| 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
- No deals were made in Anchorage – Putinby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 28, 2026
Putin has said no agreements were reached during the Anchorage talks, although ways to end the Ukraine conflict were discussed Read Full Article at RT.com
- Satellite wars: How Russia plans to rival Musk’s Starlink in spaceby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 28, 2026
Russia is planning to deploy dozens of Rassvet satellites – described as Starlink rivals – in space as it pushes for digital sovereignty Read Full Article at RT.com
- Russia strikes Ukrainian commando training center (VIDEO)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 28, 2026
Russian forces have struck a Ukrainian military training center, including sea drone storage sites, the Defense Ministry has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- West trying to destabilize Russia, unable to beat it on battlefield – Putin (VIDEO)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 28, 2026
The West is trying to destabilize Russia from inside, unable to beat it on the battlefield, President Vladimir Putin has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ukrainian colonel behind attempted terror attack in Crimea eliminated – mediaby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 28, 2026
A Ukrainian colonel behind a thwarted terrorist attack in Russia’s Crimea has been eliminated, TASS and RIA news agencies have reported Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ukrainian regiment threatens journalists after report about training camp deathsby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 28, 2026
Ukraine’s Skelia unit has issued a warning to journalists after a report alleging abuse and non-combat deaths among the unit’s recruits Read Full Article at RT.com
- At least 12 injured in Ukrainian strike on Russian WWII monument – governorby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 27, 2026
At least 12 people have been injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on a World War II museum in Russia’s Rostov Region Read Full Article at RT.com
- Ukrainian regiment commander suspended over training camp deathsby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 27, 2026
The commander of Ukraine’s Skelia assault unit has been suspended amid a probe into alleged abuse, torture, and training-camp deaths Read Full Article at RT.com
- How new ‘transnational repression’ measures could affect the lives of Russians in Europeby Meduza.io on June 27, 2026
On June 16, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on countering “transnational repression” targeting journalists, human rights defenders, and activists in exile. Lawmakers named Russia as one of the main perpetrators and called for shielding political exiles from frozen bank accounts, denial of consular services, and passport revocations. […]
- Dead at 73, Sergei Ivanov was once Russia’s almost-president but wound up saving leopards instead of succeeding Putinby Meduza.io on June 27, 2026
Sergei Ivanov, a former defense minister and the man who came closer than anyone else to the Russian presidency before the end of Vladimir Putin’s second term, died on June 26. After Putin chose Dmitry Medvedev over Ivanov as his successor, Ivanov served as deputy prime minister in the 2008–2011 cabinet and later as the president’s chief […]
- Longtime Putin confidant Sergey Ivanov dies at 73by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 26, 2026
Former Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, once considered a potential successor to President Vladimir Putin, has died at the age of 73 Read Full Article at RT.com
- Russia is importing jet fuel from Belarus at almost four times last year’s rate after drone strikes knocked out Moscow’s main refineryby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Russia imported 5,170 metric tons of jet fuel from Belarus in May, nearly four times the volume recorded in May 2025, according to RBC, citing data from the Price Index Center (PIC).
- Putin welcomes Lukashenko to his private Valdai retreat just after Kyiv claimed the border relay stations helping direct Russian strikes on Ukraine had stopped workingby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko met on June 26 at the Russian president’s residence at Valdai.
- Ukraine’s largest assault regiment is under investigation over allegations of torturing its own recruits and at least 26 noncombat deathsby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Ukraine has suspended Lieutenant Colonel Yuriy Harkavyi, commander of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skala,” pending a probe launched after a Babel investigation into torture and the deaths of several servicemen that the military classified as “unrelated to combat.” The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the move […]
- Satellite imagery shows new air defenses added to Moscow parks, university grounds, and outside Putin’s daughter’s headquartersby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Air-defense systems have been installed near the Moscow headquarters of the Innopraktika foundation, headed by Vladimir Putin’s daughter Katerina Tikhonova, RFE/RL’s Russian service reported, citing satellite imagery.
- SPILF was founded by a reform-era president to showcase the rule of law in Russia. This year’s speakers argued that constitutional rights are the real problem.by Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
The St. Petersburg International Legal Forum (SPILF) took place in St. Petersburg this week for its 14th annual session, running from June 24 to 26. SPILF was established in 2011 at the initiative of Russia’s Justice Ministry, with the backing of Dmitry Medvedev, a trained lawyer who was serving as Russia’s president at the time. In its early […]
- Russians’ trust in Putin falls to lowest level since start of war, FOM survey findsby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Russians’ trust in President Vladimir Putin has fallen to 69%, the lowest figure recorded since the start of the full-scale war, according to a survey by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) conducted June 19–21 — shortly after the largest Ukrainian attack on Moscow.
- Former Belgorod governor Gladkov appointed Russia’s ambassador to Abkhaziaby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree appointing Vyacheslav Gladkov, the former governor of the Belgorod region, as Russia’s ambassador to the partially recognized republic of Abkhazia.
- Russia declares state of emergency in occupied Crimeaby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of occupied Crimea, announced that a state of emergency would take effect across Crimea and Sevastopol at 1:00 p.m. on June 26.
- Russia and Ukraine exchange 160 prisoners of war eachby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced a POW exchange with Ukraine in which each side transferred 160 people to the other.
- Russia stops record number of Ukrainian drones overnight – MODby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 26, 2026
The Russian Defense Ministry has reported a record 660 Ukrainian kamikaze drones intercepted overnight Read Full Article at RT.com
- Russia and Ukraine exchange 160 POWs – MODby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 26, 2026
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 160 prisoners of war each, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said Read Full Article at RT.com
- Sergey Ivanov, former Russian defense minister and presidential administration chief — once considered a possible successor to Putin — has diedby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Former Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov has died, according to the VTB United League, where he served as honorary president. He was 73.
- Chechen leader Kadyrov shown robot in medical coat at exhibition — it greeted him with ‘Akhmat is strength’ and ‘Allahu akbar’by Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov shook hands with a humanoid robot at a medical equipment exhibition in Grozny, footage released June 26 by the press service of the head and government of Chechnya showed.
- Russia’s investigative chief laments that children can’t be jailed from age 12by Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Russia’s top investigator has called for lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 12, saying the proposal has so far been rejected.
- Ukrainian press gang attacks dog in disturbing revenge act (VIDEO)by RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 26, 2026
A Ukrainian conscription patrol has been accused of kidnapping and injuring a man’s dog they had an altercation with Read Full Article at RT.com
- ‘Fairly strange wording’ — Kremlin responds to Russian serviceman’s appeal to Putinby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
The Kremlin has been informed of an appeal that serviceman Alexander Lunin addressed to Vladimir Putin but has not yet reviewed it, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on June 26.
- Police shut down highway near Putin’s Valdai residenceby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Traffic police shut down the M-11 highway on June 26, the Russian Telegram news channel Ostorozhno Novosti reported. Officers stopped traffic in both directions on the toll road at around 10:00 a.m. Moscow time without explanation, eyewitnesses said. A traffic jam formed near the village of Kolomno in the Tver region.
- Russian region caps fuel sales at 15 liters per vehicle — the tightest limit in the countryby Meduza.io on June 26, 2026
Zabaykalsky Krai imposed a heightened readiness regime on June 25 to manage fuel market conditions, the regional government announced.
- Israel denounces Nazi chants at Kiev rallyby RT (RT Russia & Former Soviet Union) on June 26, 2026
The Israeli embassy in Ukraine has demanded action over “Nazi chants” during an anti-LGBT event in Kiev Read Full Article at RT.com


