Russia (European part)

The Heart of Eurasian Civilization

The European part of Russia covers roughly 23% of the country’s total area but houses more than 75% of its population. This region stretches from the Ural Mountains to the western borders with Europe — blending Slavic traditions with global influence.
It is home to Russia’s capital Moscow, the imperial heritage of St. Petersburg, and centuries of history that shaped Europe and Asia alike.


🏛️ Formation & Historical Background

Key Timeline:

  • 9th Century: Formation of Kievan Rus’, the first East Slavic state.

  • 988 CE: Adoption of Orthodox Christianity under Prince Vladimir.

  • 13th Century: Mongol invasions reshape the region.

  • 15th–16th Century: Rise of Moscow (Muscovy) as the “Third Rome.”

  • 1547: Ivan the Terrible crowned as the first Tsar of Russia.

  • 18th Century: Peter the Great modernizes Russia, moves the capital to St. Petersburg.

  • 1917: Russian Revolution ends the monarchy; Soviet Union established in 1922.

  • 1991: USSR dissolves — Russian Federation emerges.

  • Present Day: Russia remains a major political, cultural, and spiritual power in Europe and beyond.


🧭 Basic National Information

CategoryDetails
Official NameRussian Federation (European Part)
Capital CityMoscow
Other Major CitiesSt. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Volgograd
President (2025)Vladimir Putin
Prime MinisterMikhail Mishustin
Government TypeFederal Semi-Presidential Republic
Area (European Russia)~3.9 million sq. km
Population~110 million (2025 est.)
CurrencyRussian Ruble (RUB)
Time ZonesUTC +2 to +4
Dial Code+7
Top-Level Domain.ru
National Motto“Rossiya – Svyashchennaya Nasha Derzhava” (Russia – Our Sacred State)

⚖️ Government and Leadership

PositionOfficeholder (2025)
PresidentVladimir Putin
Prime MinisterMikhail Mishustin
LegislatureFederal Assembly – State Duma & Federation Council
JudiciaryConstitutional Court, Supreme Court
Administrative Divisions46 oblasts, 22 republics, 9 krais, 3 federal cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sevastopol)

🗺️ Administrative Structure (European Russia)

Key Federal Districts in European Russia:

  1. Central Federal District – Moscow, Tula, Vladimir

  2. Northwestern Federal District – St. Petersburg, Karelia, Murmansk

  3. Southern Federal District – Krasnodar, Rostov, Volgograd

  4. Volga Federal District – Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara


🌐 Geography & Environment

  • Location: Western Russia, from Ural Mountains to Baltic & Black Seas.

  • Rivers: Volga (Europe’s longest), Don, Neva, Dnieper headwaters.

  • Mountains: Ural range (divides Europe and Asia).

  • Lakes: Ladoga, Onega — among Europe’s largest freshwater lakes.

  • Climate: Continental — cold winters, warm summers.

  • Ecosystems: Taiga forests, steppe plains, and fertile river valleys.

European Russia is the agricultural, industrial, and political core of the nation.


🕍 Religion, Language & Culture

CategoryDetails
Official LanguageRussian
Major ReligionEastern Orthodox Christianity
MinoritiesIslam, Judaism, Buddhism, Protestantism
Cultural InfluencesSlavic, Byzantine, Tatar, European Renaissance
FestivalsMaslenitsa, Orthodox Easter, Victory Day (May 9), New Year
CuisineBorscht, pelmeni, blini, caviar, kvass
Music & ArtTchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Tolstoy, Pushkin, Repin

European Russia embodies deep spirituality, literature, and art — shaping global culture for centuries.


📈 Economy & Key Sectors

SectorDetails
GDP (2025 est.)~$2.1 trillion USD (total Russia)
Main IndustriesEnergy, metallurgy, agriculture, IT, defense
Major ExportsOil, gas, steel, fertilizers, machinery
Agricultural BeltSouthern & Volga regions – grains, sunflower, sugar beet
Financial HubMoscow – leading Eastern European economy
TourismCultural & heritage tourism in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan

European Russia is the engine of the Russian economy, connecting East and West.


🎓 Education & Science

CategoryDetails
Top UniversitiesLomonosov Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University
Literacy Rate99%
SpecializationsEngineering, aerospace, medicine, physics, literature
Research LegacyMendeleev (Periodic Table), Pavlov, Tsiolkovsky (space science)

Russia’s scientific and educational tradition remains world-renowned.


✈️ Transport & Infrastructure

CategoryDetails
AirportsMoscow Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Pulkovo (LED)
RailwaysMoscow–St. Petersburg high-speed line (Sapsan)
RoadsFederal highway network connecting all major cities
PortsSt. Petersburg, Novorossiysk, Murmansk
Metro SystemsMoscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan — famous for design & efficiency

🏞️ Tourism & Attractions

Top Destinations:

  • Moscow: Red Square, Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral

  • St. Petersburg: Hermitage Museum, Winter Palace, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

  • Kazan: Kul Sharif Mosque, Kremlin of Kazan

  • Volgograd: Mamayev Kurgan memorial

  • Golden Ring Cities: Vladimir, Suzdal, Yaroslavl — medieval beauty

European Russia is a mosaic of empires, revolutions, and renaissance.


🌍 Global Role & Relations

AspectDetails
UN MembershipFounding member (1945)
Permanent UN Security Council MemberYes
Regional InfluenceEurasian Economic Union (EAEU), BRICS
Cultural DiplomacyLiterature, ballet, classical music, architecture
Global FocusEnergy, geopolitics, space exploration, diplomacy

📝 Summary

European Russia is the civilizational and political soul of a nation that connects East and West.
It is where the Kremlin stands, the Volga flows, and history still breathes through art, literature, and faith.


📢 News & Articles

  • “The Renaissance of Modern Moscow”

  • “St. Petersburg: Russia’s Window to Europe”

  • “Volga River – Lifeline of the Russian Plains”


🎯 AFP Insight

AFP regards European Russia as the core of Eurasian identity — where tradition, innovation, and resilience continue to shape the destiny of continents.


📬 Contact Us

Submit cultural, historical, or travel insights from European Russia to AFP’s global documentation project.