Russia

Russia,or theRussian Federation,is a country spanningEastern EuropeandNorth Asia. It is thelargest country in the worldby land area, and extends acrosseleven time zones; sharingland borders with fourteen countries.Russia is themost populous country in Europeand theninth-most populous country in the world. It is ahighly urbanised country, with sixteen of its urban areas having more than 1 million inhabitants.Moscow, themost populous metropolitan area in Europe, is the capital andlargest cityof Russia; whileSaint Petersburgis the second-largest city andcultural centre.
Human settlement on the territory of modern Russia dates back to theLower Paleolithic. TheEast Slavsemerged as a recognised group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries CE. The first East Slavic state,Kievan Rus', arose in the 9th century, and in 988, it adoptedOrthodox Christianityfrom theByzantine Empire. Kievan Rus' ultimately disintegrated; theGrand Duchy of Moscowled the unification of Russian lands, leading to the proclamation of theTsardom of Russiain 1547. By the early 18th century, Russia had vastly expanded through conquest, annexation, and the efforts ofRussian explorers, developing into theRussian Empire, which remains thethird-largest empire in history. However, with theRussian Revolutionin 1917, Russia's monarchic rulewas abolishedand eventually replaced by theRussian SFSR—the world's first constitutionallysocialist state. Following theRussian Civil War, the Russian SFSR established theSoviet Unionwith three otherSoviet republics, within which it was the largest and principal constituent. The Soviet Union underwentrapid industrialisation in the 1930s, amidst thedeaths of millionsunderJoseph Stalin's rule, and later played a decisive role for theAllies in World War IIby leading large-scale efforts on theEastern Front. With the onset of theCold War, it competed with theUnited Statesforideological dominanceandinternational influence. The Soviet era of the 20th century saw some of themost significant Russian technological achievements, including thefirst human-made satelliteand thefirst human expedition into outer space.
In 1991, the Russian SFSR emerged from thedissolution of the Soviet Unionas the Russian Federation.A new constitutionwas adopted, which established afederalsemi-presidential system. Since the turn of the century, Russia's political system has been dominated byVladimir Putin,under whomthe country has experienceddemocratic backslidingand become anauthoritariandictatorship.Russia has been militarily involvedin a number ofconflicts in former Soviet states and other countries, includingits war with Georgiain 2008 andits war with Ukrainesince 2014. The latter has involved the internationally unrecognisedannexationsof Ukrainian territory, includingCrimea in 2014andfour other regions in 2022, duringan ongoing invasion.
Russia is generally considered agreat powerand is aregional power, possessing thelargest stockpile of nuclear weaponsand having thethird-highest military expenditure in the world. It has ahigh-income economy, which is theeleventh-largest in the worldby nominal GDP andfourth-largestbyPPP, relying on itsvast mineral and energy resources; which rank as the second-largest in the world foroilandnatural gas production. However, Russiaranks very lowin international measurements ofdemocracy,human rightsandfreedom of the press, and also hashigh levels of perceived corruption. It is apermanent member of the United Nations Security Council; a member state of theG20,SCO,BRICS,APEC,OSCE, andWTO; and the leading member state of post-Soviet organisations such asCIS,CSTO, andEAEU. Russia is home to32 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
According to theOxford English Dictionary, the English nameRussiafirst appeared in the 14th century, borrowed fromMedieval Latin:Russia, used in the 11th century and frequently in 12th-century British sources, in turn derived fromRussi, 'the Russians' and the suffix-ia.
There are several words in Russian which translate to "Russians" in English. The noun and adjectiveрусский,russkiyrefers to ethnicRussians. The adjectiveроссийский,rossiiskiydenotesRussian citizensregardless of ethnicity. The same applies to the more recently coined nounроссиянин,rossiianyn, in the sense of citizen of the Russian state.
The oldestendonymsused wereRus'(Русь) and the "Russian land" (Русская земля,Russkaya zemlya).According to thePrimary Chronicle, the wordRus'is derived from theRus' people, who were aSwedishtribe, and from where the three original members of theRurikiddynasty came from.TheFinnishword for Swedes,ruotsi, has the same origin.In modern historiography, the early medievalEast Slavicstate is usually referred to asKievan Rus', named after its capital city.Another Medieval Latin name forRus'wasRuthenia.
In Russian, the current name of the country,Россия(Rossiya), comes from theByzantine GreeknameΡωσία(Rosía).The nameРосия(Rosiya) was first attested in 1387.The nameRossiyaappeared in Russian sources in the 15th century and began to replace the vernacularRus'during the rise of Moscow as the centre of a unified Russian state.However, until the end of the 17th century, the country was more often referred to by its inhabitants asRus', the "Russian land" (Russkaya zemlya), or the "Muscovite state" (Moskovskoye gosudarstvo), among other variations.
In 1721,Peter the Greatproclaimed theRussian Empire(Rossiyskaya imperiya).The nameRossiyawas used as the common designation for the multinational Russian Empire and then for the modern Russian state.Rossiyais distinguished from the ethnonymrusskiy, as it refers to a supranational identity, including ethnic Russians.After theRussian Revolutionand the proclamation of theRussian SFSRin 1918, the "Russian" in the title of the state wasRossiyskaya, rather thanRusskaya, as the former denoted a multinational state, while the latter had ethnic dimensions.In modern Russian, the nameRus'is still used in poetry or prose to refer to either the older Russia or an imagined essence of Russia.
The first human settlement on Russia dates back to theOldowanperiod in the earlyLower Paleolithic. About 2 million years ago, representatives ofHomo erectusmigrated to theTaman Peninsulain southern Russia.Flinttools, some 1.5 million years old, have been discovered in theNorth Caucasus.Radiocarbon datedspecimens fromDenisova Cavein theAltai Mountainsestimate the oldestDenisovanspecimen lived 195–122,700 years ago.Fossils ofDenny, anarchaic humanhybrid that was halfNeanderthaland half Denisovan, and lived some 90,000 years ago, was also found within the latter cave.Russia was home to some of the last surviving Neanderthals, from about 45,000 years ago, found inMezmaiskaya cave.
The first trace of anearly modern humanin Russia dates back to 45,000 years, inWestern Siberia.The discovery of high concentration cultural remains ofanatomically modern humans, from at least 40,000 years ago, was found atKostyonki–Borshchyovo,and atSungir, dating back to 34,600 years ago—both inwestern Russia.Humans reachedArctic Russiaat least 40,000 years ago, inMamontovaya Kurya.Ancient North Eurasianpopulations from Siberia genetically similar toMal'ta–Buret' cultureandAfontova Gorawere an important genetic contributor toAncient Native AmericansandEastern Hunter-Gatherers.
TheKurgan hypothesisplaces the Volga-Dnieper region of southern Russia andUkraineas theurheimatof theProto-Indo-Europeans.EarlyIndo-European migrationsfrom thePontic–Caspian steppeof Ukraine and Russia spreadYamnayaancestry andIndo-European languagesacross large parts of Eurasia.Nomadic pastoralismdeveloped in the Pontic–Caspian steppe beginning in theChalcolithic.Remnants of these steppe civilisations were discovered in places such asIpatovo,Sintashta,Arkaim,andPazyryk,which bear the earliest known traces ofhorses in warfare.The genetic makeup of speakers of theUraliclanguage family in northern Europe was shaped by migration fromSiberiathat began at least 3,500 years ago.
In the 3rd to 4th centuries CE, theGothickingdom ofOiumexisted in southern Russia, which was later overrun byHuns. Between the 3rd and 6th centuries CE, theBosporan Kingdom, which was a Hellenisticpolitythat succeeded the Greek colonies,was also overwhelmed by nomadic invasions led by warlike tribes such as the Huns andEurasian Avars.TheKhazars, who were ofTurkic origin, ruled the steppes between the Caucasus in the south, to the east past the Volga river basin, and west as far as Kyiv on the Dnieper river until the 10th century.After them came thePechenegswho created a large confederacy, which was subsequently taken over by theCumansand theKipchaks.
The ancestors ofRussiansare among theSlavic tribesthat separated from the Proto-Indo-Europeans, who appeared in the northeastern part of Europec.1500years ago.The East Slavs gradually settled western Russia (approximately between modernMoscowandSaint-Petersburg) in two waves: one moving fromKievtowards present-daySuzdalandMuromand another fromPolotsktowardsNovgorodandRostov.Prior to Slavic migration, that territory was populated byFinno-Ugrianpeoples. From the 7th century onwards, the incoming East Slavs slowly assimilated the native Finno-Ugrians.
The establishment of the first East Slavic states in the 9th century coincided with the arrival ofVarangians, theVikingswho ventured along the waterways extending from the eastern Balticto the BlackandCaspianSeas. According to thePrimary Chronicle, a Varangian from theRus' people, namedRurik, was elected ruler ofNovgorodin 862. In 882, his successorOlegventured south and conqueredKiev, which had been previously paying tribute to theKhazars.Rurik's sonIgorand Igor's sonSviatoslavsubsequently subdued all localEast Slavictribes to Kievan rule, destroyed the Khazar Khaganate,and launched several military expeditions toBulgaria,ByzantiumandPersia.
In the 10th to 11th centuries, Kievan Rus' became one of the largest and most prosperous states in Europe. The reigns ofVladimir the Great(980–1015) and his sonYaroslav the Wise(1019–1054) constitute theGolden Ageof Kiev, which sawthe acceptance ofOrthodox Christianity fromByzantium, and the creation of the first East Slavic writtenlegal code, theRusskaya Pravda.The age offeudalismand decentralisation had come, marked by constant in-fighting between members of theRurik dynastythat ruled Kievan Rus' collectively. Kiev's dominance waned, to the benefit ofVladimir-Suzdalin the north-east, theNovgorod Republicin the north, andGalicia-Volhyniain the south-west.By the 12th century, Kiev lost its pre-eminence and Kievan Rus' had fragmented into different principalities.PrinceAndrey Bogolyubskysacked Kiev in 1169 and madeVladimirhis base,leading to political power being shifted to the north-east.
Led by PrinceAlexander Nevsky, Novgorodians repelled the invadingSwedesin theBattle of the Nevain 1240,as well as theGermanic crusadersin theBattle on the Icein 1242.
Kievan Rus' finally fell to theMongol invasionof 1237–1240, which resulted in thesacking of Kievand other cities, as well as the death of a major part of the population.The invaders, later known asTatars, formed the state of theGolden Horde, which ruled over Russia for the next two centuries.Only the Novgorod Republic escaped foreign occupation after it agreed to pay tribute to the Mongols.Galicia-Volhynia would later be absorbed byLithuaniaandPoland, while the Novgorod Republic continued to prosper in the north. In the northeast, the Byzantine-Slavic traditions of Kievan Rus' were adapted to form the Russian autocratic state.
The destruction of Kievan Rus' saw the eventual rise of theGrand Duchy of Moscow, initially a part ofVladimir-Suzdal.While still under the domain of theMongol-Tatarsand with their connivance, Moscow began to assert its influence in the region in the early 14th century,gradually becoming the leading force in the "gathering of the Russian lands".When the seat of the Metropolitan of theRussian Orthodox Churchmoved to Moscow in 1325, its influence increased.Moscow's last rival, theNovgorod Republic, prospered as the chieffur tradecentre and the easternmost port of theHanseatic League.
Led by PrinceDmitry Donskoyof Moscow, the united army of Russian principalities inflicteda milestone defeaton the Mongol-Tatars in theBattle of Kulikovoin 1380.Moscow gradually absorbed its parent duchy and surrounding principalities, including formerly strong rivals such asTverandNovgorod.
Ivan III("the Great") threw off the control of theGolden Hordeand consolidated the whole of northern Rus' under Moscow's dominion, and was the first Russian ruler to take the title "Grand Duke of all Rus'". After thefall of Constantinoplein 1453, Moscowclaimed succession to the legacyof theEastern Roman Empire. Ivan III marriedSophia Palaiologina, the niece of the lastByzantine emperorConstantine XI, and made the Byzantinedouble-headed eaglehis own, and eventually Russia's, coat-of-arms.Vasili IIIunited all of Russia by annexing the last few independentRussian statesin the early 16th century.
In development of theThird Romeideas, the grand dukeIvan IV("the Terrible") was officially crowned the firsttsarof Russia in 1547. The tsarpromulgateda new code of laws (Sudebnik of 1550), established the first Russian feudal representative body (theZemsky Sobor), revamped the military, curbed the influence of the clergy, and reorganised local government.During his long reign, Ivan nearly doubled the already large Russian territory by annexing the three Tatar khanates:KazanandAstrakhanalong theVolga,and theKhanate of Sibirin southwestern Siberia. Ultimately, by the end of the 16th century, Russia expanded east of theUral Mountains.However, the Tsardom was weakened by the long and unsuccessfulLivonian Waragainst the coalition of theKingdom of Polandand theGrand Duchy of Lithuania(later the unitedPolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth), theKingdom of Sweden, andDenmark–Norwayfor access to the Baltic coast and sea trade.In 1572, an invading army ofCrimean Tatarswerethoroughly defeatedin the crucialBattle of Molodi.
The death of Ivan's sons marked the end of the ancientRurik dynastyin 1598, and in combination with the disastrousfamine of 1601–1603, led to a civil war, the rule of pretenders, and foreign intervention during theTime of Troublesin the early 17th century.ThePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, taking advantage, occupied parts of Russia, extending into the capital Moscow.In 1612, the Poles were forced to retreat by the Russian volunteer corps, led by merchantKuzma Mininand princeDmitry Pozharsky.TheRomanov dynastyacceded to the throne in 1613 by the decision of the Zemsky Sobor, and the country started its gradual recovery from the crisis.
Russia continued its territorial growth through the 17th century, which was the age of theCossacks.In 1654, the Ukrainian leader,Bohdan Khmelnytsky, offered to place Ukraine under the protection of the Russian tsar,Alexis; whose acceptance of this offer led to anotherRusso-Polish War. Ultimately, Ukraine was split along theDnieper, leaving the eastern part, (Left-bank UkraineandKiev) under Russian rule.In the east, the rapid Russian exploration and colonisation of vast Siberia continued, hunting for valuable furs and ivory.Russian explorerspushed eastward primarily along theSiberian River Routes, and by the mid-17th century, there were Russian settlements in eastern Siberia, on theChukchi Peninsula, along theAmur River, and on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.In 1648,Semyon Dezhnyovbecame the first European to navigate through theBering Strait.
UnderPeter the Great, Russia was proclaimed an empire in 1721, and established itself as one of the European great powers. Ruling from 1682 to 1725, Peter defeated Sweden in theGreat Northern War(1700–1721), securing Russia's access to the sea and sea trade. In 1703, on the Baltic Sea, Peter foundedSaint Petersburgas Russia's new capital. Throughout his rule,sweeping reforms were made, which brought significant Western European cultural influences to Russia.He was succeeded byCatherine I(1725–1727), followed byPeter II(1727–1730), andAnna. The reign of Peter I's daughterElizabethin 1741–1762 saw Russia's participation in theSeven Years' War(1756–1763). During the conflict, Russian troops overranEast Prussia, reaching Berlin.However, upon Elizabeth's death, all these conquests were returned to theKingdom of Prussiaby pro-PrussianPeter III of Russia.
Catherine II("the Great"), who ruled in 1762–1796, presided over theRussian Age of Enlightenment. She extended Russian political control over the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth andannexed most of its territories into Russia, making it the most populous country in Europe.In the south, after the successfulRusso-Turkish Warsagainst theOttoman Empire, Catherine advanced Russia's boundary to the Black Sea, by dissolving theCrimean Khanate, andannexing Crimea.As a result of victories overQajar Iranthrough theRusso-Persian Wars, by the first half of the 19th century, Russia alsoconquered the Caucasus.Catherine's successor, her sonPaul, wasunstable and focused predominantly on domestic issues.Following his short reign, Catherine's strategy was continued withAlexander I's (1801–1825)wresting of Finlandfrom the weakened Sweden in 1809,and ofBessarabiafrom the Ottomans in 1812.In North America, the Russians became the first Europeans toreach and colonise Alaska.In 1803–1806, thefirst Russian circumnavigationwas made.In 1820,a Russian expeditiondiscovered the continent ofAntarctica.
During theNapoleonic Wars, Russia joined alliances with various European powers, and fought against France. TheFrench invasion of Russiaat the height of Napoleon's power in 1812 reached Moscow, but eventually failed as the obstinate resistance in combination with the bitterly coldRussian winterled to a disastrous defeat of invaders, in which the pan-EuropeanGrande Arméefaced utter destruction. Led byMikhail KutuzovandMichael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, theImperial Russian Armyousted Napoleon and drove throughout Europe in theWar of the Sixth Coalition, ultimately entering Paris.Alexander Icontrolled Russia's delegation at theCongress of Vienna, which defined the map of post-Napoleonic Europe.
The officers who pursued Napoleon into Western Europe brought ideas of liberalism back to Russia, and attempted to curtail the tsar's powers during the abortiveDecembrist revoltof 1825.At the end of the conservative reign ofNicholas I(1825–1855), a zenith period of Russia's power and influence in Europe, was disrupted by defeat in theCrimean War.
Nicholas's successorAlexander II(1855–1881) enacted significant changes throughout the country, including theemancipation reform of 1861.These reforms spurred industrialisation, and modernised the Imperial Russian Army, which liberated much of theBalkansfrom Ottoman rule in the aftermath of the1877–1878 Russo-Turkish War.During most of the 19th and early 20th century, Russia andBritaincolluded overAfghanistanand its neighbouring territories inCentraland South Asia; the rivalry between the two major European empires came to be known as theGreat Game.
The late 19th century saw the rise of various socialist movements in Russia. Alexander II wasassassinatedin 1881 by revolutionary terrorists.The reign of his sonAlexander III(1881–1894) was less liberal but more peaceful.
Under last Russian emperor,Nicholas II(1894–1917), theRevolution of 1905was triggered by the humiliating failure of theRusso-Japanese War.The uprising was put down, but the government was forced to concede major reforms (Russian Constitution of 1906), including grantingfreedoms of speechandassembly, the legalisation of political parties, and the creation of an elected legislative body, theState Duma.
In 1914,Russia entered World War Iin response toAustria-Hungary's declaration of war on Russia's allySerbia,and fought across multiple fronts while isolated from itsTriple Ententeallies.In 1916, theBrusilov Offensiveof the Imperial Russian Army almost completely destroyed theAustro-Hungarian Army.However, the already-existing public distrust of the regime was deepened by the rising costs of war,high casualties, and rumors of corruption and treason. All this formed the climate for theRussian Revolutionof 1917, carried out in two major acts.In early 1917,Nicholas IIwasforced to abdicate; he and his family were imprisoned andlater executedduring theRussian Civil War.The monarchy was replaced by a shaky coalition of political parties that declared itself theProvisional Government,and proclaimed theRussian Republic. On 19 January [O.S.6 January], 1918, theRussian Constituent Assemblydeclared Russia a democratic federal republic (thus ratifying the Provisional Government's decision). The next day the Constituent Assembly was dissolved by theAll-Russian Central Executive Committee.
An alternative socialist establishment co-existed, thePetrograd Soviet, wielding power through the democratically elected councils of workers and peasants, calledsoviets. The rule of the new authorities only aggravated the crisis in the country instead of resolving it, and eventually, theOctober Revolution, led byBolshevikleaderVladimir Lenin, overthrew the Provisional Government and gave full governing power to the soviets, leading to the creation of the world's firstsocialist state.TheRussian Civil Warbroke out between theanti-communistWhite movementand the Bolsheviks with itsRed Army.In the aftermath of signing theTreaty of Brest-Litovskthat concluded hostilities with theCentral PowersofWorld War I; Bolshevist Russia surrendered most of its western territories, which hosted 34% of its population, 54% of its industries, 32% of its agricultural land, and roughly 90% of its coal mines.
TheAllied powerslaunched an unsuccessfulmilitary interventionin support of anti-communist forces.In the meantime, both the Bolsheviks and White movement carried out campaigns of deportations and executions against each other, known respectively as theRed TerrorandWhite Terror.By the end of the violent civil war, Russia's economy and infrastructure were heavily damaged, and as many as 10 million perished during the war, mostly civilians.Millions becameWhite émigrés,and theRussian famine of 1921–1922claimed up to five million victims.
On 30 December 1922, Lenin and his aidesformedtheSoviet Union, by joining theRussian SFSRinto a single state with theByelorussian,Transcaucasian, andUkrainianrepublics.Eventually internal border changes and annexations during World War II created a union of15 republics; the largest in size and population being the Russian SFSR, which dominated the union politically, culturally, and economically.
FollowingLenin's deathin 1924, atroikawas designated to take charge. EventuallyJoseph Stalin, theGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party, managed to suppress all opposition factions and consolidate power in his hands to become the country's dictator by the 1930s.Leon Trotsky, the main proponent ofworld revolution, was exiled from the Soviet Union in 1929,and Stalin's idea ofSocialism in One Countrybecame the official line.The continued internal struggle in the Bolshevik party culminated in theGreat Purge.
Under Stalin's leadership, the government launched acommand economy,industrialisation of the largely rural country, andcollectivisationofits agriculture. During this period of rapid economic and social change, millions of people were sent topenal labour camps, including many political convicts for their suspected or real opposition to Stalin's rule;and millions weredeported and exiledto remote areas of the Soviet Union.The transitional disorganisation of the country's agriculture, combined with the harsh state policies and a drought,led to theSoviet famine of 1932–1933; which killed 5.7to 8.7 million, 3.3 million of them in the Russian SFSR.The Soviet Union, ultimately, made the costly transformation from a largely agrarian economy to a major industrial powerhouse within a short span of time.
The Soviet Union enteredWorld War IIon 17 September 1939 with itsinvasion of Poland,in accordance with a secret protocol within theMolotov–Ribbentrop PactwithNazi Germany.The Soviet Union laterinvaded Finland,andoccupied and annexed the Baltic states,as well asparts of Romania.On 22 June 1941, Germanyinvaded the Soviet Union,opening theEastern Front, the largest theater of World War II.
Eventually, some 5 millionRed Armytroops were captured by the Nazis;the latter deliberatelystarved to death or otherwise killed3.3 million SovietPOWs, and a vast number of civilians, as the "Hunger Plan" sought to fulfilGeneralplan Ost.Although theWehrmachthad considerable early success, their attack was halted in theBattle of Moscow.Subsequently, the Germans were dealt major defeats first at theBattle of Stalingradin the winter of 1942–1943,and then in theBattle of Kurskin the summer of 1943.Another German failure was theSiege of Leningrad, in which the city was fully blockaded on land between 1941 and 1944 by German and Finnish forces, and suffered starvation and more than a million deaths, but never surrendered.Soviet forces steamrolled through Eastern and Central Europe in 1944–1945 andcaptured Berlinin May 1945.In August 1945, the Red Armyinvaded Manchuriaandousted the Japanesefrom Northeast Asia, contributing to the Allied victory over Japan.
The 1941–1945 period of World War II is known in Russia as theGreat Patriotic War.The Soviet Union, along with the United States, the United Kingdom and China were considered the Big Four of Allied powers in World War II, and later became theFour Policemen, which was the foundation of theUnited Nations Security Council.During the war,Soviet civilian and military death were about 26–27 million,accounting for about half of allWorld War II casualties.TheSoviet economyand infrastructure suffered massive devastation, which caused theSoviet famine of 1946–1947.However, at the expense of a large sacrifice, the Soviet Union emerged as a global superpower.
After World War II, according to thePotsdam Conference, theRed Armyoccupied parts of Eastern and Central Europe, includingEast Germanyand the eastern regions ofAustria.Dependent communist governments were installed in theEastern Blocsatellite states.After becoming the world's secondnuclear power,the Soviet Union established theWarsaw Pactalliance,and entered into a struggle for global dominance, known as theCold War, with the rivalling United States andNATO.
AfterStalin's deathin 1953 and a short period ofcollective rule, the new leaderNikita KhrushchevdenouncedStalinand launched the policy ofde-Stalinization, releasing many political prisoners from theGulaglabour camps.The general easement of repressive policies became known later as theKhrushchev Thaw.At the same time, Cold War tensions reached its peak when the two rivals clashed over the deployment of the United StatesJupiter missilesin Turkey and Sovietmissiles in Cuba.
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificialsatellite,Sputnik 1, thus starting theSpace Age.RussiancosmonautYuri Gagarinbecame the first human to orbit the Earth, aboard theVostok 1crewed spacecraft on12 April 1961.
Following the ousting of Khrushchev in 1964, another period ofcollective ruleensued, untilLeonid Brezhnevbecame the leader. The era of the 1970s and the early 1980s was later designated as theEra of Stagnation. The 1965Kosygin reformaimed for partialdecentralisationof theSoviet economy.In 1979, after acommunist-led revolutionin Afghanistan, Soviet forces invaded the country, ultimately starting theSoviet–Afghan War.In May 1988, theSoviets started to withdraw from Afghanistan, due to international opposition, persistent anti-Soviet guerrilla warfare, and a lack of support by Soviet citizens.
From 1985 onwards, the last Soviet leaderMikhail Gorbachev, who sought to enact liberal reforms in the Soviet system, introduced the policies ofglasnost(openness) andperestroika(restructuring) in an attempt to end theperiod of economic stagnationand todemocratise the government.This, however, led to the rise of strong nationalist and separatist movements across the country.Prior to 1991, the Soviet economy was the world's second-largest, but during its final years, it went into a crisis.
By 1991, economic and political turmoil began to boil over as theBaltic stateschose to secede from the Soviet Union.On 17 March, areferendumwas held, in which the vast majority of participating citizens voted in favour of changing the Soviet Union into arenewed federation.In June 1991,Boris Yeltsinbecame the first directly electedPresidentin Russian history when he waselectedPresident of the Russian SFSR.In August 1991,a coup d'état attemptby members of Gorbachev's government, directed against Gorbachev and aimed at preserving the Soviet Union, instead led to the end of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.On 25 December 1991, following thedissolution of the Soviet Union, along with contemporary Russia, fourteen otherpost-Soviet statesemerged.
The economic and political collapse of the Soviet Union led Russia into a deep and prolonged depression. During and after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, wide-ranging reforms includingprivatisationandmarket and trade liberalisationwere undertaken, including radical changes along the lines of "shock therapy".The privatisation largely shifted control of enterprises from state agencies to individuals with inside connections in the government, which led to the rise ofRussian oligarchs.Many of the newly rich moved billions in cash and assets outside of the country in an enormouscapital flight.The depression of the economy led to the collapse of social services—thebirth rateplummeted while thedeath rateskyrocketed,and millions plunged into poverty;while extreme corruption,as well as criminal gangs and organised crime rose significantly.
In late 1993, tensions between Yeltsin and the Russian parliament culminated ina constitutional crisiswhich ended violently through military force. During the crisis, Yeltsin was backed by Western governments, and over 100 people were killed.
In December, areferendumwas held and approved, which introduced a new constitution, giving the president enormous powers.The 1990s were plagued by armed conflicts in theNorth Caucasus, both local ethnic skirmishes and separatistIslamistinsurrections.From the timeChechenseparatists declared independence in the early 1990s, anintermittent guerrilla warwas fought between the rebel groups and Russian forces.Terrorist attacks against civilianswere carried out by Chechen separatists, claiming the lives of thousands of Russian civilians.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia assumed responsibility for settling the latter's external debts.In 1992, most consumer price controls were eliminated, causing extreme inflation and significantly devaluing the rouble.High budget deficits coupled with increasing capital flight and inability to pay back debts, caused the1998 Russian financial crisis, which resulted in a further GDP decline.
On 31 December 1999, President Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned,handing the post to the recently appointed prime minister and his chosen successor,Vladimir Putin.Putin then won the2000 presidential election,and defeated the Chechen insurgency in theSecond Chechen War.
Putin won asecond presidential termin 2004.High oil pricesand a rise in foreign investment saw theRussian economyand living standards improve significantly.Putin's rule increased stability, while transforming Russia into anauthoritarian state.In 2008, Putin took the post of prime minister, whileDmitry Medvedevwaselected Presidentfor one term, to hold onto power despite legalterm limits;this period has been described as a "tandemocracy".
Following adiplomatic crisiswith neighbouringGeorgia, theRusso-Georgian Wartook place during 1–12 August 2008, resulting in Russia recognising two separatist states in the territories that itoccupies in Georgia.It was the firstEuropean warof the 21st century.
In early 2014, followinga pro-Western revolutionin neighbouring Ukraine, Russiaannexed Crimeaafter adisputed referendumon the status of Crimea was staged underRussian occupation.The annexation generated an insurgency in theDonbasregion of Ukraine, supported by Russian military intervention as part ofan undeclared war against Ukraine.Russian mercenaries and military forces, with the support of local separatist militias, waged awar in eastern Ukraineagainst the new Ukrainian government after the Russian government fostered anti-government andpro-Russian protestsin the region,although most residents had opposed secession from Ukraine.
In a major escalation of the conflict, Russia launched a full-scaleinvasion of Ukraineon 24 February 2022.The invasion marked the largestconventional warin Europe since World War II,and was met withinternational condemnation,as well asexpanded sanctionsagainst Russia.
As a result, Russia was expelled from theCouncil of Europein March,and was suspended from theUnited Nations Human Rights Councilin April.In September, following successful Ukrainian counteroffensives,Putin announced a "partial mobilisation", Russia's first mobilisation sinceOperation Barbarossa.In the end of September, Putin proclaimed theannexation of four partially-occupied Ukrainian regions, the largest annexation in Europe since World War II.Putin and Russian-installed leaders signed treaties of accession, internationally unrecognised and widelydenounced as illegal.As a result of the invasion, hundreds of thousands of people areestimated to have been killed or injured,while Russia has been accused ofnumerous war crimes.The war in Ukraine has further exacerbated Russia'sdemographic crisis.
In June 2023, theWagner Group, a private military contractor fighting for Russia in Ukraine, declared anopen rebellion against the Russian Ministry of Defence, capturingRostov-on-Don, before beginning a march on Moscow. However, after negotiations between Wagner and the Belarusian government, the rebellion was called off.The leader of the rebellion,Yevgeny Prigozhin, was laterkilled in a plane crash.
Russia's vast landmass stretches over the easternmost part of Europe and the northernmost part of Asia.It spans the northernmost edge ofEurasiaand has the world'sfourth-longest coastline, of over 37,653 km (23,396 mi).Russia lies between latitudes41°and82° N, and longitudes19° Eand169° W, extending some 9,000 km (5,600 mi) east to west, and 2,500 to 4,000 km (1,600 to 2,500 mi) north to south.Russia, by landmass, is larger than three continents,and has the same surface area asPluto.
Russia has nine major mountain ranges, and they are found along thesouthernmost regions, which share a significant portion of theCaucasus Mountains(containingMount Elbrus, which at 5,642 m (18,510 ft) is thehighest peakin Russia and Europe);theAltaiandSayan MountainsinSiberia; and in theEast Siberian Mountainsand theKamchatka Peninsulain theRussian Far East(containingKlyuchevskaya Sopka, which at 4,750 m (15,584 ft) is the highestactive volcanoin Eurasia).TheUral Mountains, running north to south through the country's west, are rich in mineral resources, and form thetraditional boundary between Europe and Asia.Thelowest point in Russia and Europe, is situated at the head of the Caspian Sea, where theCaspian Depressionreaches some 29 metres (95.1 ft) below sea level.
Russia, as one of the world's only three countriesbordering three oceans,has links with a great number of seas.Its major islands and archipelagos includeNovaya Zemlya,Franz Josef Land,Severnaya Zemlya, theNew Siberian Islands,Wrangel Island, theKuril Islands(four of which aredisputed with Japan), andSakhalin.TheDiomede Islands, administered by Russia and the United States, are just 3.8 km (2.4 mi) apart;andKunashir Islandof the Kuril Islands is merely 20 km (12.4 mi) fromHokkaido, Japan.
Russia, home of over 100,000 rivers,has one of the world's largest surface water resources, with its lakes containing approximately one-quarter of the world's liquidfresh water.Lake Baikal, the largest and most prominent among Russia's fresh water bodies, is the world's deepest, purest, oldest and most capacious fresh water lake, containing over one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water.LadogaandOnegainnorthwestern Russiaare two of thelargest lakes in Europe.Russia is second only to Brazil bytotal renewable water resources.TheVolgain western Russia, widely regarded as Russia's national river, is thelongest riverin Europe; and forms theVolga Delta, the largestriver deltain the continent.The Siberian rivers ofOb,Yenisey,Lena, andAmurare among the world'slongest rivers.
The size of Russia and the remoteness of many of its areas from the sea result in the dominance of thehumid continental climatethroughout most of the country, except for the tundra and the extreme southwest. Mountain ranges in the south and east obstruct the flow of warm air masses from theIndianand Pacific oceans, while theEuropean Plainspanning its west and north opens it to influence from the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.Most of northwest Russia and Siberia have asubarctic climate, with extremely severe winters in the inner regions of northeast Siberia (mostlySakha, where the NorthernPole of Coldis located with the record low temperature of −71.2 °C or −96.2 °F),and more moderate winters elsewhere. Russia's vast coastline along the Arctic Ocean and theRussian Arctic islandshave apolar climate.
The coastal part ofKrasnodar Kraion the Black Sea, most notablySochi, and some coastal and interior strips of theNorth Caucasuspossess ahumid subtropical climatewith mild and wet winters.In many regions of East Siberia and the Russian Far East, winter is dry compared to summer; while other parts of the country experience more even precipitation across seasons. Winter precipitation in most parts of the country usually falls as snow. The westernmost parts of Kaliningrad Oblast and some parts in the south of Krasnodar Krai and the North Caucasus have anoceanic climate.The region along the Lower Volga and Caspian Sea coast, as well as some southernmost slivers of Siberia, possess asemi-arid climate.
Throughout much of the territory, there are only two distinct seasons, winter and summer; as spring and autumn are usually brief.The coldest month is January (February on the coastline); the warmest is usually July. Great ranges of temperature are typical. In winter, temperatures get colder both from south to north and from west to east. Summers can be quite hot, even in Siberia.Climate change in Russiais causing more frequentwildfires,and thawing the country's large expanse ofpermafrost.
Russia, owing to its gigantic size, has diverse ecosystems, includingpolar deserts,tundra, forest tundra,taiga,mixed and broadleaf forest,forest steppe,steppe, semi-desert, andsubtropics.About half of Russia's territory is forested,and it has the world's largest area of forest,which sequester some of the world's highest amounts ofcarbon dioxide.
Russian biodiversity includes 12,500 species ofvascular plants, 2,200 species ofbryophytes, about 3,000 species oflichens, 7,000–9,000 species ofalgae, and 20,000–25,000 species of fungi. Russianfaunais composed of320 speciesofmammals, over732 speciesof birds, 75 species of reptiles, about 30 species ofamphibians,343 speciesoffreshwater fish(highendemism), approximately 1,500 species ofsaltwater fishes, 9 species ofcyclostomata, and approximately 100–150,000invertebrates(high endemism).Approximately 1,100 rare and endangered plant and animal species are included in theRussian Red Data Book.
Russia's entirely natural ecosystems are conserved in nearly 15,000 specially protected natural territories of various statuses, occupying more than 10% of the country's total area.They include 45biosphere reserves,64national parks, and 101nature reserves.Although in decline, the country still has many ecosystems which are still consideredintact forest; mainly in the northern taiga areas, and the subarctic tundra of Siberia.Russia had aForest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 9.02 in 2019, ranking 10th out of 172 countries; and the first ranked major nation globally.
Russia, by constitution, is asymmetric federalrepublic with asemi-presidential system, whereinthe presidentis thehead of state,and theprime ministeris thehead of government.It is structured as amulti-partyrepresentative democracy, with the federal government composed of three branches:
The president is elected by popular vote for a six-year term and may be elected no more than twice.Ministries of the government are composed of the premier and his deputies, ministers, and selected other individuals; all are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (whereas the appointment of the latter requires the consent of the State Duma).United Russiais thedominantpolitical party in Russia, and has been described as "big tent" and the "party of power".
Under theadministrations of Vladimir Putin, Russia has experienceddemocratic backsliding,and has been described as anauthoritarian dictatorship.Putin's policies are generally referred to asPutinism.According to Kathryn Stoner a succession of terms has developed to encapsulate the essence of “Putinism” in conjunction with the transformations within Putin’s administrationfrom “managed democracy” during the initial phase of his second presidential term (2004–2008), to “competitive authoritarianism” characterized by a “kleptocratic” political economy, ultimately culminating in “personalistic,autocratic,conservative populism” or merely “dictatorship” in the era following 2012.
Russia, by 1993 constitution, is asymmetric (with the possibility of an asymmetric configuration) federation. Unlike the Sovietasymmetric modelof the RSFSR, where only republics were "subjects of the federation", the current constitution raised the status of other regions to the level of republics and made all regions equal with the title "subject of the federation". The regions of Russia have reserved areas of competence, but regions do not have sovereignty, do not have the status of a sovereign state, do not have the right to indicate any sovereignty in their constitutions and do not have the right to secede from the country. The laws of the regions cannot contradict federal laws.
Thefederal subjectshave equal representation—two delegates each—in theFederation Council, theupper houseof the Federal Assembly.They do, however, differ in the degree ofautonomythey enjoy.Thefederal districts of Russiawere established by Putin in 2000 to facilitate central government control of the federal subjects.Originally seven, currently there are eight federal districts, each headed by an envoy appointed by the president.
Russia had the world's fifth-largest diplomatic network in 2019. It maintains diplomatic relations with 190United Nations member states, fourpartially-recognised states, and threeUnited Nations observer states; along with144 embassies.Russia is one of thefive permanent membersof theUnited Nations Security Council. The country is generally considered agreat power,though its status as a modern great power has been questioned following the struggles it has faced while invading Ukraine starting in 2022.Russia is also a formersuperpoweras the leading constituent of the former Soviet Union.Russia is a member of theG20, theOSCE, and theAPEC. Russia also takes a leading role in organisations such as theCIS,theEAEU,theCSTO,theSCO,andBRICS.
Russia maintains close relationswith neighbouring Belarus, which is a part of theUnion State, a supranational confederation of the two states.Serbiahas been ahistorically close allyof Russia, as both countries share a strong mutual cultural, ethnic, and religious affinity.India is the largest customer of Russian military equipment, and the two countries share a strongstrategic and diplomatic relationshipsince the Soviet era.Russia wields influence across thegeopoliticallyimportantSouth Caucasusand Central Asia; and the two regions have been described as Russia's "backyard".
In the 21st century, Russia has pursued an aggressive foreign policy aimed at securing regional dominance and international influence, as well as increasing domestic support for the government. Military intervention in thepost-Soviet statesincludea war with Georgiain 2008 anda war with Ukrainebeginning in 2014. Russia has also sought to increase its influence in theMiddle East, most significantly through military intervention in theSyrian civil war.Cyberwarfareandairspaceviolations, along with electoral interference, have been used to increase perceptions of Russian power.Russia's relations withneighbouring Ukraineand the Western world—especially theUnited States, theEuropean Union, theUnited NationsandNATO—have collapsed; especially since the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the beginning of a full-scale invasion in 2022.Relations between Russia and China have significantlystrengthened bilaterally and economically; due to shared political interests.Turkeyand Russia share a complexstrategic, energy, and defence relationship.Russia maintainscordial relationswith Iran, as it is a strategic and economic ally.Russia has also increasingly pushed to expand its influence across theArctic,Asia-Pacific,Africa,the Middle East,and Latin America.According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, two-thirds of the world's population live in countries such asChinaorIndiathat are neutral or leaning towards Russia.
The Russian Armed Forces are divided into theGround Forces, theNavy, and theAerospace Forces—and there are also two independent arms of service: theStrategic Missile Troopsand theAirborne Troops.As of 2021, the military have around a million active-duty personnel, which is the world'sfifth-largest, and about 2–20 millionreserve personnel.It is mandatory for all male citizens aged 18–27 to bedraftedfor a year of service in the Armed Forces.
Russia is among the fiverecognisednuclear-weapons states, with the world'slargest stockpile of nuclear weapons; over half of the world's nuclear weapons are owned by Russia.Russia possesses the second-largest fleet ofballistic missile submarines,and is one of the only three countries operatingstrategic bombers.Russia maintains the world'sthird-highest military expenditure, spending $109 billion in 2023, corresponding to around 5.9% of its GDP.In 2021 it was the world'ssecond-largest arms exporter, and had a large and entirely indigenousdefence industry, producing most of its own military equipment.
Violations of human rights in Russia have been increasingly reported by leading democracy andhuman rights groups. In particular,Amnesty InternationalandHuman Rights Watchsay that Russia is not democratic and allows few political rights and civil liberties to its citizens.
Since 2004,Freedom Househas ranked Russia as "not free" in itsFreedom in the Worldsurvey.Since 2011, theEconomist Intelligence Unithas ranked Russia as an "authoritarian regime" in itsDemocracy Index, ranking it 144th out of 167 countries in 2023.In regards tomedia freedom, Russia was ranked 155th out of 180 countries inReporters Without Borders'Press Freedom Indexfor 2022.The Russian government has been widely criticised by political dissidents andhuman rights activistsforunfair elections,crackdowns onopposition political parties and protests,persecution of non-governmental organisationsand enforced suppression andkillings of independent journalists,andcensorshipof mass media andinternet.
Muslims, especiallySalafis, have faced persecution in Russia.To quash theinsurgency in the North Caucasus, Russian authorities have been accused of indiscriminate killings,arrests, forced disappearances, and torture of civilians.InDagestan, some Salafis along with facing government harassment based on their appearance, have had their homes blown up in counterinsurgency operations.Chechens andIngushinRussian prisonsreportedly take more abuse than other ethnic groups.During the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has set upfiltration campswhere many Ukrainians are subjected to abuses and forcibly sent to Russia; the camps have been compared tothose used in the Chechen Wars.Political repression also increased following the start of the invasion, withlaws adoptedthat establish punishments for "discrediting" the armed forces.
Russia has introduced several restrictions onLGBT rights, including a 2020 ban on same-sex marriage and the designation of LGBT+ organisations such as theRussian LGBT Networkas "foreign agents".
Russia's political system has been variously described as akleptocracy,anoligarchy,and aplutocracy.It was the lowest rated European country inTransparency International'sCorruption Perceptions Indexfor 2023, ranking 141st out of 180 countries.Russia has a long history of corruption, which is seen as a significant problem.It affects various sectors, including the economy,business,public administration,law enforcement,healthcare,education,and the military.
The primary and fundamental statement of laws in Russia is theConstitution of the Russian Federation. Statutes, like theRussian Civil Codeand theRussian Criminal Code, are the predominant legal sources of Russian law.
Russia has the world's second-largest illegal arms trade market, after the United States, is ranked first in Europe and 32nd globally in the Global Organized Crime Index, and is among the countries with the highest number of people in prison.
Russia has amixedmarket economy, following aturbulent transitionfrom theSoviet planned modelduring the 1990s.Much of the country's economic activity is centred on its abundant and varied natural resources, particularlyoilandnatural gas.Russia is classified by theWorld Bankas ahigh-income country,with the world'sninth-largest economyby nominal GDP and thesixth-largestbyPPP; by some measures, its economy ranks fourth or fifth in the world by PPP.Servicesaccount for roughly 54% of total GDP, followed byindustry(33%), while theagricultural sectoris the smallest, at less than 4% of total GDP.Russia has a labour force of roughly 70 million, which is the world'seighth-largest,and a low officialunemployment rateof 4.1%.
Russia is the world'sthirteenth-largest exporterand the21st-largest importer.It relies heavily on revenues from oil and gas-related taxes and export tariffs, which accounted for 45% of Russia's federal budget revenues in January 2022,and up to 60% of its exports in 2019.Russia has one of thelowest levels of external debtamong major economies,and had thefifth-largestforeign exchange reserves, valued at over $600 billion,although half of that is frozen abroad, and a significant amount is believed to have been spent on the Ukrainian war.Inequality of household income and wealthis among the highest among developed countries,and there are considerable regional disparities in economic development.
After over a decade of post-Soviet rapid economic growth, backed by high oil prices and a surge in foreign exchange reserves and investment,Russia's economy was damaged by a wave ofinternational sanctions imposedin 2014 following theRusso-Ukrainian Warandannexation of Crimea.In the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the country has facedrevamped sanctions and corporate boycotts,becoming the most sanctioned country in the world,in a move described as an "all-out economic and financial war" to isolate the Russian economy from the Western financial system.Due tothe resulting negative impact, the Russian government has stopped publishing a raft of economic data since April 2022.Although Russia has maintained relative economic stability and growth—driven primarily by high military spending, household consumption, and capital investment—economists suggest the sanctions will have a long-term effect on the Russian economy.
Railway transport in Russiais mostly controlled by the state-runRussian Railways. The total length of common-used railway tracks is the world'sthird-longest, exceeding 87,000 km (54,100 mi).As of 2019, Russia has the world'sfifth-largest road network, with over 1.5 million km of roads,although its road density is among the world's lowest, due in part to its vast land area.Russia's inland waterways are the world'slongest, totaling 102,000 km (63,380 mi).Russia has over900 airports,ranking seventh in the world, of which thebusiestisSheremetyevo International Airportin Moscow. Russia's largest port is thePort of NovorossiyskinKrasnodar Kraialong the Black Sea.
Russia was widely describedas an energy superpower.It has the world's largestproven gas reserves,the second-largestcoal reserves,the eighth-largestoil reserves,and the largestoil shale reservesin Europe.Russia is also the world'sleading natural gas exporter,thesecond-largest natural gas producer,and the second-largest oilproducerandexporter.Russia's oil and gas production led to deep economic relationships with theEuropean Union, China, andformer SovietandEastern Bloc states.For example, over the last decade, Russia's share of the total gas demand for the EU (including the United Kingdom) increased from 25% in 2009 to 32% in the weeks before theRussian invasion of Ukrainein February 2022.
In the mid-2000s, the share of the oil and gas sector in GDP was around 20%, and in 2013 it was 20–21% of GDP.The share of oil and gas in Russia's exports (about 50%) and federal budget revenues (about 50%) is large, and the dynamics of Russia's GDP are highly dependent on oil and gas prices,but the share in GDP is much less than 50%. According to the first such comprehensive assessment published by the Russian statistics agency Rosstat in 2021, the maximum total share of the oil and gas sector in Russia's GDP—including extraction, refining, transport, sale of oil and gas, all goods and services used, and all supporting activities—amounts to 19.2% in 2019 and 15.2% in 2020; this is comparable to the share of GDP in Norway and Kazakhstan, and much lower than the share of GDP in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Russia is the world'sfourth-largest electricity producer.Natural gas is by far the largest source of energy, comprising over half of allprimary energyand 42% of electricity consumption.Russia was the first country to develop civilian nuclear power, building the world'sfirst nuclear power plantin 1954;it remains a pioneer in nuclear energy technology and is considered a world leader infast neutron reactors.Russia is the world'sfourth-largest nuclear energy producer, which accounts for one-fourth of total electricity generation.Russian energy policy aims to expand the role of nuclear energy and develop new reactor technology.
Russia ratified theParis Agreementin 2019.The country'sgreenhouse gas emissionsare the world'sfourth-largest.Coal still accounts for over 15% ofprimary energy.Russia is thefifth-largest hydroelectric produceras of 2022,with hydro power contributing almost a fifth of total electricity generation (17%).The use and development of otherrenewable energyresources remains negligible, as Russia is among the few countries without strong governmental or public support for expanding these energy resources.
Russia's agriculture sector contributes about 5% of the country's total GDP, although the sector employs about one-eighth of the total labour force.It has the world'sthird-largest cultivated area, at 1,265,267 square kilometres (488,522 sq mi). However, due to the harshness of its environment, only about 13.1% of its land isagricultural,with an additional 7.4% beingarable.The country's agricultural land is considered part of the "breadbasket" of Europe.More than one-third of the sown area is devoted to fodder crops, and the remaining farmland is usedindustrial crops, vegetables, and fruits.The main product of Russian farming has always been grain, which occupies well over half the cropland.Russia is the world'slargest exporter of wheat,thelargest producer of barleyandbuckwheat, among the largest exporters ofmaizeandsunflower oil, and the leading producer offertiliser.
Various analysts ofclimate change adaptationforesee large opportunities for Russian agriculture during the rest of the 21st century as arability increases in Siberia, which would lead to both internal and external migration to the region.Owing to its large coastline along three oceans and twelve marginal seas, Russiamaintainsthe world'ssixth-largest fishing industry; capturing nearly 5 million tons of fish in 2018.It is home to the world's finest caviar, thebeluga; and produces about one-third of all canned fish, and some one-fourth of the world's total fresh and frozen fish.
Russia spent about 1% of its GDP onresearch and developmentin 2019, with the world'stenth-highest budget.It also ranked tenth worldwide in the number of scientific publications in 2020, with roughly 1.3 million papers.Since 1904,Nobel Prizewere awarded to 26 Soviets and Russians inphysics,chemistry,medicine,economy,literatureandpeace.Russia ranked 60th in theGlobal Innovation Indexin 2024, down from 45th in 2021.
Since the times ofNikolay Lobachevsky, who pioneered thenon-Euclidean geometry, andPafnuty Chebyshev, a prominent tutor; Russianmathematiciansbecame among the world's most influential.Dmitry Mendeleevinvented thePeriodic table, the main framework of modernchemistry.Nine Soviet and Russian mathematicians have been awarded with theFields Medal.Grigori Perelmanwas offered the first ever ClayMillennium Prize ProblemsAward for his final proof of thePoincaré conjecturein 2002, as well as the Fields Medal in 2006.
Alexander Popovwas among theinventors of radio,whileNikolai BasovandAlexander Prokhorovwere co-inventors oflaserandmaser.Oleg Losevmade crucial contributions in the field ofsemiconductor junctions, and discoveredlight-emitting diodes.Vladimir Vernadskyis considered one of the founders ofgeochemistry,biogeochemistry, andradiogeology.Élie Metchnikoffis known for his groundbreaking research inimmunology.Ivan Pavlovis known chiefly for his work inclassical conditioning.Lev Landaumade fundamental contributions to many areas oftheoretical physics.
Nikolai Vavilovwas best known for having identified thecentresof origin ofcultivatedplants.Trofim Lysenkowas known mainly forLysenkoism.Many famous Russian scientists and inventors wereémigrés.Igor Sikorskywas anaviation pioneer.Vladimir Zworykinwas the inventor of theiconoscopeandkinescopetelevision systems.Theodosius Dobzhanskywas the central figure in the field ofevolutionary biologyfor his work in shaping themodern synthesis.George Gamowwas one of the foremost advocates of theBig Bangtheory.
Roscosmosis Russia's national space agency. The country's achievements in the field ofspace technologyandspace explorationcan be traced back toKonstantin Tsiolkovsky, the father of theoreticalastronautics, whose works had inspired leading Soviet rocket engineers, such asSergey Korolyov,Valentin Glushko, and many others who contributed to the success of theSoviet space programmein the early stages of theSpace Raceand beyond.
In 1957, the first Earth-orbiting artificialsatellite,Sputnik 1, was launched. In 1961, the first human trip into space was successfully made byYuri Gagarin. Many other Soviet and Russianspace exploration recordsensued. In 1963,Valentina Tereshkovabecame the first and youngestwoman in space, having flown a solo mission onVostok 6.In 1965,Alexei Leonovbecame the first human to conduct aspacewalk, exiting thespace capsuleduringVoskhod 2.
In 1957,Laika, aSoviet space dog, became the first animal to orbit the Earth, aboardSputnik 2.In 1966,Luna 9became the first spacecraft to achieve a survivable landing on acelestial body, theMoon.In 1968,Zond 5brought the first Earthlings (two tortoises and other life forms) to circumnavigate the Moon.In 1970,Venera 7became the first spacecraft to land on another planet,Venus.In 1971,Mars 3became the first spacecraft to land onMars.During the same period,Lunokhod 1became the firstspace exploration rover,whileSalyut 1became the world's firstspace station.
Russia had 172 active satellites in space in April 2022, the world's third-highest.Between the final flight of theSpace Shuttleprogramme in 2011 and the 2020SpaceX'sfirst crewed mission,Soyuz rocketswere the only launch vehicles capable of transporting astronauts to theISS.Luna 25launched in August 2023, was the first of theLuna-GlobMoon exploration programme.
According to theWorld Tourism Organisation, Russia was the sixteenth-most visited country in the world, and the tenth-most visited country in Europe, in 2018, with over 24.6 million visits.According toFederal Agency for Tourism, the number of inbound trips of foreign citizens to Russia amounted to 24.4 million in 2019.Russia's international tourism receipts in 2018 totaled $11.6 billion.In 2019, travel and tourism accounted for about 4.8% of country's total GDP.In the wake of theCOVID-19 pandemic, tourism declined precipitously in 2020, to just over 6.3 million foreign visitors.
Major tourist routes in Russia include a journey around theGolden Ring of Russia, atheme routeof ancient Russian cities; cruises on large rivers such as the Volga; hikes on mountain ranges such as theCaucasus Mountains,and journeys on the famousTrans-Siberian Railway.Russia's most visited and popular landmarks includeRed Square, thePeterhof Palace, theKazan Kremlin, theTrinity Lavra of St. Sergiusand Lake Baikal.
Moscow, the nation's cosmopolitan capital and historic core, is a bustling modernmegacity; it retains classical and Soviet-era architecture while boasting high art, world class ballet, andmodern skyscrapers.Saint Petersburg, the imperial capital, is famous for its classical architecture, cathedrals, museums and theatres,white nights, crisscrossing rivers and numerous canals.Russia is famed worldwide for its rich museums, such as theState Russian, theState Hermitage, and theTretyakov Gallery; and for theatres such as theBolshoiand theMariinsky. TheMoscow Kremlinand theSaint Basil's Cathedralare among the cultural landmarks of Russia.
Russia had a population of 144.7 million in2021(excluding Crimea and Sevastopol),growing from 142.8 million in2010.It is themost populous countryin Europe andninth most populousin the world.With apopulation densityof 8 inhabitants per square kilometre (21 inhabitants/sq mi), Russia is one of the world'smost sparsely populatedcountries,with the vast majority of its people concentrated within itswestern part.The country is highlyurbanised, with two-thirds of the population living intowns and cities,
Russia's population peaked at over 148 million in 1993, having subsequently declined due to itsdeath rateexceeding itsbirth rate, which some analysts have called ademographic crisis.In 2009, it recorded annual population growth for the first time in fifteen years, and subsequently experienced annual population growth due to decliningdeath rates, increasedbirth rates, and increased immigration.However, these population gains have been reversed since 2020, as excessive deaths from theCOVID-19 pandemicresulted in the largest peacetime decline in its history.Following theRussian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the demographic crisis has deepened,owing to reportedly high military fatalities and renewedemigrationcaused by Western mass-sanctions and boycotts.
In 2022, thetotal fertility rateacross Russia was estimated to be 1.42 children born per woman,which is below thereplacement rateof 2.1 and amongthe lowest in the world.Subsequently, the nation has one of the world'soldest populations, with a median age of 40.3 years.
Russia is amultinational statewith many subnational entities associated with different minorities.There are over193 ethnic groups nationwide. In the 2010 census, roughly 81% of the population were ethnicRussians, and the remaining 19% of the population were ethnic minorities;while over four-fifths of Russia's population was ofEuropean descent—of whom the vast majority wereSlavs,with a substantial minority ofFinno-UgricandGermanic peoples.According to the United Nations, Russia'simmigrant populationis the world's third-largest, numbering over 11.6 million;most of which are frompost-Soviet states, mainly fromCentral Asia.
Russian is theofficialand the predominantly spoken language in Russia.It is the most spokennative languagein Europe, the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, as well as the world's most widely spokenSlavic language.Russian is one of two official languages aboard theInternational Space Station,as well as one of the sixofficial languages of the United Nations.
Russia is amultilingualnation; approximately 100–150 minority languages are spoken across the country.According to theRussian Census of 2010, 137.5 million across the country spoke Russian, 4.3 million spokeTatar, and 1.1 million spokeUkrainian.The constitution gives the country's individual republics the right toestablish their own state languagesin addition to Russian, as well as guarantee its citizens the right to preserve their native language and to create conditions for its study and development.However, various experts have claimed Russia's linguistic diversity is rapidly declining due tomany languages becoming endangered.
Russia is constitutionally asecular statethat officially enshrines freedom of religion.The largest religion isEastern Orthodox Christianity, chiefly represented by theRussian Orthodox Church,which is legally recognised for its "special role" in the country's "history and the formation and development of its spirituality and culture."Christianity,Islam,Judaism, andBuddhismare recognised by Russian law as the "traditional" religions of the country constituting its "historical heritage".
Islam is the second-largest religion in Russia and is traditional among the majority ofpeoples in the North Caucasusand someTurkic peoplesin theVolga-Uralregion.Large populations of Buddhists are found inKalmykia,Buryatia,Zabaykalsky Krai, and they are the vast majority of the population inTuva.Many Russians practise other religions, includingRodnovery(Slavic Neopaganism),Assianism(Scythian Neopaganism),other ethnic Paganisms, and inter-Pagan movements such asRinging Cedars' Anastasianism,various movements ofHinduism,Siberian shamanismandTengrism, variousNeo-Theosophicalmovements such asRoerichism, and other faiths.Some religious minorities have faced oppression and some have been banned in the country;notably, in 2017 theJehovah's Witnesseswere outlawed in Russia, facing persecution ever since, after having been declared an "extremist" and "nontraditional" faith.
In 2012, the research organisation Sreda, in cooperation with theMinistry of Justice, published the Arena Atlas, an adjunct to the 2010 census, enumerating in detail the religious populations and nationalities of Russia, based on a large-sample country-wide survey. The results showed that 47.3% of Russians declared themselves Christians—including 41% Russian Orthodox, 1.5% simply Orthodox or members of non-Russian Orthodox churches, 4.1% unaffiliated Christians, and less than 1%Old Believers,CatholicsorProtestants—25% werebelievers without affiliation to any specific religion, 13% wereatheists, 6.5% were Muslims,1.2% were followers of "traditional religions honouring gods and ancestors" (Rodnovery, other Paganisms,Siberian shamanismandTengrism), 0.5% were Buddhists, 0.1% werereligious Jewsand 0.1% were Hindus.
In 2024, thePublic Opinion Foundation(FOM) found that 61.8% of Russians identify as Orthodox Christians, 2.6% as other Christians, 9.5% as Muslims, 21.2% as not religious, 1.4% follow other religions and 3.5% are unsure about their belief.According to the survey, Orthodoxy is more widespread among women, people aged 60 and older, and people living in the Central and Southern Federal Districts, while Islam is the dominant religion in the North Caucasian Federal District.
Russia has an adultliteracy rateof 100%,and hascompulsory educationfor a duration of 11 years, exclusively for children aged 7 to 17–18.It grantsfree educationto its citizens by constitution.TheMinistry of Education of Russiais responsible for primary and secondary education, as well as vocational education; while theMinistry of Education and Science of Russiais responsible for science and higher education.Regional authorities regulate education within their jurisdictions within the prevailing framework of federal laws. Russia is among the world's most educated countries, and has thesixth-highest proportionoftertiary-level graduatesin terms of percentage of population, at 62.1%.It spent roughly 4.7% of its GDP on education in 2018.
Russia'spre-schooleducation system is highly developed and optional,some four-fifths of children aged 3 to 6 attend day nurseries or kindergartens. Primary school is compulsory for eleven years, starting from age 6 to 7, and leads to a basic general education certificate.An additional two or three years of schooling are required for the secondary-level certificate, and some seven-eighths of Russians continue their education past this level.
Admission to an institute of higher education is selective and highly competitive:first-degree courses usually take five years.The oldest and largestuniversitiesin Russia areMoscow State UniversityandSaint Petersburg State University.There are ten highly prestigiousfederal universitiesacross the country. Russia was the world's fifth-leading destination forinternational studentsin 2019, hosting roughly 300 thousand.
Russia, by constitution, guarantees free,universal health carefor all Russian citizens, through a compulsory state health insurance programme.TheMinistry of Health of the Russian Federationoversees the Russian public healthcare system, and the sector employs more than two million people. Federal regions also have their own departments of health that oversee local administration. A separate private health insurance plan is needed to access private healthcare in Russia.
Russia spent 5.65% of its GDP on healthcare in 2019.Its healthcare expenditure is notably lower than other developed nations.Russia has one of the world's most female-biasedsex ratios, with 0.859 males to every female,due to its high malemortality rate.In 2021, the overalllife expectancy in Russiaat birth was 70.06 years (65.51 years for males and 74.51 years for females),and it had a very lowinfant mortality rate(5 per 1,000live births).
The principal cause of death in Russia are cardiovascular diseases.Obesityis a prevalent health issue in Russia; most adults are overweight or obese.However, Russia's historically highalcohol consumption rateis the biggest health issue in the country,as it remainsone of the world's highest, despite a stark decrease in the last decade.Smokingis another health issue in the country.The country'shigh suicide rate, althoughon the decline,remains a significant social issue.
Russian writersandphilosophershave played an important role in the development ofEuropean literatureand thought.The Russians have also greatly influenced classical music,ballet,sport,painting,andcinema.The nation has also made pioneeringcontributions to science and technologyandspace exploration.
Russia is home to32 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 21 out of which are cultural; while 31 more sites lie on the tentative list.The large globalRussian diasporahas also played a major role in spreading Russian culture throughout the world. Russia's national symbol, thedouble-headed eagle, dates back to the Tsardom period, and is featured inits coat of armsandheraldry.TheRussian BearandMother Russiaare often used asnational personificationsof the country.Matryoshka dollsare considered a cultural icon of Russia.
Russia has eight—public, patriotic, and religious—official holidays.The year starts with New Year's Day on 1 January, soon followed byRussian Orthodox Christmason 7 January; the two are the country's most popular holidays.Defender of the Fatherland Day, dedicated to men, is celebrated on 23 February.International Women's Dayon 8 March, gained momentum in Russia during the Soviet era. The annual celebration of women has become so popular, especially among Russian men, that Moscow's flower vendors often see profits of "15 times" more than other holidays.Spring and Labour Day, originally a Soviet era holiday dedicated to workers, is celebrated on 1 May.
Victory Day, which honours Soviet victory over Nazi Germany and theEnd of World War II in Europe, is celebrated on 9 May as an annuallarge paradein Moscow's Red Square;and marks the famousImmortal Regimentcivil event.Other patriotic holidays includeRussia Dayon 12 June, celebrated to commemorate Russia'sdeclaration of sovereigntyfrom the collapsing Soviet Union;andUnity Dayon 4 November, commemorating the1612 uprisingwhich marked the end of thePolish occupation of Moscow.
There are many popular non-public holidays.Old New Yearis celebrated on 14 January.Maslenitsais an ancient and popular East Slavic folk holiday.Cosmonautics Dayon 12 April, in tribute to the first human trip into space.Two major Christian holidays are Easter andTrinity Sunday.
Early Russian painting isrepresented in iconsand vibrantfrescos. In the early 15th century, the master icon painterAndrei Rublevcreated some of Russia's most treasured religious art.TheRussian Academy of Arts, which was established in 1757, to train Russian artists, brought Western techniques of secular painting to Russia.In the 18th century, academiciansIvan Argunov,Dmitry Levitzky,Vladimir Borovikovskybecame influential.The early 19th century saw many prominent paintings byKarl BriullovandAlexander Ivanov, both of whom were known forRomantichistorical canvases.Ivan Aivazovsky, another Romantic painter, is considered one of the greatest masters ofmarine art.
In the 1860s, a group of criticalrealists(Peredvizhniki), led byIvan Kramskoy,Ilya RepinandVasiliy Perovbroke with the academy, and portrayed the many-sided aspects of social life in paintings.The turn of the 20th century saw the rise ofsymbolism; represented byMikhail VrubelandNicholas Roerich.TheRussian avant-gardeflourished from approximately 1890 to 1930; and globally influential artists from this era wereEl Lissitzky,Kazimir Malevich,Natalia Goncharova,Wassily Kandinsky, andMarc Chagall.
The history ofRussian architecturebegins with early woodcraft buildings of ancient Slavs, and thechurch architecture of Kievan Rus'.Following theChristianization of Kievan Rus', for several centuries it was influenced predominantly byByzantine architecture.Aristotle Fioravantiand other Italian architects broughtRenaissancetrends into Russia.The 16th century saw the development of the uniquetent-like churches; and theonion domedesign, which is a distinctive feature of Russian architecture.In the 17th century, the "fiery style" of ornamentation flourished in Moscow andYaroslavl, gradually paving the way for theNaryshkin baroqueof the 1680s.
After the reforms of Peter the Great, Russia's architecture became influenced by Western European styles. The 18th-century taste forRococoarchitecture led to theworksofBartolomeo Rastrelliand his followers. The most influential Russian architects of the eighteenth century;Vasily Bazhenov,Matvey Kazakov, andIvan Starov, created lasting monuments in Moscow and Saint Petersburg and established a base for the more Russian forms that followed.During the reign of Catherine the Great, Saint Petersburg was transformed into an outdoor museum ofNeoclassical architecture.Under Alexander I,Empire stylebecame thede factoarchitectural style.The second half of the 19th century was dominated by theNeo-ByzantineandRussian Revivalstyle.In the early 20th century,Russian neoclassical revivalbecame a trend.Prevalent styles of the late 20th century wereArt Nouveau,Constructivism,andSocialist Classicism.
Until the 18th century, music in Russia consisted mainly of church music and folk songs and dances.In the 19th century, it was defined by the tension between classical composerMikhail Glinkaalong with other members ofThe Mighty Handful, who were later succeeded by theBelyayev circle,and theRussian Musical Societyled by composersAntonandNikolay Rubinstein.The later tradition ofPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era, was continued into the 20th century bySergei Rachmaninoff. World-renowned composers of the 20th century includeAlexander Scriabin,Alexander Glazunov,Igor Stravinsky,Sergei ProkofievandDmitri Shostakovich, and laterEdison Denisov,Sofia Gubaidulina,Georgy Sviridov,andAlfred Schnittke.
During the Soviet era,popular musicalso produced a number of renowned figures, such as the twoballadeers—Vladimir VysotskyandBulat Okudzhava,and performers such asAlla Pugacheva.Jazz, even with sanctions from Soviet authorities, flourished and evolved into one of the country's most popular musical forms.By the 1980s,rock musicbecame popular across Russia, and produced bands such asAria,Aquarium,DDT,andKino;the latter's leaderViktor Tsoi, was in particular, a gigantic figure.Pop musichas continued to flourish in Russia since the 1960s, with globally famous acts such ast.A.T.u.
Russian literatureis considered to be among the world's most influential and developed.It can be traced to theMiddle Ages, when epics and chronicles inOld East Slavicwere composed.By theAge of Enlightenment, literature had grown in importance, with works fromMikhail Lomonosov,Denis Fonvizin,Gavrila Derzhavin, andNikolay Karamzin.From the early 1830s, during theGolden Age of Russian Poetry, literature underwent an astounding golden age in poetry, prose and drama.Romanticismpermitted a flowering of poetic talent:Vasily Zhukovskyand later his protégéAlexander Pushkincame to the fore.Following Pushkin's footsteps, a new generation of poets were born, includingMikhail Lermontov,Nikolay Nekrasov,Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy,Fyodor TyutchevandAfanasy Fet.
The first great Russian novelist wasNikolai Gogol.Then cameIvan Turgenev, who mastered both short stories and novels.Fyodor DostoevskyandLeo Tolstoysoon became internationally renowned.Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrinwrote prose satire,whileNikolai Leskovis best remembered for his shorter fiction.In the second half of the centuryAnton Chekhovexcelled in short stories and became a leading dramatist.Other important 19th-century developments included the fabulistIvan Krylov,non-fiction writers such as the criticVissarion Belinsky,and playwrights such asAleksandr GriboyedovandAleksandr Ostrovsky.The beginning of the 20th century ranks as theSilver Age of Russian Poetry. This era had poets such asAlexander Blok,Anna Akhmatova,Boris Pasternak, andKonstantin Balmont.It also produced some first-rate novelists and short-story writers, such asAleksandr Kuprin, Nobel Prize winnerIvan Bunin,Leonid Andreyev,Yevgeny Zamyatin,Dmitry MerezhkovskyandAndrei Bely.
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russian literature split into Soviet andwhite émigréparts. In the 1930s,Socialist realismbecame the predominant trend in Russia. Its leading figure wasMaxim Gorky, who laid the foundations of this style.Mikhail Bulgakovwas one of the leading writers of the Soviet era.Nikolay Ostrovsky's novelHow the Steel Was Temperedhas been among the most successful works of Russian literature. Influential émigré writers includeVladimir Nabokov,andIsaac Asimov; who was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers.Some writers dared to oppose Soviet ideology, such as Nobel Prize-winning novelistAleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who wrote about life in the Gulag camps.
Russian philosophyhas been greatly influential.Alexander Herzenis known as one of the fathers ofagrarianpopulism.Mikhail Bakuninis referred to as the father ofanarchism.Peter Kropotkinwas the most important theorist ofanarcho-communism.Mikhail Bakhtin's writings have significantly inspired scholars.Helena Blavatskygained international following as the leading theoretician ofTheosophy, and co-founded theTheosophical Society.Vladimir Lenin, a major revolutionary, developed a variant of communism known asLeninism.Leon Trotsky, on the other hand, foundedTrotskyism.Alexander Zinovievwas a prominent philosopher in the second half of the 20th century.Aleksandr Dugin, known for hisfascistviews, has been regarded as the "guru of geopolitics".
Russian cuisine has been formed by climate, cultural and religious traditions, and the vast geography of the nation; and it shares similarities with the cuisines of its neighbouring countries. Crops ofrye, wheat,barley, andmilletprovide the ingredients for various breads,pancakesand cereals, as well as for many drinks.Bread, of many varieties,is very popular across Russia.Flavourful soups and stews includeshchi,borsch,ukha,solyanka, andokroshka.Smetana(a heavysour cream) andmayonnaiseare often added to soups and salads.Pirozhki,blini,andsyrnikiare native types ofpancakes.Beef Stroganoff,Chicken Kiev,pelmeni,andshashlykare popular meat dishes.Other meat dishes include stuffed cabbage rolls (golubtsy) usually filled with meat.Salads includeOlivier salad,vinegret,anddressed herring.
Russia'snational non-alcoholic drinkiskvass,and the national alcoholic drink isvodka; its production in Russia (and elsewhere) dates back to the 14th century.The country has the world's highest vodka consumption,whilebeeris the most popular alcoholic beverage.Winehas become increasingly popular in Russia in the 21st century.Tea has been popular in Russiafor centuries.
There are 400 news agencies in Russia, among which the largest internationally operating areTASS,RIA Novosti,Sputnik, andInterfax.Televisionis the most popular medium in Russia.Among the 3,000 licensed radio stations nationwide, notable ones includeRadio Rossii,Vesti FM,Echo of Moscow,Radio Mayak, andRusskoye Radio. Of the 16,000 registered newspapers,Argumenty i Fakty,Komsomolskaya Pravda,Rossiyskaya Gazeta,Izvestia, andMoskovskij Komsomoletsare popular. State-runChannel OneandRussia-1are the leading news channels, whileRTis the flagship of Russia's international media operations.Russia has thelargest video gaming marketin Europe, with over 65 million players nationwide.
Russian and laterSoviet cinemawas a hotbed of invention, resulting in world-renowned films such asThe Battleship Potemkin, which was named thegreatest film of all timeat theBrussels World's Fairin 1958.Soviet-era filmmakers, most notablySergei EisensteinandAndrei Tarkovsky, would go on to become among of the world's most innovative and influential directors.Eisenstein was a student ofLev Kuleshov, who developed the groundbreakingSoviet montage theoryof film editing at the world's first film school, theAll-Union Institute of Cinematography.Dziga Vertov's "Kino-Eye" theory had a large effect on the development of documentary filmmaking and cinema realism.Many Soviet socialist realism films were artistically successful, includingChapaev,The Cranes Are Flying, andBallad of a Soldier.
The 1960s and 1970s saw a greater variety of artistic styles in Soviet cinema.The comedies ofEldar RyazanovandLeonid Gaidaiof that time were immensely popular, with many of the catchphrases still in use today.In 1961–68Sergey Bondarchukdirected anOscar-winningfilm adaptationof Leo Tolstoy's epicWar and Peace, which wasthe most expensive filmmade in the Soviet Union.In 1969,Vladimir Motyl'sWhite Sun of the Desertwas released, a very popular film in a genre ofostern; the film is traditionally watched bycosmonautsbefore any trip into space.After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian cinema industry suffered large losses—however, since the late 2000s, it has seen growth once again, and continues to expand.
Footballis the most popular sport in Russia.TheSoviet Union national football teambecame the first European champions by winningEuro 1960,and reached the finals ofEuro 1988.Russian clubsCSKA MoscowandZenit Saint Petersburgwon theUEFA Cupin 2005 and 2008.TheRussian national football teamreached the semi-finals ofEuro 2008.Russia was the host nation for the2017 FIFA Confederations Cup,and the2018 FIFA World Cup.However, Russian teams are currently suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions.
Ice hockeyis very popular in Russia, and theSoviet national ice hockey teamdominated the sport internationally throughout its existence.Bandyis Russia's national sport, and it has historically been the highest-achieving country in the sport.TheRussian national basketball teamwon theEuroBasket 2007,and the Russian basketball clubPBC CSKA Moscowis among the most successful European basketball teams.The annual Formula OneRussian Grand Prixwas held at theSochi Autodromin theSochi Olympic Park, until its termination following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Historically,Russian athleteshave been one of the most successful contenders in theOlympic Games.Russia is the leading nation inrhythmic gymnastics; and Russiansynchronised swimmingis considered to be the world's best.Figure skatingis another popular sport in Russia, especiallypair skatingandice dancing.Russia has produced numerous prominent tennis players.Chessis also a widely popular pastime in the nation, with many of the world's top chess players being Russian for decades.The1980 Summer Olympic Gameswere held in Moscow,and the2014 Winter Olympicsand the2014 Winter Paralympicswere hosted in Sochi.However, Russia has also had 43Olympic medalsstripped from its athletes due todoping violations, which is the most of any country, and nearly a third of the global total.
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