• Russia is the largest country, spanning eleven time zones and sharing borders with fourteen countries.
• Population exceeds 140 million, making it the most populous country in Europe.
• Major cities include Moscow (capital) and Saint Petersburg (cultural center).

• Human settlements date back to the Lower Paleolithic era.
• The East Slavs formed Kievan Rus' in the 9th century, adopting Orthodox Christianity.
• The Tsardom of Russia was established in 1547 after the Grand Principality of Moscow unified Russian lands.
• The Russian Empire was proclaimed in 1721, becoming the third-largest empire in history.
• The Russian Revolution of 1917 abolished the monarchy, leading to the Soviet Union's formation in 1922.

• The Russian Federation emerged in 1991 after the Soviet Union's dissolution.
• Vladimir Putin's regime has shifted towards authoritarianism.
• Russia is engaged in conflicts like the war with Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.

• Considered a great power with significant military and economic resources.
• Major issues include low rankings in democracy, human rights, and high corruption levels.
• Russia holds a permanent UN Security Council seat and boasts 32 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

List of newspapers published in Russia.