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
- Berlin to ban Russian flags on Victory Day – mediaby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 26, 2025
The authorities are reportedly planning new restrictions on symbols at memorial sites in a move critics say distorts history Read Full Article at RT.com
- Paris ‘whispers’ about mending ties with Moscow – Lavrovby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 26, 2025
Russia’s top diplomat says his French colleagues silently agree with millions of citizens who don’t want to sacrifice friendship with Moscow Read Full Article at RT.com
- Trump envoy talks with Putin: Key takeawaysby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff held a three-hour meeting in Moscow Read Full Article at RT.com
- Kremlin comments on assassination of Russian generalby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
Moscow has pointed the finger at Ukraine over the assassination of a top Russian general Read Full Article at RT.com
- A failing recruitment drive. Fewer than 500 volunteers have enlisted with Ukraine’s military under a new program meant to recruit men too young for the draftby Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
In February 2025, the Ukrainian authorities launched a campaign to recruit volunteers for contract military service. Ukrainians between the ages of 18 and 24 can enlist for a single year in exchange for a one-time payment of 1 million hryvnias (about $24,000), an interest-free housing loan, and a monthly salary of up to 120,000 hryvnias (about $2,900) — […]
- ‘No’ — The Book. Our guide to Meduza’s tenth anniversary exhibition in Berlin is on sale nowby Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
Meduza’s publishing imprint has released a book to accompany “No,” our art exhibition opening at the Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien gallery in Berlin on April 26. Dedicated to everyone who still dares to resist, the book is not only a complete guide to the exhibition but also includes exclusive bonus materials. Whether you plan to visit the gallery or […]
- New Jerusalem Temple burns down after Ukrainian attack (VIDEO)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
The New Jerusalem Temple complex in Belgorod Region, Russia was “deliberately” targeted by drones, according to officials Read Full Article at RT.com
- Russian artist jailed for 10 days on ‘extremism’ charges over this: 🌈by Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
A court in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg has sentenced artist and activist Alisa Gorshenina to 10 days in jail for allegedly displaying “extremist symbols,” the Telegram channel It’s My City reports.
- ‘The Future of the World’ Open Dialogue essay contest presents submissionsby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
Participants from 102 countries have shared their thoughts on the future of the economy and the impact of global change on people Read Full Article at RT.com
- Putin-Witkoff talks ‘constructive’ – Russian presidential aideby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
The talks have brought the positions of Moscow and Washington “closer,” Russian presidential foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- Trump envoy Steve Witkoff's meeting with Putin ends after three hoursby Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has ended after about three hours.
- Top CIA official's 21-year-old son killed in Ukraine after joining Russian armyby Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
Michael Gloss, an American citizen and the son of CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation Juliane Gallina Gloss, was killed in Ukraine while fighting in the Russian military last year, the independent outlet iStories reported on Friday. He was 21 years old. Gloss’s father, Larry Gloss, is a U.S. Navy veteran and head of Security Information Systems, a […]
- Ukraine confirms its own POWs were on plane it blasted out of skyby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
An Il-76 carrying 65 Ukrainian servicemen destined for an exchange was shot down by Kiev in 2024, according to Moscow Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ukraine may have to cede land to Russia – Kiev mayorby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
The move could pave the way for “temporary peace,” Vitaly Klitschko has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- Spy for Ukraine from EU state detained in Russia – FSB (VIDEO)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
A Romanian national had been collecting classified data for Ukrainian intelligence, the agency has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- Trump envoy in Moscow for talks with Putin: As it happenedby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
Steve Witkoff’s visit to Russia aims to advance a US-proposed peace plan that faces opposition from Ukraine and its Western supporters Read Full Article at RT.com
- Trump envoy arrives for talks with Putin – Kremlinby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
Steve Witkoff’s visit to Russia aims to advance a US-proposed peace plan that faces opposition from Ukraine and its Western supporters Read Full Article at RT.com
- Top Russian general killed in latest IED attack in the Moscow regionby Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
A car exploded late Friday morning in the courtyard of an apartment building in Balashikha, a town just outside Moscow. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the blast killed General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian military’s General Staff.
- Bomb kills Russian generalby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
A Russian general was killed in a suspected bomb assassination outside of Moscow, officials have confirmed Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ukraine recruiting terrorists for attacks in Russia – security chiefby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
Kiev is arming and training international terrorists for deadly attacks such as the Crocus City Hall assault, Sergey Shoigu has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ukraine gave U.S. five demands for changes to peace plan, calling for deal based on 'international law, not capitulation' — The Telegraphby Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
During talks between Ukrainian, U.S., and European officials in London on Wednesday, Kyiv put forward five main demands for a future ceasefire agreement with Russia, The Telegraph reports.
- Russia warns conflict vets of possible arrest in EUby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
Individuals who fought for Moscow in the Ukraine conflict could face unfair legal action in the EU, Russian diplomats say Read Full Article at RT.com
- Trump envoy Steve Witkoff arrives in Moscowby Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
A plane believed to be carrying U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport, according to the flight tracking service Flightradar24.
- U.K. likely to abandon plans to deploy thousands of ground troops to Ukraine — The Timesby Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
The U.K. is likely to drop its plans to deploy thousands of troops to help defend Ukraine, The Times reported Thursday, citing diplomatic sources.
- Trump calls Russia not seizing all of Ukraine a 'big concession'by Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Russia is willing to make concessions to end the war in Ukraine — then cited not taking control of the entire country as one such concession.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow ready to make deal with U.S. on Ukraine but some points still 'need to be fine-tuned'by Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told CBS in an interview that some parts of the draft agreement aimed at ending the war in Ukraine still “need to be fined tuned.”
- Mystics, meet Russia’s muzzle. Lawmakers move forward with legislation to ban advertisements for ‘new age and magical services,’ from astrologists to witchesby Meduza.io on April 25, 2025
Russian lawmakers Nina Ostanina, Andrey Svintsov, and Alexey Kornienko have drafted legislation that would ban advertising for various “new age” and mystical services and implement government mechanisms to identify and block any resources promoting such services. The bill would amend Russia’s laws on advertising and information technology.
- Russia ‘ready for a deal’ with US on Ukraine – Lavrovby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on April 25, 2025
Moscow and Washington are “moving in the right direction” toward finalizing an agreement to end the Ukraine conflict, Sergey Lavrov says Read Full Article at RT.com
- A more joyous life. Economist Will Pyle explains new research that shows satisfaction and economic optimism rising among Russians since the invasion of Ukraineby Meduza.io on April 24, 2025
Despite massive military spending, tens of thousands of deaths, and a vast array of international sanctions, Russians’ sense of stability and life satisfaction has reached its highest level in the past decade, according to a new study by the Bank of Finland’s Institute for Emerging Economies. Researchers asked people two main questions: how satisfied […]
- ‘A raging meat grinder’. How a riot in Krasnodar highlights the Russian army’s desertion problemby Meduza.io on April 24, 2025
In Krasnodar, Russia, around one hundred soldiers detained on suspicion of desertion staged a riot in a bold escape attempt last week. Seven managed to break free — four were quickly recaptured, and three remain at large. RFE/RL’s Kavkaz.Realii looked into what sparked this mass attempt to flee and what it reveals about how the Russian army treats […]