 military personnel treated in military hospitals from early 2022 to mid-2024. The database was provided by former military medic Alexey Zhilyaev. Journalists verified its authenticity […]
- Trump says there’s no need for Zelensky to be included in peace talks — Bloombergby Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that there’s no need for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to take part in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, according to Bloomberg.
- Kremlin rejects ‘NATO withdrawal’ request claimby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 21, 2025
Russia did not demand the withdrawal of NATO troops from the bloc’s eastern flank during negotiations with US in Riyadh Read Full Article at RT.com
- Russian drone hits EU-supplied Ukrainian tank (VIDEO)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 21, 2025
A Russian drone has taken out a Swedish-designed Strv-122А tank in Sumy Region, an air assault brigade has claimed Read Full Article at RT.com
- ‘No new restrictions have been introduced’. Why did Ryanair stop letting Russian citizens board certain flights to Estonia?by Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
In recent weeks, the Ireland-based budget airline Ryanair has been denying boarding to Russian citizens on flights to Estonia, citing unspecified new restrictions from Estonian authorities. However, Estonia’s border service insists it hasn’t made any changes to its rules regarding Russian travelers. Meduza explores the possible reasons for this apparent […]
- NATO poses threat to port infrastructure – Moscowby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 21, 2025
Russia’s Security Council has claimed that the US-led bloc is developing a new doctrine for conducting military operations on the seabed Read Full Article at RT.com
- US has ‘frozen’ weapons sales to Ukraine – MPsby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 21, 2025
US arms makers have halted weapons shipments to Ukraine, according to lawmakers in Kiev Read Full Article at RT.com
- Sweden reports new telecoms cable break in Baltic Seaby Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
A suspected new undersea cable break has occurred in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Sweden’s Gotland Island, Yle News reported on Friday, citing the Swedish Coast Guard.
- Russians and Americans have been holding secret unofficial talks on Ukraine war in Switzerland for months — Reutersby Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
Russian and American interlocutors have held secret meetings in Switzerland in recent months to unofficially discuss the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing three sources with knowledge of the matter.
- Can Ukraine stand without America? Military analyst Dmitry Kuznets reviews the survival odds for Kyiv and Europe against Russian aggressionby Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
The White House openly says Washington is “the only reason Ukraine exists right now.” While many in Europe and the United States have condemned the president’s attacks on Volodymyr Zelensky and America’s diplomatic outreach to the Kremlin, Kyiv’s supporters also worry that the Trump administration is right about Ukraine’s dependence on U.S. arms […]
- Zelensky’s joint news conference with Trump’s Ukraine envoy cancelled at U.S. requestby Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
A press conference scheduled to follow the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. presidential envoy Keith Kellogg on Thursday was cancelled at the U.S.’s request, Ukrainska Pravda reports.
- Trump administration sends Ukraine a revised minerals deal, some Zelensky aides suggest he accept — Axiosby Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
The Trump administration has presented Ukraine with a revised draft agreement on mineral resources, Axios reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
- ‘Ukraine isn’t Trump’s property’. How Ukrainian pundits reacted to Donald Trump’s moves during his first month back in officeby Meduza.io on February 21, 2025
Donald Trump’s return to the White House may have provoked cautious optimism among some in Ukraine one month ago, but since his inauguration, the U.S. president has aligned himself with the Kremlin with dizzying speed. In the past week alone, Trump has gone from holding a friendly phone call with Vladimir Putin to suggesting Ukraine started the war and […]
- Zelensky ‘fooled’ Trump on rare-earth minerals – Ukrainian MPby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 20, 2025
Vladimir Zelensky misled US President Donald Trump when he spoke about rare-earth minerals, a Ukrainian MP has told RT Read Full Article at RT.com
- Zelensky would suffer crushing defeat if elections held now – Economistby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 20, 2025
Polls show that former Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny would win with 65% of the vote Read Full Article at RT.com
- EU state blocks Communist Party websiteby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 20, 2025
Latvia’s media regulator has restricted access to CPRF’s website and other Russian media, claiming they threaten national security Read Full Article at RT.com
- Trump’s sudden turn against Zelensky came as a shock to many Americans. It shouldn’t have.by Meduza.io on February 20, 2025
It’s hard to overstate the shock that Donald Trump’s recent attacks on Volodymyr Zelensky have caused among Ukraine’s supporters. In the three years since Moscow started the full-scale war, Washington has positioned itself as Kyiv’s strongest ally. The 2022 invasion initially appeared to breathe new life into the transatlantic alliance, and for a […]
- Latvia expels Russian human rights activist recently exposed for lying about her pastby Meduza.io on February 20, 2025
The Latvian authorities have confirmed their decision to expel former OVD-Info employee Maria Chashchilova from the country. Earlier this month, the State Security Service urged the Internal Affairs Ministry to bar the Russian lawyer from entering Latvia.
- 25 Russian conscripts were killed last summer in Ukraine’s surprise incursion into the Kursk region — Vertska Mediaby Meduza.io on February 20, 2025
At least 25 Russian conscripts were killed in the Kursk region when Ukrainian troops launched a surprise incursion last summer, according to journalists at Vertska Media who studied media reports and obituaries published on social media.
- Ukrainian military intelligence head says he expects a ceasefire deal before the end of the yearby Meduza.io on February 20, 2025
Ukrainian military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov said in a new interview that he expects Kyiv and Moscow to reach a ceasefire agreement by the end of the year. Speaking to journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, Budanov called the situation “paradoxical”:
- Russian innovation to revolutionize oil industry – Future Technologies Forumby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 20, 2025
Crude processed underground can drastically boost production, according to researchers Read Full Article at RT.com
- Kremlin responds to reports of plans for Western troops in Ukraineby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 20, 2025
Moscow is closely following the claims and deems any potential stationing of NATO militaries in Ukraine as unacceptable, Dmitry Peskov says Read Full Article at RT.com
- Russia strikes Ukrainian military energy sites – MODby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on February 20, 2025
The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed strikes targeting Ukrainian gas infrastructure used to support its military Read Full Article at RT.com