Russia

A Vast Nation of Power, Culture, and Contrasts

Russia, officially the Russian Federation, is the largest country in the world by area, spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. With immense natural resources, deep-rooted cultural traditions, and a pivotal geopolitical role, Russia remains one of the most influential nations globally—economically, militarily, and historically.

Formation and Historical Background

  • Historical roots in the Kievan Rus’ (9th century), later evolving into the Grand Duchy of Moscow and Tsardom of Russia.

  • Became a major European empire under the Russian Empire (1721–1917).

  • Transformed into the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1922—an ideological superpower until its dissolution in 1991.

  • The modern Russian Federation emerged post-Soviet with a strong presidential system and global ambitions.

  • Involved in several regional conflicts and maintains strategic influence across Eurasia and beyond.

Administrative Information

Attribute Details
Official Name Russian Federation (Российская Федерация)
Capital Moscow (Москва)
Official Language Russian
Currency Russian Ruble (RUB)
Area Approx. 17,098,242 sq. km
Population Approx. 144 million (2024 est.)
Time Zones UTC+2 to UTC+12 (11 zones)
ISO Code RU
Internet TLD .ru
Calling Code +7
National Day 12 June (Russia Day)

Government and Leadership

Position Current Officeholder (as of 2024)
President Vladimir Putin
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin
Government Type Federal semi-presidential republic
Legislature Federal Assembly (bicameral: State Duma & Federation Council)
Judiciary Constitutional Court, Supreme Court

Administrative Divisions of Russia (Federal Subjects)

Russia is officially divided into 85 Federal Subjects, classified under six categories:

  1. 22 Republics – typically for specific ethnic minorities; have their own constitution and official language alongside Russian

  2. 9 Krais (Territories)

  3. 46 Oblasts (Provinces)

  4. 3 Federal Cities – Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Sevastopol

  5. 1 Autonomous Oblast – Jewish Autonomous Oblast

  6. 4 Autonomous Okrugs (Districts)

List of All 85 Federal Subjects of Russia

Republics (22):

  1. Republic of Adygea

  2. Republic of Altai

  3. Republic of Bashkortostan

  4. Republic of Buryatia

  5. Chechen Republic

  6. Chuvash Republic

  7. Republic of Dagestan

  8. Republic of Ingushetia

  9. Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

  10. Republic of Kalmykia

  11. Karachay-Cherkess Republic

  12. Republic of Karelia

  13. Komi Republic

  14. Mari El Republic

  15. Republic of Mordovia

  16. Republic of North Ossetia-Alania

  17. Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

  18. Republic of Tatarstan

  19. Republic of Tuva

  20. Udmurt Republic

  21. Republic of Khakassia

  22. Republic of Crimea (disputed; internationally recognized as part of Ukraine)

Krais (9):

  1. Altai Krai

  2. Kamchatka Krai

  3. Khabarovsk Krai

  4. Krasnodar Krai

  5. Krasnoyarsk Krai

  6. Perm Krai

  7. Primorsky Krai

  8. Stavropol Krai

  9. Zabaykalsky Krai

Oblasts (46):

  1. Amur Oblast

  2. Arkhangelsk Oblast

  3. Astrakhan Oblast

  4. Belgorod Oblast

  5. Bryansk Oblast

  6. Chelyabinsk Oblast

  7. Irkutsk Oblast

  8. Ivanovo Oblast

  9. Kaliningrad Oblast

  10. Kaluga Oblast

  11. Kemerovo Oblast

  12. Kirov Oblast

  13. Kostroma Oblast

  14. Kurgan Oblast

  15. Kursk Oblast

  16. Leningrad Oblast

  17. Lipetsk Oblast

  18. Magadan Oblast

  19. Moscow Oblast

  20. Murmansk Oblast

  21. Nizhny Novgorod Oblast

  22. Novgorod Oblast

  23. Novosibirsk Oblast

  24. Omsk Oblast

  25. Orel Oblast

  26. Orenburg Oblast

  27. Penza Oblast

  28. Pskov Oblast

  29. Rostov Oblast

  30. Ryazan Oblast

  31. Samara Oblast

  32. Saratov Oblast

  33. Sakhalin Oblast

  34. Sverdlovsk Oblast

  35. Smolensk Oblast

  36. Tambov Oblast

  37. Tomsk Oblast

  38. Tula Oblast

  39. Tver Oblast

  40. Tyumen Oblast

  41. Ulyanovsk Oblast

  42. Vladimir Oblast

  43. Volgograd Oblast

  44. Vologda Oblast

  45. Voronezh Oblast

  46. Yaroslavl Oblast

Federal Cities (3):

  1. Moscow (Capital)

  2. Saint Petersburg

  3. Sevastopol (disputed; internationally recognized as part of Ukraine)

Autonomous Oblast (1):

  1. Jewish Autonomous Oblast

Autonomous Okrugs (4):

  1. Chukotka Autonomous Okrug

  2. Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug

  3. Nenets Autonomous Okrug

  4. Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Local Government Structure

  • Municipalities govern at the district, city, and rural levels.

  • Local councils and mayors handle education, infrastructure, utilities.

  • Governors of regions often appointed by Kremlin-aligned parties.

Leadership & Governance

  • President holds extensive executive powers, including foreign policy and military command.

  • Prime Minister leads economic and domestic affairs.

  • Dominated by the United Russia party.

  • Centralized political structure with limited opposition space.

  • Tensions with Western nations over Ukraine, NATO expansion, and sanctions.

Law Enforcement & Safety

  • Controlled by:

    • Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)

    • Federal Security Service (FSB)

    • Rosgvardiya (National Guard)

  • Security concerns include:

    • Terrorism, cyberwarfare, organized crime

  • Emergency Numbers:

    • 102 – Police

    • 103 – Ambulance

    • 101 – Fire

Economy & Industry

  • Resource-rich: oil, gas, coal, timber, minerals

  • Other sectors: agriculture, arms, metallurgy, nuclear energy, IT

  • Sanctioned by West due to Ukraine war, pivoting toward China, India, and Global South

  • Major projects: Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), BRICS

  • GDP (2023): Approx. USD 1.9 trillion

Education & Institutions

  • Free and compulsory education system

  • Renowned universities:

    • Lomonosov Moscow State University

    • Saint Petersburg State University

    • Bauman Moscow State Technical University

  • Emphasis on science, math, classical studies

Healthcare

  • Universal healthcare system with federal and regional hospitals

  • Private medical services growing in urban areas

  • COVID-19 spurred medical reforms and digital health investments

  • Notable institutions: Botkin Hospital (Moscow), Burdenko Neurosurgery Center

Transport & Connectivity

  • Longest rail network: Trans-Siberian Railway

  • Airports:

    • Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo (Moscow), Pulkovo (St. Petersburg)

  • Ports: Murmansk, Vladivostok, Novorossiysk

  • Major gas pipelines: Nord Stream (to Europe), Power of Siberia (to China)

Tourism & Attractions

  • Cities: Moscow (Kremlin, Red Square), Saint Petersburg (Hermitage, Neva River)

  • Nature: Lake Baikal, Caucasus Mountains, Kamchatka Volcanoes

  • Cultural: Orthodox cathedrals, ballet, classical music

  • Heritage: Golden Ring towns, Soviet monuments, UNESCO sites

Culture & Lifestyle

  • Deep literary and artistic tradition: Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky

  • Orthodox Christianity predominant; Islam, Buddhism, Judaism recognized

  • Celebrations: Victory Day, Maslenitsa, Orthodox Easter

  • Cuisine: borscht, pelmeni, blini, caviar, vodka

  • Strong family values, patriotism, and historical consciousness

Summary

Russia is a country of monumental scale and influence. With its fusion of imperial legacy, Soviet might, and modern political assertion, it continues to shape global conversations across geopolitics, energy, and culture—often from a position both contested and commanding.