{"history":[{"id":"1a07b591-0938-4448-8d09-3a299ac897bc","wordChanged":"**Russians**","newWord":":::summary\n**Group:** Russians \n**Native Name Lang:** ru \n**Population:** c. 135 million \n**Popplace:** Map of the Russian Diaspora in the World.svg · Russia 105,620,179 (2021) \n**Region 1:** Germany \n**Pop 1:** approx. 7,500,000 · (including [Russian Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) and [Russian Germans](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-germans-in-russia-ukraine-and-the-soviet-union)) \n**Region 2:** Ukraine \n**Pop 2:** 7,170,000 (2018) (including [Crimea](https://bliptext.com/articles/crimea)) \n**Region 3:** Kazakhstan \n**Pop 3:** 2,983,317 (2024 government est.) \n**Region 4:** United States \n**Pop 4:** 3,072,756 (2009) · (including Russian Jews and Russian Germans) \n**Region 7:** Uzbekistan \n**Pop 7:** 720,324 (2019) \n**Region 8:** Belarus \n**Pop 8:** 706,992 (2019) \n**Region 9:** Canada \n**Pop 9:** 622,445 (2016) (Russian ancestry, excluding Russian Germans) \n**Region 1 0:** Latvia \n**Pop 1 0:** 454,350 (2022) \n**Region 1 1:** Kyrgyzstan \n**Pop 1 1:** 352,960 (2018) \n**Region 1 3:** Estonia \n**Pop 1 3:** 315,252 (2021) \n**Region 1 4:** Argentina \n**Pop 1 4:** 300,000 (2018) \n**Region 1 5:** Moldova \n**Pop 1 5:** 201,218 (2014) \n**Region 1 6:** France \n**Ref 1 6:** 200,000 to 500,000 \n**Region 1 7:** Turkmenistan \n**Pop 1 7:** 150,000 (2012) \n**Region 1 8:** Lithuania \n**Pop 1 8:** 129,797 (2017) \n**Region 1 9:** Italy \n**Pop 1 9:** 120,459 \n**Region 2 0:** Azerbaijan \n**Pop 2 0:** 119,300 (2009) \n**Region 2 1:** Finland \n**Pop 2 1:** 90,801 (2020) \n**Region 2 2:** Spain \n**Pop 2 2:** 72,234 (2017) \n**Region 2 3:** Australia \n**Pop 2 3:** 67,055 (2006) \n**Region 2 4:** Turkey \n**Pop 2 4:** 50,000–100,000 · (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** Poland \n**Pop 2 5:** 40,000 (2019) \n**Region 2 6:** Romania \n**Pop 2 6:** 36,397 (2002) · ([Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans)) \n**Region 2 7:** Czech Republic \n**Pop 2 7:** 35,759 (2016) \n**Region 2 8:** Tajikistan \n**Pop 2 8:** 35,000 (2010) \n**Region 2 9:** South Korea \n**Pop 2 9:** 30,098 (2016) \n**Region 3 0:** Georgia \n**Pop 3 0:** 26,453 (2014) \n**Region 3 1:** Hungary \n**Pop 3 1:** 21,518 (2016) \n**Region 3 2:** Sweden \n**Pop 3 2:** 20,187 (2016) \n**Region 3 3:** China \n**Pop 3 3:** 15,609 (2000) \n**Region 3 4:** Bulgaria \n**Pop 3 4:** 15,595 (2002) \n**Region 3 5:** Armenia \n**Pop 3 5:** 14,076 (2022) \n**Region 3 6:** Greece \n**Pop 3 6:** 13,635 (2002)< \n**Region 3 7:** Serbia \n**Pop 3 7:** 10,486 (2021) \n**Region 3 8:** Slovakia \n**Pop 3 8:** 8,116 (2021) \n**Region 3 9:** India \n**Pop 3 9:** 6,000–15,000 (2011) \n**Region 4 0:** Denmark \n**Pop 4 0:** 7,686 (2019) \n**Region 4 1:** New Zealand \n**Pop 4 1:** 5,979 (2013)< \n**Langs:** [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) ([Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) Sign Language) \n**Rels:** Predominantly [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) ([Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy)), minority [irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Related:** Other [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) ([Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), [Rusyns](https://bliptext.com/articles/rusyns)) \n**Tablehdr:** [Diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) \n:::\n\n# \nGypsys они крутые [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to [Eastern Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-europe).\nTheir [mother tongue](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-tongue) is [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language), the most spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nThe majority of Russians adhere to [Orthodox Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox-church), ever since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nBy total numbers, they are the largest [Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) and [European nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-groups-in-europe).\nGenetic studies show that Russians are closely related to [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), as well as [Estonians](https://bliptext.com/articles/estonians), [Latvians](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvians), [Lithuanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/lithuanians) and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finns).\nThey were formed from East Slavic tribes, and their cultural ancestry is based in [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe Russian word for the Russians is derived from the [people of Rus' and the territory of Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/names-of-rus-russia-and-ruthenia).\nRussians share many historical and cultural traits with other European peoples, and especially with other East Slavic ethnic groups, specifically [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians) and ДурыХохлы.\nThe vast majority of Russians live in native Russia, but notable minorities are scattered throughout other [post-Soviet states](https://bliptext.com/articles/post-soviet-states) such as [Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-belarus), [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-kazakhstan), [Moldova](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-moldova), [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-ukraine), and the [Baltic states](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-the-baltic-states).\nA large [Russian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) (sometimes including Russian-speaking non-Russians), estimated at 25 million people, has developed all over the world, with notable numbers in the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-americans), [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-germany), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-brazilians), and [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-canadians).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThere are two [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) words which are commonly translated into English as \"[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language)s\".\nOne is русские (russkiye), which in modern Russia most often means \"ethnic Russians\".\nThe other one is россияне (rossiyane), derived from Россия (Rossiya, Russia), which denotes \"people of Russia\", regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation.\nIn daily usage, those terms are often mixed up, and since [Vladimir Putin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-putin) became president, the ethnic term русские has supplanted the non-ethnic term.\nThe name of the Russians derives from the early medieval [Rus' people](https://bliptext.com/articles/rus-people), a group of [Norse](https://bliptext.com/articles/norsemen) merchants and warriors who relocated from across the [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea) and played an important part in the foudation of the first [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavic-peoples) state that later became the [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe idea of a single \"[all-Russian nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/all-russian-nation)\" encompassing the [East Slavic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs), or a \"triune nation\" of three brotherly \"[Great Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-russia)\", \"[Little Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-russia)\" (i.e. [Ukrainian](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians)), and \"[White Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-ruthenia)\" (i.e. [Belarusian](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians)) peoples became the official doctrine of the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) from the beginning of the 19th century onwards.\n\n# History\n\n## Ancient history\nThe ancestors of modern Russians are the [Slavic tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ancient-slavic-peoples), whose original home is thought by some scholars to have been the wooded areas of the [Pinsk Marshes](https://bliptext.com/articles/pinsk-marshes), one of the largest [wetlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/wetland) in Europe.\nThe East Slavs gradually settled Western Russia with [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) included in two waves: one moving from [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev) toward present-day [Suzdal](https://bliptext.com/articles/suzdal) and [Murom](https://bliptext.com/articles/murom) and another from [Polotsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/polotsk) toward [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod) and [Rostov](https://bliptext.com/articles/rostov-yaroslavl-oblast).\nPrior to the Slavic migration in the 6-7th centuries, the Suzdal-Murom and Novgorod-Rostov areas were populated by [Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples), including the [Merya](https://bliptext.com/articles/meryans), the [Muromians](https://bliptext.com/articles/muromians), and the [Meshchera](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshchera).\nFrom the 7th century onwards, the East Slavs slowly assimilated the native Finnic peoples, so that by year 1100, the majority of the population in Western Russia was Slavic-speaking.\nRecent genetic studies confirm the presence of a Finnic substrate in modern Russian population.\nOutside archaeological remains, little is known about the predecessors to Russians in general prior to 859 AD, when the [Primary Chronicle](https://bliptext.com/articles/primary-chronicle) starts its records.\nBy 600 AD, the [Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) are believed to have split linguistically into [southern](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavs), [western](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs), and eastern branches.\n# [East Slavic tribes and peoples, 8th–9th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/East///Slavic///tribes///peoples///8th///9th///century.jpg]\n\n## Medieval history\nThe Rus' state was established in northern Russia in the year 862, which was ruled by the [Varangians](https://bliptext.com/articles/varangians).\n[Staraya Ladoga](https://bliptext.com/articles/staraya-ladoga) and [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/veliky-novgorod) became the first major cities of the new union of immigrants from [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) with the Slavs and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples).\nIn 882, the prince [Oleg](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-the-wise) seized [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev), thereby uniting the northern and southern lands of the [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) under one authority.\nThe state [adopted Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus) from the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 988.\n[Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus) ultimately disintegrated as a state as a result of in-fighting between members of the princely family that ruled it collectively.\nAfter the 13th century, [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) became a political and cultural center.\nMoscow has become a center for the [unification of Russian lands](https://bliptext.com/articles/collector-of-russian-lands).\nBy the end of the 15th century, Moscow united the northeastern and northwestern Russian principalities, overthrew the \"Mongol yoke\" in 1480, and would be transformed into the [Tsardom of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsardom-of-russia) after [Ivan IV](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-the-terrible) was crowned tsar in 1547.\n# [The Baptism of Kievans, by Klavdy Lebedev | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Lebedev///baptism.jpg]\n\n## Modern history\nIn 1721, Tsar [Peter the Great](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-the-great) renamed his state as the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire), hoping to associate it with historical and cultural achievements of ancient Rus' – in contrast to his policies oriented towards Western Europe.\nThe state now extended from the eastern borders of the [Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-lithuanian-commonwealth) to the [Pacific Ocean](https://bliptext.com/articles/pacific-ocean), and became a [great power](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-power); and one of the most powerful states in Europe after the [victory over Napoleon](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-russia).\nPeasant revolts were common, and all were fiercely suppressed.\nThe Emperor [Alexander II](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-ii-of-russia) [abolished](https://bliptext.com/articles/emancipation-reform-of-1861) [Russian serfdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serfdom-in-russia) in 1861, but the peasants fared poorly and revolutionary pressures grew.\nIn the following decades, reform efforts such as the [Stolypin reforms](https://bliptext.com/articles/stolypin-reform) of 1906–1914, the [constitution of 1906](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-constitution-of-1906), and the [State Duma](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-duma-russian-empire) (1906–1917) attempted to open and liberalize the economy and political system, but the Emperors refused to relinquish [autocratic rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsarist-autocracy) and resisted sharing their power.\nA combination of economic breakdown, [war-weariness](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-in-world-war-i), and discontent with the autocratic system of government triggered [revolution in Russia in 1917](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution).\nThe [overthrow of the monarchy](https://bliptext.com/articles/february-revolution) initially brought into office a coalition of liberals and moderate socialists, but their failed policies led to [seizure of power](https://bliptext.com/articles/october-revolution) by the [communist](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) [Bolsheviks](https://bliptext.com/articles/bolsheviks) on 25 October 1917 (7 November [New Style](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-style-and-new-style-dates)).\nIn 1922, Soviet Russia, along with [Soviet Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-ukraine), [Soviet Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-belarus), and the [Transcaucasian SFSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/transcaucasian-sfsr) signed the [Treaty on the Creation of the USSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-on-the-creation-of-the-ussr), officially merging all four republics to form the Soviet Union as a country.\nBetween 1922 and 1991, the history of Russia became essentially the [history of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-soviet-union), effectively an ideologically based state roughly conterminous with the Russian Empire before the 1918 [Treaty of Brest-Litovsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-brest-litovsk-russia-central-powers).\nFrom its first years, government in the Soviet Union based itself on the one-party rule of the Communists, as the Bolsheviks called themselves, beginning in March 1918.\nThe approach to the building of socialism, however, varied over different periods in Soviet history: from the [mixed economy](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-economic-policy) and diverse society and culture of the 1920s through the [command economy and repressions](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinism) of the [Joseph Stalin](https://bliptext.com/articles/joseph-stalin) era to the [\"era of stagnation\"](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-of-stagnation) from the 1960s to the 1980s.\nThe actions of the Soviet government caused the death of millions of citizens in the [famine of 1930–1933](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-famine-of-1930-1933) and the [Great Purge](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-purge).\nThe [attack](https://bliptext.com/articles/operation-barbarossa) by [Nazi Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/nazi-germany) and the ensuing [war](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), together with [the Holocaust](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-holocaust), again claimed [millions of lives](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii-casualties-of-the-soviet-union).\nMillions of Russian civilians and [prisoners of war](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-atrocities-committed-against-soviet-prisoners-of-war) were killed or starved to death during Nazi Germany's genocidal policies called the [Hunger Plan](https://bliptext.com/articles/hunger-plan) and the [Generalplan Ost](https://bliptext.com/articles/generalplan-ost), including one million civilian casualties during the [Siege of Leningrad](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-leningrad).\nAfter the victory of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) and the [Western Allies](https://bliptext.com/articles/allies-of-world-war-ii), the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) became a [superpower](https://bliptext.com/articles/superpower) opposing Western countries during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nBy the mid-1980s, with Soviet economic and political weaknesses becoming acute, Soviet leader [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-gorbachev) embarked on major reforms; these culminated in the [dissolution of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-the-soviet-union), leaving Russia again alone and marking the beginning of the [post-Soviet](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-russia-1991-present) Russian period.\nThe [Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-soviet-federative-socialist-republic) renamed itself the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) and became the [successor state to the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/succession-of-states).\n# [Grandma's Fairy Tales, by Vassily Maximov | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B2///%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B///%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BA%D0%B8///1867.jpg]\n# [Percentage of ethnic Russians by federal subjects of Russia according to the 2010 census: \n{{legend|#ff0000|above 80%|undefined | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Percentage///of///Russians///by///region.svg]\n\n# Geographic distribution\nEthnic Russians historically migrated within the areas of the former [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union), though they were sometimes encouraged to re-settle in borderland areas by the Tsarist and later Soviet government.\nSometimes ethnic Russian communities, such as the [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) who settled in the [Danube delta](https://bliptext.com/articles/danube-delta) or the [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) in [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), emigrated as religious dissidents fleeing the central authority.\nThere are also small Russian communities in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) — including [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) in the Danube delta — Central European nations such as [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) and [Poland](https://bliptext.com/articles/poland), as well as Russians settled in [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china), [Japan](https://bliptext.com/articles/japan), [South Korea](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-korea), [Mexico](https://bliptext.com/articles/mexico), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/brazil), [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) and [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia).\nThese communities identify themselves to varying degrees as Russians, citizens of these countries, or both.\nSignificant numbers of Russians emigrated to [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) and the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states).\n[Brighton Beach, Brooklyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/brighton-beach-brooklyn) and [South Beach, Staten Island](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-beach-staten-island) in [New York City](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-city) are examples of large communities of recent Russian and [Russian-Jewish](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) immigrants.\nOther examples are [Sunny Isles Beach](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunny-isles-beach), a northern suburb of [Miami](https://bliptext.com/articles/miami), and [West Hollywood](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-hollywood) of the [Los Angeles](https://bliptext.com/articles/los-angeles) area.\nAfter the [Russian Revolution](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution-of-1917) in 1917, many Russians who were identified with the [White army](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-army) moved to [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china) — most of them settling in [Harbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/harbin) and [Shanghai](https://bliptext.com/articles/shanghai).\nBy the 1930s, Harbin had 100,000 Russians.\nMany of these Russians moved back to the Soviet Union after [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii).\nToday, a large group in northern China still speak Russian as a second language.\nRussians (eluosizu) are one of the [56 ethnic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/nationalities-of-china) officially recognized by the [People's Republic of China](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-china) (as the Russ); there are approximately 15,600 Russian Chinese living mostly in northern [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang), and also in [Inner Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/inner-mongolia) and [Heilongjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/heilongjiang).\nAccording to the [2021 Russian census](https://bliptext.com/articles/2021-russian-census), the number of ethnic Russians in the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) decreased by nearly 5.43 million, from roughly 111 million people in 2010 to approximately 105.5 million in 2021.\n# [Ethnic Russians in former Soviet Union states in 1994 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Russians///ethnic///94.jpg]\n# [Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery in Paris, the resting place of many eminent Russian émigrés after 1917 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Eglise///notre///dame///de///l///assomption///7.jpg]\n\n# Ethnographic groups\nAmong Russians, a number of [ethnographic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnographic-group) stand out, such as: the [Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), the [Southern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-russian-dialects), the [Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks), the [Goryuns](https://bliptext.com/articles/goryuns), the [Kamchadals](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamchadals), the [Polekhs](https://bliptext.com/articles/polekhs), the [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), the [Russian Chinese](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-china), the [Siberians](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberians) (Siberiaks), [Starozhily](https://bliptext.com/articles/starozhily), some groupings of [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers) ([Kamenschiks](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamenschik), [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans), [Semeiskie](https://bliptext.com/articles/semeiskie)), and others.\nThe main ones are the Northern and Southern Russian groups.\nAt the same time, the proposal of the ethnographer [Dmitry Zelenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-konstantinovich-zelenin) in his major work of 1927 Russian (East Slavic) Ethnography to consider them as separate East Slavic peoples did not find support in scientific circles.\nRussia's Arctic coastline had been explored and settled by [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), Russian settlers from [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-republic).\n[Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks) inhabited sparsely populated areas in the [Don](https://bliptext.com/articles/don-river), [Terek](https://bliptext.com/articles/terek-river), and [Ural](https://bliptext.com/articles/ural-river) river basins, and played an important role in the historical and cultural development of parts of Russia.\n# [Lipovans in the Danube Delta | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%2C///%D0%94%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5///%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8///1962///%D0%B3.JPG]\n\n# Genetics\nIn accordance with the 2008 research results of Russian and Estonian geneticists, two groups of Russians are distinguished: the northern and southern populations.\nCentral and Southern Russians, to which the majority of Russian populations belong, according to [Y chromosome](https://bliptext.com/articles/y-chromosome) R1a, are included in the general \"[East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) European\" [gene cluster](https://bliptext.com/articles/gene-cluster) with the rest [East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) and [West Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs) (Poles, Czechs and Slovaks), as well as the non-Slavic [Hungarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/hungarians) and [Aromanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanians).\nGenetically, East Slavs are quite similar to West Slavs; such genetic similarity is somewhat unusual for genetics with such a wide settlement of the Slavs, especially Russians.\nThe high unity of the [autosomal](https://bliptext.com/articles/autosome) markers of the East Slavic populations and their significant differences from the neighboring Finnic, Turkic and Caucasian peoples were revealed.\n[Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), according to [mtDNA](https://bliptext.com/articles/mitochondrial-dna), Y chromosome and autosomal marker CCR5de132, are included in the \"North European\" gene cluster (the [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), the [Balts](https://bliptext.com/articles/balts), [Germanic](https://bliptext.com/articles/germanic-speaking-europe) and [Baltic Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-finnic-peoples)).\nConsequently, the already existing biologo-genetic studies have made all hypotheses about the mixing of the Russians with non-Slavic ethnic groups or their \"non-Slavism\" obsolete or pseudoscientific.\nAt the same time, the long-standing identification of the Northern Russian and Southern Russian ethnographic groups by ethnologists was confirmed.\nThe previous conclusions of physical anthropologists, historians and linguists (see, in particular, the works of the academician [Valentin Yanin](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-yanin)) about the proximity of the ancient [Novgorod Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-slavs) and their language not to the East, but to west [Baltic Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/lechites).\nAs can be seen from [genetic resources](https://bliptext.com/articles/genetic-resources), the contemporary Northern Russians also are genetically close of all Slavic peoples only to the Poles and similar to the Balts.\nHowever, this does not mean the northern Russians origin from the Balts or the Poles, more likely, that all the peoples of the Nordic gene pool are descendants of [Paleo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-hunter-gatherer) population, which has remained around [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea).\n# [Russian people in Saint-Petersburg. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/%D0%97%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8///%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F///Cosmos///%D0%BD%D0%B0///Geek///Picnic///2018///SPb.jpg]\n\n# Assimilation and immigration\nRussians have sometimes found it useful to emphasize their self-perceived ability to [assimilate](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) other people [to the Russian ethnicity](https://bliptext.com/articles/russification) - and as a historic great power with imperial expansionist tendencies the Russian state has sometimes encouraged Russian-centred monoculturalism.\nSteppe peoples, Tatars, Baltic Germans, Lithuanians and native Siberians in [Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus), [Muscovy](https://bliptext.com/articles/muscovy-disambiguation) or the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) could in theory become \"Russians\" simply by accepting [Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy) as their faith.\nThe attitude of ready inclusivity is summed up in the popular phrase (sometimes attributed to Emperor [Alexander III of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-iii-of-russia)) - Хочешь быть русским - будь им!\n.\n\n# Language\n[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) is the [official](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) and the predominantly spoken language in Russia.\nIt is the most-spoken native language in Europe, the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, as well as the world's most widely spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nRussian is the third-most used language on the [Internet](https://bliptext.com/articles/internet) after [English](https://bliptext.com/articles/english-language) and [Spanish](https://bliptext.com/articles/spanish-language), and is one of two official languages aboard the [International Space Station](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-space-station), as well as one of the six [official languages of the United Nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-languages-of-the-united-nations).\n\n# Culture\n# [Russian artist Boris Kustodiev's Maslenitsa, 1916 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Boris///Kustodiev///-///Shrovetide///-///Google///Art///Project.jpg]\n\n## Literature\n[Russian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-literature) is considered to be among the world's most influential and developed.\nIt can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages), when epics and chronicles in [Old East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-east-slavic) were composed.\nBy the [Age of Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment), literature had grown in importance, with works from [Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov), [Denis Fonvizin](https://bliptext.com/articles/denis-fonvizin), [Gavrila Derzhavin](https://bliptext.com/articles/gavrila-derzhavin), and [Nikolay Karamzin](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-karamzin).\nFrom the early 1830s, during the [Golden Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/golden-age-of-russian-poetry), literature underwent an astounding golden age in poetry, prose and drama.\n[Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) permitted a flowering of poetic talent: [Vasily Zhukovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vasily-zhukovsky) and later his protégé [Alexander Pushkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-pushkin) came to the fore.\nFollowing Pushkin's footsteps, a new generation of poets were born, including [Mikhail Lermontov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lermontov), [Nikolay Nekrasov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-nekrasov), [Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksey-konstantinovich-tolstoy), [Fyodor Tyutchev](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-tyutchev) and [Afanasy Fet](https://bliptext.com/articles/afanasy-fet).\nThe first great Russian novelist was [Nikolai Gogol](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-gogol).\nThen came [Ivan Turgenev](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-turgenev), who mastered both short stories and novels.\n[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-dostoyevsky) and [Leo Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/leo-tolstoy) soon became internationally renowned.\n[Ivan Goncharov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-goncharov) is remembered mainly for his novel [Oblomov](https://bliptext.com/articles/oblomov).\n[Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-saltykov-shchedrin) wrote prose satire, while [Nikolai Leskov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-leskov) is best remembered for his shorter fiction.\nIn the second half of the century [Anton Chekhov](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-chekhov) excelled in short stories and became a leading dramatist.\nOther important 19th-century developments included the fabulist [Ivan Krylov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-krylov), non-fiction writers such as the critic [Vissarion Belinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vissarion-belinsky), and playwrights such as [Aleksandr Griboyedov](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-griboyedov) and [Aleksandr Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-ostrovsky).\nThe beginning of the 20th century ranks as the [Silver Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/silver-age-of-russian-poetry).\nThis era had poets such as [Alexander Blok](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-blok), [Anna Akhmatova](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-akhmatova), [Boris Pasternak](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-pasternak), [Konstantin Balmont](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-balmont), [Marina Tsvetaeva](https://bliptext.com/articles/marina-tsvetaeva), [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-mayakovsky), and [Osip Mandelstam](https://bliptext.com/articles/osip-mandelstam).\nIt also produced some first-rate novelists and short-story writers, such as [Aleksandr Kuprin](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-kuprin), Nobel Prize winner [Ivan Bunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-bunin), [Leonid Andreyev](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-andreyev), [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yevgeny-zamyatin), [Dmitry Merezhkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-merezhkovsky) and [Andrei Bely](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-bely).\nAfter the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russian literature split into Soviet and [white émigré](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-migr) parts.\nIn the 1930s, [Socialist realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-realism) became the predominant trend in Russia.\nIts leading figure was [Maxim Gorky](https://bliptext.com/articles/maxim-gorky), who laid the foundations of this style.\n[Mikhail Bulgakov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bulgakov) was one of the leading writers of the Soviet era.\n[Nikolay Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-ostrovsky)'s novel [How the Steel Was Tempered](https://bliptext.com/articles/how-the-steel-was-tempered) has been among the most successful works of Russian literature.\nInfluential émigré writers include [Vladimir Nabokov](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-nabokov).\nSome writers dared to oppose Soviet ideology, such as Nobel Prize-winning novelist [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn), who wrote about life in the Gulag camps.\n# [Leo Tolstoy's (1828–1910) notable works include the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, often cited as pinnacles of realist fiction. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/L.N.Tolstoy///Prokudin-Gorsky.jpg]\n\n## Philosophy\n[Russian philosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-philosophy) has been greatly influential.\n[Alexander Herzen](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-herzen) is known as one of the fathers of [agrarian](https://bliptext.com/articles/agrarianism) [populism](https://bliptext.com/articles/populism).\n[Mikhail Bakunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakunin) is referred to as the father of [anarchism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarchism).\n[Peter Kropotkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-kropotkin) was the most important theorist of [anarcho-communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarcho-communism).\n[Mikhail Bakhtin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakhtin)'s writings have significantly inspired scholars.\n[Helena Blavatsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/helena-blavatsky) gained international following as the leading theoretician of [Theosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophy), and co-founded the [Theosophical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophical-society).\n[Vladimir Lenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-lenin), a major revolutionary, developed a variant of communism known as [Leninism](https://bliptext.com/articles/leninism).\n[Leon Trotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/leon-trotsky), on the other hand, founded [Trotskyism](https://bliptext.com/articles/trotskyism).\n[Alexander Zinoviev](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-zinoviev) was a prominent philosopher in the second half of the 20th century.\n\n## Science\n[Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov) proposed the [conservation of mass](https://bliptext.com/articles/conservation-of-mass) in [chemical reactions](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemical-reactions), discovered the [atmosphere of Venus](https://bliptext.com/articles/atmosphere-of-venus), and founded modern [geology](https://bliptext.com/articles/geology).\nSince the times of [Nikolay Lobachevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-lobachevsky), who pioneered the [non-Euclidean geometry](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-euclidean-geometry), and a prominent tutor [Pafnuty Chebyshev](https://bliptext.com/articles/pafnuty-chebyshev), Russian [mathematicians](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-russian-mathematicians) became among the world's most influential.\n[Dmitry Mendeleev](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-mendeleev) invented the [Periodic table](https://bliptext.com/articles/periodic-table), the main framework of modern [chemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemistry).\n[Sofya Kovalevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/sofya-kovalevskaya) was a pioneer among [women in mathematics](https://bliptext.com/articles/timeline-of-women-in-mathematics) in the 19th century.\n[Grigori Perelman](https://bliptext.com/articles/grigori-perelman) was offered the first ever Clay [Millennium Prize Problems](https://bliptext.com/articles/millennium-prize-problems) Award for his final proof of the [Poincaré conjecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/poincar-conjecture) in 2002, as well as the Fields Medal in 2006, both of which he declined.\n[Alexander Popov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-stepanovich-popov) was among the [inventors of radio](https://bliptext.com/articles/invention-of-radio), while [Nikolai Basov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-basov) and [Alexander Prokhorov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-prokhorov) were co-inventors of [laser](https://bliptext.com/articles/laser) and [maser](https://bliptext.com/articles/maser).\n[Zhores Alferov](https://bliptext.com/articles/zhores-alferov) contributed significantly to the creation of [modern heterostructure physics and electronics](https://bliptext.com/articles/heterojunction).\n[Oleg Losev](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-losev) made crucial contributions in the field of [semiconductor junctions](https://bliptext.com/articles/semiconductor-junction), and discovered [light-emitting diodes](https://bliptext.com/articles/light-emitting-diode).\n[Vladimir Vernadsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vernadsky) is considered one of the founders of [geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), bio[geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), and [radiogeology](https://bliptext.com/articles/radiometric-dating).\n[Élie Metchnikoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/lie-metchnikoff) is known for his groundbreaking research in [immunology](https://bliptext.com/articles/immunology).\n[Ivan Pavlov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-pavlov) is known chiefly for his work in [classical conditioning](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-conditioning).\n[Lev Landau](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-landau) made fundamental contributions to many areas of [theoretical physics](https://bliptext.com/articles/theoretical-physics).\n[Nikolai Vavilov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-vavilov) was best known for having identified the [centers](https://bliptext.com/articles/vavilov-center) of origin of [cultivated](https://bliptext.com/articles/horticulture) plants.\nMany famous Russian scientists and inventors were [émigrés](https://bliptext.com/articles/migr-s).\n[Igor Sikorsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-sikorsky) was an [aviation pioneer](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-aviation-pioneers).\n[Vladimir Zworykin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-zworykin) was the inventor of the [iconoscope](https://bliptext.com/articles/iconoscope) and [kinescope](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinescope) television systems.\n[Theodosius Dobzhansky](https://bliptext.com/articles/theodosius-dobzhansky) was the central figure in the field of [evolutionary biology](https://bliptext.com/articles/evolutionary-biology) for his work in shaping the [modern synthesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-synthesis-20th-century).\n[George Gamow](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-gamow) was one of the foremost advocates of the [Big Bang](https://bliptext.com/articles/big-bang) theory.\n[Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-tsiolkovsky) is called the father of theoretical [astronautics](https://bliptext.com/articles/astronautics), whose works had inspired leading Soviet rocket engineers, such as [Valentin Glushko](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-glushko), and many others.\nIn 1961, the first human trip into space was successfully made by [Yuri Gagarin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yuri-gagarin).\nIn 1963, [Valentina Tereshkova](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentina-tereshkova) became the first and youngest [woman in space](https://bliptext.com/articles/women-in-space), having flown a solo mission on [Vostok 6](https://bliptext.com/articles/vostok-6).\nIn 1965, [Alexei Leonov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexei-leonov) became the first human to conduct a [spacewalk](https://bliptext.com/articles/spacewalk), exiting the [space capsule](https://bliptext.com/articles/space-capsule) during [Voskhod 2](https://bliptext.com/articles/voskhod-2).\n# [Dmitri Mendeleev (1837–1906) is best known for formulating the Periodic Law and creating a version of the periodic table of elements. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Dmitri///Mendeleev///%281834%E2%80%931907%29.jpg]\n\n## Music\nUntil the 18th century, music in Russia consisted mainly of church music and folk songs and dances.\nIn the 19th century, it was defined by the tension between classical composer [Mikhail Glinka](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-glinka) along with other members of [The Mighty Handful](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-mighty-handful), and the [Russian Musical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-musical-society) led by composers [Anton](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-rubinstein) and [Nikolay Rubinstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-rubinstein).\nThe later tradition of [Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky), one of the greatest composers of the [Romantic era](https://bliptext.com/articles/romantic-music), was continued into the 20th century by [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-rachmaninoff), one of the last great champions of the Romantic style of European classical music.\nWorld-renowned composers of the 20th century include [Alexander Scriabin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-scriabin), [Alexander Glazunov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-glazunov), [Igor Stravinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-stravinsky), [Sergei Prokofiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-prokofiev), [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitri-shostakovich), [Georgy Sviridov](https://bliptext.com/articles/georgy-sviridov) and [Alfred Schnittke](https://bliptext.com/articles/alfred-schnittke).\nSoviet and Russian conservatories have turned out generations of world-renowned soloists.\nAmong the best known are violinists [David Oistrakh](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-oistrakh) and [Gidon Kremer](https://bliptext.com/articles/gidon-kremer), cellist [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/mstislav-rostropovich), pianists [Vladimir Horowitz](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-horowitz), [Sviatoslav Richter](https://bliptext.com/articles/sviatoslav-richter), and [Emil Gilels](https://bliptext.com/articles/emil-gilels), and vocalist [Galina Vishnevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/galina-vishnevskaya).\nDuring the Soviet times, [popular music](https://bliptext.com/articles/popular-music) also produced a number of renowned figures, such as the two [balladeers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bard-soviet-union)—[Vladimir Vysotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vysotsky) and [Bulat Okudzhava](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulat-okudzhava), and performers such as [Alla Pugacheva](https://bliptext.com/articles/alla-pugacheva).\n[Jazz](https://bliptext.com/articles/jazz), even with sanctions from Soviet authorities, flourished and evolved into one of the country's most popular musical forms.\nThe [Ganelin Trio](https://bliptext.com/articles/vyacheslav-ganelin) have been described by critics as the greatest ensemble of free-jazz in [continental Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/continental-europe).\nBy the 1980s, [rock music](https://bliptext.com/articles/rock-music-in-russia) became popular across Russia, and produced bands such as [Aria](https://bliptext.com/articles/aria-band), [Aquarium](https://bliptext.com/articles/aquarium-band), [DDT](https://bliptext.com/articles/ddt-band), and [Kino](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-band).\n[Pop music](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-pop) in Russia has continued to flourish since the 1960s, with globally famous acts such as [t.A.T.u.](https://bliptext.com/articles/t-a-t-u) In the recent times, [Little Big](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-big-band), a [rave](https://bliptext.com/articles/rave-music) band, has gained popularity in Russia and across Europe.\n# [The classic ballet of Swan Lake was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Portr%C3%A4t///des///Komponisten///Pjotr///I.///Tschaikowski///%281840-1893%29.jpg]\n\n## Cinema\nRussian and later [Soviet cinema](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-cinema) was a hotbed of invention, resulting in world-renowned films such as [The Battleship Potemkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-battleship-potemkin).\nSoviet-era filmmakers, most notably [Sergei Eisenstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-eisenstein) and [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-tarkovsky), would go on to become among of the world's most innovative and influential directors.\nEisenstein was a student of [Lev Kuleshov](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-kuleshov), who developed the groundbreaking [Soviet montage theory](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-montage-theory) of film editing at the world's first [film school](https://bliptext.com/articles/film-school), the [All-Union Institute of Cinematography](https://bliptext.com/articles/gerasimov-institute-of-cinematography).\n[Dziga Vertov](https://bliptext.com/articles/dziga-vertov)'s \"[Kino-Eye](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-eye)\" theory had a huge impact on the development of documentary filmmaking and cinema realism.\nMany Soviet socialist realism films were artistically successful, including [Chapaev](https://bliptext.com/articles/chapaev-film), [The Cranes Are Flying](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-cranes-are-flying), and [Ballad of a Soldier](https://bliptext.com/articles/ballad-of-a-soldier).\nThe 1960s and 1970s saw a greater variety of artistic styles in Soviet cinema.\nThe comedies of [Eldar Ryazanov](https://bliptext.com/articles/eldar-ryazanov) and [Leonid Gaidai](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-gaidai) of that time were immensely popular, with many of the catchphrases still in use today.\nIn 1961–68 [Sergey Bondarchuk](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergey-bondarchuk) directed an [Oscar](https://bliptext.com/articles/academy-award)-winning [film adaptation](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace-film-series) of Leo Tolstoy's epic [War and Peace](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace), which was [the most expensive film](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-most-expensive-film) made in the Soviet Union.\nIn 1969, [Vladimir Motyl](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-motyl)'s [White Sun of the Desert](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-sun-of-the-desert) was released, a very popular film in a genre of [ostern](https://bliptext.com/articles/ostern); the film is traditionally watched by [cosmonauts](https://bliptext.com/articles/cosmonauts) before any trip into space.\nIn 2002, [Russian Ark](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-ark) was the first feature film ever to be shot in a single take.\nToday, the Russian cinema industry continues to expand.\n# [Poster of Battleship Potemkin (1925) by Sergei Eisenstein, which was named the greatest film of all time at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Vintage///Potemkin.jpg]\n\n## Architecture\nThe history of [Russian architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-architecture) begins with early woodcraft buildings of ancient Slavs, and the [architecture of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/architecture-of-kievan-rus).\nFollowing the [Christianization of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus), for several centuries it was influenced predominantly by the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire).\n[Aristotle Fioravanti](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristotle-fioravanti) and other Italian architects brought [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) trends into Russia.\nThe 16th century saw the development of the unique [tent-like churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/tent-like-church); and the [onion dome](https://bliptext.com/articles/onion-dome) design, which is a distinctive feature of Russian architecture.\nIn the 17th century, the \"fiery style\" of ornamentation flourished in Moscow and [Yaroslavl](https://bliptext.com/articles/yaroslavl), gradually paving the way for the [Naryshkin baroque](https://bliptext.com/articles/naryshkin-baroque) of the 1690s.\nAfter the reforms of Peter the Great, Russia's architecture became influenced by Western European styles.\nThe 18th-century taste for [Rococo](https://bliptext.com/articles/rococo) architecture led to the splendid works of [Bartolomeo Rastrelli](https://bliptext.com/articles/bartolomeo-rastrelli) and his followers.\nDuring the reign of Catherine the Great, Saint Petersburg was transformed into an outdoor museum of [Neoclassical architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/neoclassical-architecture).\nDuring [Alexander I](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-i-of-russia)'s rule, [Empire style](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-style) became the de facto architectural style, and [Nicholas I](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicholas-i-of-russia) opened the gate of [Eclecticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/eclecticism) to Russia.\nThe second half of the 19th-century was dominated by the [Neo-Byzantine](https://bliptext.com/articles/neo-byzantine-architecture-in-the-russian-empire) and [Russian Revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revival) style.\nIn early 20th-century, [Russian neoclassical revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-neoclassical-revival) became a trend.\nPrevalent styles of the late 20th-century were the [Art Nouveau](https://bliptext.com/articles/art-nouveau-architecture-in-russia), [Constructivism](https://bliptext.com/articles/constructivism-art), and [Socialist Classicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinist-architecture).\n# [Saint Basil's Cathedral, built between 1555 and 1683, in Moscow | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Saint///Basil%27s///Cathedral///in///Moscow.jpg]\n\n## Religion\nRussia's largest religion is [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity-in-russia)—It has the world's [largest Orthodox population](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy-by-country).\nAccording to differing sociological surveys on religious adherence, between 41% to over 80% of the total population of Russia adhere to the [Russian Orthodox Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodox-church).There is no official census of religion in Russia, and estimates are based on surveys only.\nIn August 2012, [ARENA](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that about 46.8% of Russians are Christians (including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational), which is slightly less than an absolute 50%+ majority.\nHowever, later that year the [Levada Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 76% of Russians are Christians, and in June 2013 the [Public Opinion Foundation](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 65% of Russians are Christians.\nThese findings are in line with [Pew](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey, which determined that 73.3% of Russians are Christians, with [VTSIOM](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey (~77% Christian), and with [Ipsos MORI](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2011 survey (69%).\nNon-religious Russians may associate themselves with the Orthodox faith for cultural reasons.\nSome Russian people are [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers): a relatively small [schismatic](https://bliptext.com/articles/schism-religion) group of the Russian Orthodoxy that rejected the liturgical reforms introduced in the 17th century.\nOther schisms from Orthodoxy include [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) which in the 18th century rejected secular government, the Russian Orthodox priests, icons, all church ritual, the Bible as the supreme source of divine revelation and the divinity of Jesus, and later emigrated into Canada.\nAn even earlier sect were [Molokans](https://bliptext.com/articles/molokan) which formed in 1550 and rejected Czar's [divine right to rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/divine-right-of-kings), icons, the [Trinity](https://bliptext.com/articles/trinity) as outlined by the [Nicene Creed](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicene-creed), Orthodox [fasts](https://bliptext.com/articles/fasting), military service, and practices including [water baptism](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptism).\nOther world religions have negligible representation among ethnic Russians.\nThe largest of these groups are [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) with over 100,000 followers from national minorities, and [Baptists](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptists) with over 85,000 Russian adherents.\nOthers are mostly [Pentecostals](https://bliptext.com/articles/pentecostals), [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicals), [Seventh-day Adventists](https://bliptext.com/articles/seventh-day-adventists), [Lutherans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lutherans) and [Jehovah's Witnesses](https://bliptext.com/articles/jehovah-s-witnesses).\nSince the fall of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) various new religious movements have sprung up and gathered a following among ethnic Russians.\nThe most prominent of these are [Rodnovery](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-neopaganism), the revival of the Slavic native religion also common to other [Slavic nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs).\n# [Trinity Sunday in Russia; the Russian Orthodox Church has experienced a great revival since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a country that had a policy of state atheism. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C///%D0%A1%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B9///%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%86%D1%8B.///%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9///%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA.jpg]\n\n## Sports\n[Football](https://bliptext.com/articles/association-football) is the most popular sport in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-national-football-team) became the first European champions by winning [Euro 1960](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1960), and reached the finals of [Euro 1988](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1988).\nIn 1956 and 1988, the Soviet Union won gold at the [Olympic football tournament](https://bliptext.com/articles/football-at-the-summer-olympics).\nRussian clubs [CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pfc-cska-moscow) and [Zenit Saint Petersburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/zenit-saint-petersburg) won the [UEFA Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/uefa-cup) in 2005 and 2008.\nThe [Russian national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-football-team) reached the semi-finals of [Euro 2008](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-2008).\nRussia was the host nation for the [2017 FIFA Confederations Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2017-fifa-confederations-cup), and the [2018 FIFA World Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2018-fifa-world-cup).\n[Ice hockey](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-in-russia) is very popular in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) dominated the sport internationally throughout its existence, and the modern-day [Russia men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) is among the most successful teams in the sport.\n[Bandy](https://bliptext.com/articles/bandy) is Russia's national sport, and it has historically been the highest-achieving country in the sport.\nThe [Russian national basketball team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-basketball-team) won the [EuroBasket 2007](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurobasket-2007), and the Russian basketball club [PBC CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pbc-cska-moscow) is among the most successful European basketball teams.\nThe annual [Formula One](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-one) [Russian Grand Prix](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-grand-prix) is held at the [Sochi Autodrom](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-autodrom) in the [Sochi Olympic Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-olympic-park).\nRussia is the leading nation in [rhythmic gymnastics](https://bliptext.com/articles/rhythmic-gymnastics); and Russian [synchronized swimming](https://bliptext.com/articles/synchronized-swimming) is considered to be the world's best.\n[Figure skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/figure-skating) is another popular sport in Russia, especially [pair skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/pair-skating) and [ice dancing](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-dancing).\nRussia has produced a number of famous [tennis](https://bliptext.com/articles/tennis) players, such as [Maria Sharapova](https://bliptext.com/articles/maria-sharapova) and [Daniil Medvedev](https://bliptext.com/articles/daniil-medvedev).\n[Chess](https://bliptext.com/articles/chess) is also a widely popular pastime in the nation, with many of the world's top chess players being Russian for decades.\nThe [1980 Summer Olympic Games](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-summer-olympic-games) were held in Moscow, and the [2014 Winter Olympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-olympics) and the [2014 Winter Paralympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-paralympics) were hosted in Sochi.\n\n# Citations","wordIndex":1,"createdAt":"2025-03-24T17:36:20.331Z","user":{"id":"bU189tPwqXdLqNb8ONGMON4enGRqjlLL","name":"Aleks Kamienasz","image":"https://cdn.discordapp.com/avatars/760136175738028043/8f0abb5592f6dce704e05c799d3282e1.png"}},{"id":"4d2f10a2-70a4-4408-b928-2525c7ecaf21","wordChanged":"[Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians)","newWord":":::summary\n**Group:** Russians \n**Native Name Lang:** ru \n**Population:** c. 135 million \n**Popplace:** Map of the Russian Diaspora in the World.svg · Russia 105,620,179 (2021) \n**Region 1:** Germany \n**Pop 1:** approx. 7,500,000 · (including [Russian Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) and [Russian Germans](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-germans-in-russia-ukraine-and-the-soviet-union)) \n**Region 2:** Ukraine \n**Pop 2:** 7,170,000 (2018) (including [Crimea](https://bliptext.com/articles/crimea)) \n**Region 3:** Kazakhstan \n**Pop 3:** 2,983,317 (2024 government est.) \n**Region 4:** United States \n**Pop 4:** 3,072,756 (2009) · (including Russian Jews and Russian Germans) \n**Region 7:** Uzbekistan \n**Pop 7:** 720,324 (2019) \n**Region 8:** Belarus \n**Pop 8:** 706,992 (2019) \n**Region 9:** Canada \n**Pop 9:** 622,445 (2016) (Russian ancestry, excluding Russian Germans) \n**Region 1 0:** Latvia \n**Pop 1 0:** 454,350 (2022) \n**Region 1 1:** Kyrgyzstan \n**Pop 1 1:** 352,960 (2018) \n**Region 1 3:** Estonia \n**Pop 1 3:** 315,252 (2021) \n**Region 1 4:** Argentina \n**Pop 1 4:** 300,000 (2018) \n**Region 1 5:** Moldova \n**Pop 1 5:** 201,218 (2014) \n**Region 1 6:** France \n**Ref 1 6:** 200,000 to 500,000 \n**Region 1 7:** Turkmenistan \n**Pop 1 7:** 150,000 (2012) \n**Region 1 8:** Lithuania \n**Pop 1 8:** 129,797 (2017) \n**Region 1 9:** Italy \n**Pop 1 9:** 120,459 \n**Region 2 0:** Azerbaijan \n**Pop 2 0:** 119,300 (2009) \n**Region 2 1:** Finland \n**Pop 2 1:** 90,801 (2020) \n**Region 2 2:** Spain \n**Pop 2 2:** 72,234 (2017) \n**Region 2 3:** Australia \n**Pop 2 3:** 67,055 (2006) \n**Region 2 4:** Turkey \n**Pop 2 4:** 50,000–100,000 · (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** Poland \n**Pop 2 5:** 40,000 (2019) \n**Region 2 6:** Romania \n**Pop 2 6:** 36,397 (2002) · ([Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans)) \n**Region 2 7:** Czech Republic \n**Pop 2 7:** 35,759 (2016) \n**Region 2 8:** Tajikistan \n**Pop 2 8:** 35,000 (2010) \n**Region 2 9:** South Korea \n**Pop 2 9:** 30,098 (2016) \n**Region 3 0:** Georgia \n**Pop 3 0:** 26,453 (2014) \n**Region 3 1:** Hungary \n**Pop 3 1:** 21,518 (2016) \n**Region 3 2:** Sweden \n**Pop 3 2:** 20,187 (2016) \n**Region 3 3:** China \n**Pop 3 3:** 15,609 (2000) \n**Region 3 4:** Bulgaria \n**Pop 3 4:** 15,595 (2002) \n**Region 3 5:** Armenia \n**Pop 3 5:** 14,076 (2022) \n**Region 3 6:** Greece \n**Pop 3 6:** 13,635 (2002)< \n**Region 3 7:** Serbia \n**Pop 3 7:** 10,486 (2021) \n**Region 3 8:** Slovakia \n**Pop 3 8:** 8,116 (2021) \n**Region 3 9:** India \n**Pop 3 9:** 6,000–15,000 (2011) \n**Region 4 0:** Denmark \n**Pop 4 0:** 7,686 (2019) \n**Region 4 1:** New Zealand \n**Pop 4 1:** 5,979 (2013)< \n**Langs:** [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) ([Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) Sign Language) \n**Rels:** Predominantly [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) ([Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy)), minority [irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Related:** Other [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) ([Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), [Rusyns](https://bliptext.com/articles/rusyns)) \n**Tablehdr:** [Diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) \n:::\n\n# \n**Russians** они крутые [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to [Eastern Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-europe).\nTheir [mother tongue](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-tongue) is [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language), the most spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nThe majority of Russians adhere to [Orthodox Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox-church), ever since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nBy total numbers, they are the largest [Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) and [European nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-groups-in-europe).\nGenetic studies show that Russians are closely related to [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), as well as [Estonians](https://bliptext.com/articles/estonians), [Latvians](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvians), [Lithuanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/lithuanians) and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finns).\nThey were formed from East Slavic tribes, and their cultural ancestry is based in [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe Russian word for the Russians is derived from the [people of Rus' and the territory of Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/names-of-rus-russia-and-ruthenia).\nRussians share many historical and cultural traits with other European peoples, and especially with other East Slavic ethnic groups, specifically [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians) and ДурыХохлы.\nThe vast majority of Russians live in native Russia, but notable minorities are scattered throughout other [post-Soviet states](https://bliptext.com/articles/post-soviet-states) such as [Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-belarus), [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-kazakhstan), [Moldova](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-moldova), [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-ukraine), and the [Baltic states](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-the-baltic-states).\nA large [Russian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) (sometimes including Russian-speaking non-Russians), estimated at 25 million people, has developed all over the world, with notable numbers in the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-americans), [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-germany), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-brazilians), and [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-canadians).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThere are two [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) words which are commonly translated into English as \"[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language)s\".\nOne is русские (russkiye), which in modern Russia most often means \"ethnic Russians\".\nThe other one is россияне (rossiyane), derived from Россия (Rossiya, Russia), which denotes \"people of Russia\", regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation.\nIn daily usage, those terms are often mixed up, and since [Vladimir Putin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-putin) became president, the ethnic term русские has supplanted the non-ethnic term.\nThe name of the Russians derives from the early medieval [Rus' people](https://bliptext.com/articles/rus-people), a group of [Norse](https://bliptext.com/articles/norsemen) merchants and warriors who relocated from across the [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea) and played an important part in the foudation of the first [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavic-peoples) state that later became the [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe idea of a single \"[all-Russian nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/all-russian-nation)\" encompassing the [East Slavic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs), or a \"triune nation\" of three brotherly \"[Great Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-russia)\", \"[Little Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-russia)\" (i.e. [Ukrainian](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians)), and \"[White Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-ruthenia)\" (i.e. [Belarusian](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians)) peoples became the official doctrine of the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) from the beginning of the 19th century onwards.\n\n# History\n\n## Ancient history\nThe ancestors of modern Russians are the [Slavic tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ancient-slavic-peoples), whose original home is thought by some scholars to have been the wooded areas of the [Pinsk Marshes](https://bliptext.com/articles/pinsk-marshes), one of the largest [wetlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/wetland) in Europe.\nThe East Slavs gradually settled Western Russia with [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) included in two waves: one moving from [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev) toward present-day [Suzdal](https://bliptext.com/articles/suzdal) and [Murom](https://bliptext.com/articles/murom) and another from [Polotsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/polotsk) toward [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod) and [Rostov](https://bliptext.com/articles/rostov-yaroslavl-oblast).\nPrior to the Slavic migration in the 6-7th centuries, the Suzdal-Murom and Novgorod-Rostov areas were populated by [Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples), including the [Merya](https://bliptext.com/articles/meryans), the [Muromians](https://bliptext.com/articles/muromians), and the [Meshchera](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshchera).\nFrom the 7th century onwards, the East Slavs slowly assimilated the native Finnic peoples, so that by year 1100, the majority of the population in Western Russia was Slavic-speaking.\nRecent genetic studies confirm the presence of a Finnic substrate in modern Russian population.\nOutside archaeological remains, little is known about the predecessors to Russians in general prior to 859 AD, when the [Primary Chronicle](https://bliptext.com/articles/primary-chronicle) starts its records.\nBy 600 AD, the [Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) are believed to have split linguistically into [southern](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavs), [western](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs), and eastern branches.\n# [East Slavic tribes and peoples, 8th–9th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/East///Slavic///tribes///peoples///8th///9th///century.jpg]\n\n## Medieval history\nThe Rus' state was established in northern Russia in the year 862, which was ruled by the [Varangians](https://bliptext.com/articles/varangians).\n[Staraya Ladoga](https://bliptext.com/articles/staraya-ladoga) and [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/veliky-novgorod) became the first major cities of the new union of immigrants from [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) with the Slavs and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples).\nIn 882, the prince [Oleg](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-the-wise) seized [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev), thereby uniting the northern and southern lands of the [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) under one authority.\nThe state [adopted Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus) from the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 988.\n[Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus) ultimately disintegrated as a state as a result of in-fighting between members of the princely family that ruled it collectively.\nAfter the 13th century, [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) became a political and cultural center.\nMoscow has become a center for the [unification of Russian lands](https://bliptext.com/articles/collector-of-russian-lands).\nBy the end of the 15th century, Moscow united the northeastern and northwestern Russian principalities, overthrew the \"Mongol yoke\" in 1480, and would be transformed into the [Tsardom of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsardom-of-russia) after [Ivan IV](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-the-terrible) was crowned tsar in 1547.\n# [The Baptism of Kievans, by Klavdy Lebedev | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Lebedev///baptism.jpg]\n\n## Modern history\nIn 1721, Tsar [Peter the Great](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-the-great) renamed his state as the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire), hoping to associate it with historical and cultural achievements of ancient Rus' – in contrast to his policies oriented towards Western Europe.\nThe state now extended from the eastern borders of the [Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-lithuanian-commonwealth) to the [Pacific Ocean](https://bliptext.com/articles/pacific-ocean), and became a [great power](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-power); and one of the most powerful states in Europe after the [victory over Napoleon](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-russia).\nPeasant revolts were common, and all were fiercely suppressed.\nThe Emperor [Alexander II](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-ii-of-russia) [abolished](https://bliptext.com/articles/emancipation-reform-of-1861) [Russian serfdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serfdom-in-russia) in 1861, but the peasants fared poorly and revolutionary pressures grew.\nIn the following decades, reform efforts such as the [Stolypin reforms](https://bliptext.com/articles/stolypin-reform) of 1906–1914, the [constitution of 1906](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-constitution-of-1906), and the [State Duma](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-duma-russian-empire) (1906–1917) attempted to open and liberalize the economy and political system, but the Emperors refused to relinquish [autocratic rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsarist-autocracy) and resisted sharing their power.\nA combination of economic breakdown, [war-weariness](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-in-world-war-i), and discontent with the autocratic system of government triggered [revolution in Russia in 1917](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution).\nThe [overthrow of the monarchy](https://bliptext.com/articles/february-revolution) initially brought into office a coalition of liberals and moderate socialists, but their failed policies led to [seizure of power](https://bliptext.com/articles/october-revolution) by the [communist](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) [Bolsheviks](https://bliptext.com/articles/bolsheviks) on 25 October 1917 (7 November [New Style](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-style-and-new-style-dates)).\nIn 1922, Soviet Russia, along with [Soviet Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-ukraine), [Soviet Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-belarus), and the [Transcaucasian SFSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/transcaucasian-sfsr) signed the [Treaty on the Creation of the USSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-on-the-creation-of-the-ussr), officially merging all four republics to form the Soviet Union as a country.\nBetween 1922 and 1991, the history of Russia became essentially the [history of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-soviet-union), effectively an ideologically based state roughly conterminous with the Russian Empire before the 1918 [Treaty of Brest-Litovsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-brest-litovsk-russia-central-powers).\nFrom its first years, government in the Soviet Union based itself on the one-party rule of the Communists, as the Bolsheviks called themselves, beginning in March 1918.\nThe approach to the building of socialism, however, varied over different periods in Soviet history: from the [mixed economy](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-economic-policy) and diverse society and culture of the 1920s through the [command economy and repressions](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinism) of the [Joseph Stalin](https://bliptext.com/articles/joseph-stalin) era to the [\"era of stagnation\"](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-of-stagnation) from the 1960s to the 1980s.\nThe actions of the Soviet government caused the death of millions of citizens in the [famine of 1930–1933](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-famine-of-1930-1933) and the [Great Purge](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-purge).\nThe [attack](https://bliptext.com/articles/operation-barbarossa) by [Nazi Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/nazi-germany) and the ensuing [war](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), together with [the Holocaust](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-holocaust), again claimed [millions of lives](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii-casualties-of-the-soviet-union).\nMillions of Russian civilians and [prisoners of war](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-atrocities-committed-against-soviet-prisoners-of-war) were killed or starved to death during Nazi Germany's genocidal policies called the [Hunger Plan](https://bliptext.com/articles/hunger-plan) and the [Generalplan Ost](https://bliptext.com/articles/generalplan-ost), including one million civilian casualties during the [Siege of Leningrad](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-leningrad).\nAfter the victory of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) and the [Western Allies](https://bliptext.com/articles/allies-of-world-war-ii), the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) became a [superpower](https://bliptext.com/articles/superpower) opposing Western countries during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nBy the mid-1980s, with Soviet economic and political weaknesses becoming acute, Soviet leader [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-gorbachev) embarked on major reforms; these culminated in the [dissolution of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-the-soviet-union), leaving Russia again alone and marking the beginning of the [post-Soviet](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-russia-1991-present) Russian period.\nThe [Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-soviet-federative-socialist-republic) renamed itself the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) and became the [successor state to the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/succession-of-states).\n# [Grandma's Fairy Tales, by Vassily Maximov | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B2///%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B///%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BA%D0%B8///1867.jpg]\n# [Percentage of ethnic Russians by federal subjects of Russia according to the 2010 census: \n{{legend|#ff0000|above 80%|undefined | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Percentage///of///Russians///by///region.svg]\n\n# Geographic distribution\nEthnic Russians historically migrated within the areas of the former [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union), though they were sometimes encouraged to re-settle in borderland areas by the Tsarist and later Soviet government.\nSometimes ethnic Russian communities, such as the [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) who settled in the [Danube delta](https://bliptext.com/articles/danube-delta) or the [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) in [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), emigrated as religious dissidents fleeing the central authority.\nThere are also small Russian communities in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) — including [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) in the Danube delta — Central European nations such as [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) and [Poland](https://bliptext.com/articles/poland), as well as Russians settled in [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china), [Japan](https://bliptext.com/articles/japan), [South Korea](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-korea), [Mexico](https://bliptext.com/articles/mexico), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/brazil), [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) and [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia).\nThese communities identify themselves to varying degrees as Russians, citizens of these countries, or both.\nSignificant numbers of Russians emigrated to [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) and the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states).\n[Brighton Beach, Brooklyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/brighton-beach-brooklyn) and [South Beach, Staten Island](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-beach-staten-island) in [New York City](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-city) are examples of large communities of recent Russian and [Russian-Jewish](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) immigrants.\nOther examples are [Sunny Isles Beach](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunny-isles-beach), a northern suburb of [Miami](https://bliptext.com/articles/miami), and [West Hollywood](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-hollywood) of the [Los Angeles](https://bliptext.com/articles/los-angeles) area.\nAfter the [Russian Revolution](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution-of-1917) in 1917, many Russians who were identified with the [White army](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-army) moved to [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china) — most of them settling in [Harbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/harbin) and [Shanghai](https://bliptext.com/articles/shanghai).\nBy the 1930s, Harbin had 100,000 Russians.\nMany of these Russians moved back to the Soviet Union after [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii).\nToday, a large group in northern China still speak Russian as a second language.\nRussians (eluosizu) are one of the [56 ethnic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/nationalities-of-china) officially recognized by the [People's Republic of China](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-china) (as the Russ); there are approximately 15,600 Russian Chinese living mostly in northern [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang), and also in [Inner Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/inner-mongolia) and [Heilongjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/heilongjiang).\nAccording to the [2021 Russian census](https://bliptext.com/articles/2021-russian-census), the number of ethnic Russians in the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) decreased by nearly 5.43 million, from roughly 111 million people in 2010 to approximately 105.5 million in 2021.\n# [Ethnic Russians in former Soviet Union states in 1994 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Russians///ethnic///94.jpg]\n# [Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery in Paris, the resting place of many eminent Russian émigrés after 1917 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Eglise///notre///dame///de///l///assomption///7.jpg]\n\n# Ethnographic groups\nAmong Russians, a number of [ethnographic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnographic-group) stand out, such as: the [Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), the [Southern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-russian-dialects), the [Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks), the [Goryuns](https://bliptext.com/articles/goryuns), the [Kamchadals](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamchadals), the [Polekhs](https://bliptext.com/articles/polekhs), the [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), the [Russian Chinese](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-china), the [Siberians](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberians) (Siberiaks), [Starozhily](https://bliptext.com/articles/starozhily), some groupings of [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers) ([Kamenschiks](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamenschik), [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans), [Semeiskie](https://bliptext.com/articles/semeiskie)), and others.\nThe main ones are the Northern and Southern Russian groups.\nAt the same time, the proposal of the ethnographer [Dmitry Zelenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-konstantinovich-zelenin) in his major work of 1927 Russian (East Slavic) Ethnography to consider them as separate East Slavic peoples did not find support in scientific circles.\nRussia's Arctic coastline had been explored and settled by [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), Russian settlers from [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-republic).\n[Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks) inhabited sparsely populated areas in the [Don](https://bliptext.com/articles/don-river), [Terek](https://bliptext.com/articles/terek-river), and [Ural](https://bliptext.com/articles/ural-river) river basins, and played an important role in the historical and cultural development of parts of Russia.\n# [Lipovans in the Danube Delta | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%2C///%D0%94%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5///%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8///1962///%D0%B3.JPG]\n\n# Genetics\nIn accordance with the 2008 research results of Russian and Estonian geneticists, two groups of Russians are distinguished: the northern and southern populations.\nCentral and Southern Russians, to which the majority of Russian populations belong, according to [Y chromosome](https://bliptext.com/articles/y-chromosome) R1a, are included in the general \"[East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) European\" [gene cluster](https://bliptext.com/articles/gene-cluster) with the rest [East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) and [West Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs) (Poles, Czechs and Slovaks), as well as the non-Slavic [Hungarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/hungarians) and [Aromanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanians).\nGenetically, East Slavs are quite similar to West Slavs; such genetic similarity is somewhat unusual for genetics with such a wide settlement of the Slavs, especially Russians.\nThe high unity of the [autosomal](https://bliptext.com/articles/autosome) markers of the East Slavic populations and their significant differences from the neighboring Finnic, Turkic and Caucasian peoples were revealed.\n[Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), according to [mtDNA](https://bliptext.com/articles/mitochondrial-dna), Y chromosome and autosomal marker CCR5de132, are included in the \"North European\" gene cluster (the [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), the [Balts](https://bliptext.com/articles/balts), [Germanic](https://bliptext.com/articles/germanic-speaking-europe) and [Baltic Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-finnic-peoples)).\nConsequently, the already existing biologo-genetic studies have made all hypotheses about the mixing of the Russians with non-Slavic ethnic groups or their \"non-Slavism\" obsolete or pseudoscientific.\nAt the same time, the long-standing identification of the Northern Russian and Southern Russian ethnographic groups by ethnologists was confirmed.\nThe previous conclusions of physical anthropologists, historians and linguists (see, in particular, the works of the academician [Valentin Yanin](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-yanin)) about the proximity of the ancient [Novgorod Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-slavs) and their language not to the East, but to west [Baltic Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/lechites).\nAs can be seen from [genetic resources](https://bliptext.com/articles/genetic-resources), the contemporary Northern Russians also are genetically close of all Slavic peoples only to the Poles and similar to the Balts.\nHowever, this does not mean the northern Russians origin from the Balts or the Poles, more likely, that all the peoples of the Nordic gene pool are descendants of [Paleo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-hunter-gatherer) population, which has remained around [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea).\n# [Russian people in Saint-Petersburg. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/%D0%97%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8///%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F///Cosmos///%D0%BD%D0%B0///Geek///Picnic///2018///SPb.jpg]\n\n# Assimilation and immigration\nRussians have sometimes found it useful to emphasize their self-perceived ability to [assimilate](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) other people [to the Russian ethnicity](https://bliptext.com/articles/russification) - and as a historic great power with imperial expansionist tendencies the Russian state has sometimes encouraged Russian-centred monoculturalism.\nSteppe peoples, Tatars, Baltic Germans, Lithuanians and native Siberians in [Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus), [Muscovy](https://bliptext.com/articles/muscovy-disambiguation) or the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) could in theory become \"Russians\" simply by accepting [Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy) as their faith.\nThe attitude of ready inclusivity is summed up in the popular phrase (sometimes attributed to Emperor [Alexander III of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-iii-of-russia)) - Хочешь быть русским - будь им!\n.\n\n# Language\n[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) is the [official](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) and the predominantly spoken language in Russia.\nIt is the most-spoken native language in Europe, the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, as well as the world's most widely spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nRussian is the third-most used language on the [Internet](https://bliptext.com/articles/internet) after [English](https://bliptext.com/articles/english-language) and [Spanish](https://bliptext.com/articles/spanish-language), and is one of two official languages aboard the [International Space Station](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-space-station), as well as one of the six [official languages of the United Nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-languages-of-the-united-nations).\n\n# Culture\n# [Russian artist Boris Kustodiev's Maslenitsa, 1916 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Boris///Kustodiev///-///Shrovetide///-///Google///Art///Project.jpg]\n\n## Literature\n[Russian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-literature) is considered to be among the world's most influential and developed.\nIt can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages), when epics and chronicles in [Old East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-east-slavic) were composed.\nBy the [Age of Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment), literature had grown in importance, with works from [Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov), [Denis Fonvizin](https://bliptext.com/articles/denis-fonvizin), [Gavrila Derzhavin](https://bliptext.com/articles/gavrila-derzhavin), and [Nikolay Karamzin](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-karamzin).\nFrom the early 1830s, during the [Golden Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/golden-age-of-russian-poetry), literature underwent an astounding golden age in poetry, prose and drama.\n[Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) permitted a flowering of poetic talent: [Vasily Zhukovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vasily-zhukovsky) and later his protégé [Alexander Pushkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-pushkin) came to the fore.\nFollowing Pushkin's footsteps, a new generation of poets were born, including [Mikhail Lermontov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lermontov), [Nikolay Nekrasov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-nekrasov), [Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksey-konstantinovich-tolstoy), [Fyodor Tyutchev](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-tyutchev) and [Afanasy Fet](https://bliptext.com/articles/afanasy-fet).\nThe first great Russian novelist was [Nikolai Gogol](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-gogol).\nThen came [Ivan Turgenev](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-turgenev), who mastered both short stories and novels.\n[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-dostoyevsky) and [Leo Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/leo-tolstoy) soon became internationally renowned.\n[Ivan Goncharov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-goncharov) is remembered mainly for his novel [Oblomov](https://bliptext.com/articles/oblomov).\n[Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-saltykov-shchedrin) wrote prose satire, while [Nikolai Leskov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-leskov) is best remembered for his shorter fiction.\nIn the second half of the century [Anton Chekhov](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-chekhov) excelled in short stories and became a leading dramatist.\nOther important 19th-century developments included the fabulist [Ivan Krylov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-krylov), non-fiction writers such as the critic [Vissarion Belinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vissarion-belinsky), and playwrights such as [Aleksandr Griboyedov](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-griboyedov) and [Aleksandr Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-ostrovsky).\nThe beginning of the 20th century ranks as the [Silver Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/silver-age-of-russian-poetry).\nThis era had poets such as [Alexander Blok](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-blok), [Anna Akhmatova](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-akhmatova), [Boris Pasternak](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-pasternak), [Konstantin Balmont](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-balmont), [Marina Tsvetaeva](https://bliptext.com/articles/marina-tsvetaeva), [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-mayakovsky), and [Osip Mandelstam](https://bliptext.com/articles/osip-mandelstam).\nIt also produced some first-rate novelists and short-story writers, such as [Aleksandr Kuprin](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-kuprin), Nobel Prize winner [Ivan Bunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-bunin), [Leonid Andreyev](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-andreyev), [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yevgeny-zamyatin), [Dmitry Merezhkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-merezhkovsky) and [Andrei Bely](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-bely).\nAfter the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russian literature split into Soviet and [white émigré](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-migr) parts.\nIn the 1930s, [Socialist realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-realism) became the predominant trend in Russia.\nIts leading figure was [Maxim Gorky](https://bliptext.com/articles/maxim-gorky), who laid the foundations of this style.\n[Mikhail Bulgakov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bulgakov) was one of the leading writers of the Soviet era.\n[Nikolay Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-ostrovsky)'s novel [How the Steel Was Tempered](https://bliptext.com/articles/how-the-steel-was-tempered) has been among the most successful works of Russian literature.\nInfluential émigré writers include [Vladimir Nabokov](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-nabokov).\nSome writers dared to oppose Soviet ideology, such as Nobel Prize-winning novelist [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn), who wrote about life in the Gulag camps.\n# [Leo Tolstoy's (1828–1910) notable works include the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, often cited as pinnacles of realist fiction. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/L.N.Tolstoy///Prokudin-Gorsky.jpg]\n\n## Philosophy\n[Russian philosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-philosophy) has been greatly influential.\n[Alexander Herzen](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-herzen) is known as one of the fathers of [agrarian](https://bliptext.com/articles/agrarianism) [populism](https://bliptext.com/articles/populism).\n[Mikhail Bakunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakunin) is referred to as the father of [anarchism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarchism).\n[Peter Kropotkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-kropotkin) was the most important theorist of [anarcho-communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarcho-communism).\n[Mikhail Bakhtin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakhtin)'s writings have significantly inspired scholars.\n[Helena Blavatsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/helena-blavatsky) gained international following as the leading theoretician of [Theosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophy), and co-founded the [Theosophical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophical-society).\n[Vladimir Lenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-lenin), a major revolutionary, developed a variant of communism known as [Leninism](https://bliptext.com/articles/leninism).\n[Leon Trotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/leon-trotsky), on the other hand, founded [Trotskyism](https://bliptext.com/articles/trotskyism).\n[Alexander Zinoviev](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-zinoviev) was a prominent philosopher in the second half of the 20th century.\n\n## Science\n[Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov) proposed the [conservation of mass](https://bliptext.com/articles/conservation-of-mass) in [chemical reactions](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemical-reactions), discovered the [atmosphere of Venus](https://bliptext.com/articles/atmosphere-of-venus), and founded modern [geology](https://bliptext.com/articles/geology).\nSince the times of [Nikolay Lobachevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-lobachevsky), who pioneered the [non-Euclidean geometry](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-euclidean-geometry), and a prominent tutor [Pafnuty Chebyshev](https://bliptext.com/articles/pafnuty-chebyshev), Russian [mathematicians](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-russian-mathematicians) became among the world's most influential.\n[Dmitry Mendeleev](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-mendeleev) invented the [Periodic table](https://bliptext.com/articles/periodic-table), the main framework of modern [chemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemistry).\n[Sofya Kovalevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/sofya-kovalevskaya) was a pioneer among [women in mathematics](https://bliptext.com/articles/timeline-of-women-in-mathematics) in the 19th century.\n[Grigori Perelman](https://bliptext.com/articles/grigori-perelman) was offered the first ever Clay [Millennium Prize Problems](https://bliptext.com/articles/millennium-prize-problems) Award for his final proof of the [Poincaré conjecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/poincar-conjecture) in 2002, as well as the Fields Medal in 2006, both of which he declined.\n[Alexander Popov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-stepanovich-popov) was among the [inventors of radio](https://bliptext.com/articles/invention-of-radio), while [Nikolai Basov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-basov) and [Alexander Prokhorov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-prokhorov) were co-inventors of [laser](https://bliptext.com/articles/laser) and [maser](https://bliptext.com/articles/maser).\n[Zhores Alferov](https://bliptext.com/articles/zhores-alferov) contributed significantly to the creation of [modern heterostructure physics and electronics](https://bliptext.com/articles/heterojunction).\n[Oleg Losev](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-losev) made crucial contributions in the field of [semiconductor junctions](https://bliptext.com/articles/semiconductor-junction), and discovered [light-emitting diodes](https://bliptext.com/articles/light-emitting-diode).\n[Vladimir Vernadsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vernadsky) is considered one of the founders of [geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), bio[geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), and [radiogeology](https://bliptext.com/articles/radiometric-dating).\n[Élie Metchnikoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/lie-metchnikoff) is known for his groundbreaking research in [immunology](https://bliptext.com/articles/immunology).\n[Ivan Pavlov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-pavlov) is known chiefly for his work in [classical conditioning](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-conditioning).\n[Lev Landau](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-landau) made fundamental contributions to many areas of [theoretical physics](https://bliptext.com/articles/theoretical-physics).\n[Nikolai Vavilov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-vavilov) was best known for having identified the [centers](https://bliptext.com/articles/vavilov-center) of origin of [cultivated](https://bliptext.com/articles/horticulture) plants.\nMany famous Russian scientists and inventors were [émigrés](https://bliptext.com/articles/migr-s).\n[Igor Sikorsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-sikorsky) was an [aviation pioneer](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-aviation-pioneers).\n[Vladimir Zworykin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-zworykin) was the inventor of the [iconoscope](https://bliptext.com/articles/iconoscope) and [kinescope](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinescope) television systems.\n[Theodosius Dobzhansky](https://bliptext.com/articles/theodosius-dobzhansky) was the central figure in the field of [evolutionary biology](https://bliptext.com/articles/evolutionary-biology) for his work in shaping the [modern synthesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-synthesis-20th-century).\n[George Gamow](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-gamow) was one of the foremost advocates of the [Big Bang](https://bliptext.com/articles/big-bang) theory.\n[Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-tsiolkovsky) is called the father of theoretical [astronautics](https://bliptext.com/articles/astronautics), whose works had inspired leading Soviet rocket engineers, such as [Valentin Glushko](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-glushko), and many others.\nIn 1961, the first human trip into space was successfully made by [Yuri Gagarin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yuri-gagarin).\nIn 1963, [Valentina Tereshkova](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentina-tereshkova) became the first and youngest [woman in space](https://bliptext.com/articles/women-in-space), having flown a solo mission on [Vostok 6](https://bliptext.com/articles/vostok-6).\nIn 1965, [Alexei Leonov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexei-leonov) became the first human to conduct a [spacewalk](https://bliptext.com/articles/spacewalk), exiting the [space capsule](https://bliptext.com/articles/space-capsule) during [Voskhod 2](https://bliptext.com/articles/voskhod-2).\n# [Dmitri Mendeleev (1837–1906) is best known for formulating the Periodic Law and creating a version of the periodic table of elements. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Dmitri///Mendeleev///%281834%E2%80%931907%29.jpg]\n\n## Music\nUntil the 18th century, music in Russia consisted mainly of church music and folk songs and dances.\nIn the 19th century, it was defined by the tension between classical composer [Mikhail Glinka](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-glinka) along with other members of [The Mighty Handful](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-mighty-handful), and the [Russian Musical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-musical-society) led by composers [Anton](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-rubinstein) and [Nikolay Rubinstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-rubinstein).\nThe later tradition of [Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky), one of the greatest composers of the [Romantic era](https://bliptext.com/articles/romantic-music), was continued into the 20th century by [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-rachmaninoff), one of the last great champions of the Romantic style of European classical music.\nWorld-renowned composers of the 20th century include [Alexander Scriabin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-scriabin), [Alexander Glazunov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-glazunov), [Igor Stravinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-stravinsky), [Sergei Prokofiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-prokofiev), [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitri-shostakovich), [Georgy Sviridov](https://bliptext.com/articles/georgy-sviridov) and [Alfred Schnittke](https://bliptext.com/articles/alfred-schnittke).\nSoviet and Russian conservatories have turned out generations of world-renowned soloists.\nAmong the best known are violinists [David Oistrakh](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-oistrakh) and [Gidon Kremer](https://bliptext.com/articles/gidon-kremer), cellist [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/mstislav-rostropovich), pianists [Vladimir Horowitz](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-horowitz), [Sviatoslav Richter](https://bliptext.com/articles/sviatoslav-richter), and [Emil Gilels](https://bliptext.com/articles/emil-gilels), and vocalist [Galina Vishnevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/galina-vishnevskaya).\nDuring the Soviet times, [popular music](https://bliptext.com/articles/popular-music) also produced a number of renowned figures, such as the two [balladeers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bard-soviet-union)—[Vladimir Vysotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vysotsky) and [Bulat Okudzhava](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulat-okudzhava), and performers such as [Alla Pugacheva](https://bliptext.com/articles/alla-pugacheva).\n[Jazz](https://bliptext.com/articles/jazz), even with sanctions from Soviet authorities, flourished and evolved into one of the country's most popular musical forms.\nThe [Ganelin Trio](https://bliptext.com/articles/vyacheslav-ganelin) have been described by critics as the greatest ensemble of free-jazz in [continental Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/continental-europe).\nBy the 1980s, [rock music](https://bliptext.com/articles/rock-music-in-russia) became popular across Russia, and produced bands such as [Aria](https://bliptext.com/articles/aria-band), [Aquarium](https://bliptext.com/articles/aquarium-band), [DDT](https://bliptext.com/articles/ddt-band), and [Kino](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-band).\n[Pop music](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-pop) in Russia has continued to flourish since the 1960s, with globally famous acts such as [t.A.T.u.](https://bliptext.com/articles/t-a-t-u) In the recent times, [Little Big](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-big-band), a [rave](https://bliptext.com/articles/rave-music) band, has gained popularity in Russia and across Europe.\n# [The classic ballet of Swan Lake was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Portr%C3%A4t///des///Komponisten///Pjotr///I.///Tschaikowski///%281840-1893%29.jpg]\n\n## Cinema\nRussian and later [Soviet cinema](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-cinema) was a hotbed of invention, resulting in world-renowned films such as [The Battleship Potemkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-battleship-potemkin).\nSoviet-era filmmakers, most notably [Sergei Eisenstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-eisenstein) and [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-tarkovsky), would go on to become among of the world's most innovative and influential directors.\nEisenstein was a student of [Lev Kuleshov](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-kuleshov), who developed the groundbreaking [Soviet montage theory](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-montage-theory) of film editing at the world's first [film school](https://bliptext.com/articles/film-school), the [All-Union Institute of Cinematography](https://bliptext.com/articles/gerasimov-institute-of-cinematography).\n[Dziga Vertov](https://bliptext.com/articles/dziga-vertov)'s \"[Kino-Eye](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-eye)\" theory had a huge impact on the development of documentary filmmaking and cinema realism.\nMany Soviet socialist realism films were artistically successful, including [Chapaev](https://bliptext.com/articles/chapaev-film), [The Cranes Are Flying](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-cranes-are-flying), and [Ballad of a Soldier](https://bliptext.com/articles/ballad-of-a-soldier).\nThe 1960s and 1970s saw a greater variety of artistic styles in Soviet cinema.\nThe comedies of [Eldar Ryazanov](https://bliptext.com/articles/eldar-ryazanov) and [Leonid Gaidai](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-gaidai) of that time were immensely popular, with many of the catchphrases still in use today.\nIn 1961–68 [Sergey Bondarchuk](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergey-bondarchuk) directed an [Oscar](https://bliptext.com/articles/academy-award)-winning [film adaptation](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace-film-series) of Leo Tolstoy's epic [War and Peace](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace), which was [the most expensive film](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-most-expensive-film) made in the Soviet Union.\nIn 1969, [Vladimir Motyl](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-motyl)'s [White Sun of the Desert](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-sun-of-the-desert) was released, a very popular film in a genre of [ostern](https://bliptext.com/articles/ostern); the film is traditionally watched by [cosmonauts](https://bliptext.com/articles/cosmonauts) before any trip into space.\nIn 2002, [Russian Ark](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-ark) was the first feature film ever to be shot in a single take.\nToday, the Russian cinema industry continues to expand.\n# [Poster of Battleship Potemkin (1925) by Sergei Eisenstein, which was named the greatest film of all time at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Vintage///Potemkin.jpg]\n\n## Architecture\nThe history of [Russian architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-architecture) begins with early woodcraft buildings of ancient Slavs, and the [architecture of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/architecture-of-kievan-rus).\nFollowing the [Christianization of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus), for several centuries it was influenced predominantly by the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire).\n[Aristotle Fioravanti](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristotle-fioravanti) and other Italian architects brought [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) trends into Russia.\nThe 16th century saw the development of the unique [tent-like churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/tent-like-church); and the [onion dome](https://bliptext.com/articles/onion-dome) design, which is a distinctive feature of Russian architecture.\nIn the 17th century, the \"fiery style\" of ornamentation flourished in Moscow and [Yaroslavl](https://bliptext.com/articles/yaroslavl), gradually paving the way for the [Naryshkin baroque](https://bliptext.com/articles/naryshkin-baroque) of the 1690s.\nAfter the reforms of Peter the Great, Russia's architecture became influenced by Western European styles.\nThe 18th-century taste for [Rococo](https://bliptext.com/articles/rococo) architecture led to the splendid works of [Bartolomeo Rastrelli](https://bliptext.com/articles/bartolomeo-rastrelli) and his followers.\nDuring the reign of Catherine the Great, Saint Petersburg was transformed into an outdoor museum of [Neoclassical architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/neoclassical-architecture).\nDuring [Alexander I](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-i-of-russia)'s rule, [Empire style](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-style) became the de facto architectural style, and [Nicholas I](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicholas-i-of-russia) opened the gate of [Eclecticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/eclecticism) to Russia.\nThe second half of the 19th-century was dominated by the [Neo-Byzantine](https://bliptext.com/articles/neo-byzantine-architecture-in-the-russian-empire) and [Russian Revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revival) style.\nIn early 20th-century, [Russian neoclassical revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-neoclassical-revival) became a trend.\nPrevalent styles of the late 20th-century were the [Art Nouveau](https://bliptext.com/articles/art-nouveau-architecture-in-russia), [Constructivism](https://bliptext.com/articles/constructivism-art), and [Socialist Classicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinist-architecture).\n# [Saint Basil's Cathedral, built between 1555 and 1683, in Moscow | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Saint///Basil%27s///Cathedral///in///Moscow.jpg]\n\n## Religion\nRussia's largest religion is [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity-in-russia)—It has the world's [largest Orthodox population](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy-by-country).\nAccording to differing sociological surveys on religious adherence, between 41% to over 80% of the total population of Russia adhere to the [Russian Orthodox Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodox-church).There is no official census of religion in Russia, and estimates are based on surveys only.\nIn August 2012, [ARENA](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that about 46.8% of Russians are Christians (including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational), which is slightly less than an absolute 50%+ majority.\nHowever, later that year the [Levada Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 76% of Russians are Christians, and in June 2013 the [Public Opinion Foundation](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 65% of Russians are Christians.\nThese findings are in line with [Pew](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey, which determined that 73.3% of Russians are Christians, with [VTSIOM](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey (~77% Christian), and with [Ipsos MORI](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2011 survey (69%).\nNon-religious Russians may associate themselves with the Orthodox faith for cultural reasons.\nSome Russian people are [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers): a relatively small [schismatic](https://bliptext.com/articles/schism-religion) group of the Russian Orthodoxy that rejected the liturgical reforms introduced in the 17th century.\nOther schisms from Orthodoxy include [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) which in the 18th century rejected secular government, the Russian Orthodox priests, icons, all church ritual, the Bible as the supreme source of divine revelation and the divinity of Jesus, and later emigrated into Canada.\nAn even earlier sect were [Molokans](https://bliptext.com/articles/molokan) which formed in 1550 and rejected Czar's [divine right to rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/divine-right-of-kings), icons, the [Trinity](https://bliptext.com/articles/trinity) as outlined by the [Nicene Creed](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicene-creed), Orthodox [fasts](https://bliptext.com/articles/fasting), military service, and practices including [water baptism](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptism).\nOther world religions have negligible representation among ethnic Russians.\nThe largest of these groups are [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) with over 100,000 followers from national minorities, and [Baptists](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptists) with over 85,000 Russian adherents.\nOthers are mostly [Pentecostals](https://bliptext.com/articles/pentecostals), [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicals), [Seventh-day Adventists](https://bliptext.com/articles/seventh-day-adventists), [Lutherans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lutherans) and [Jehovah's Witnesses](https://bliptext.com/articles/jehovah-s-witnesses).\nSince the fall of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) various new religious movements have sprung up and gathered a following among ethnic Russians.\nThe most prominent of these are [Rodnovery](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-neopaganism), the revival of the Slavic native religion also common to other [Slavic nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs).\n# [Trinity Sunday in Russia; the Russian Orthodox Church has experienced a great revival since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a country that had a policy of state atheism. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C///%D0%A1%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B9///%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%86%D1%8B.///%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9///%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA.jpg]\n\n## Sports\n[Football](https://bliptext.com/articles/association-football) is the most popular sport in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-national-football-team) became the first European champions by winning [Euro 1960](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1960), and reached the finals of [Euro 1988](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1988).\nIn 1956 and 1988, the Soviet Union won gold at the [Olympic football tournament](https://bliptext.com/articles/football-at-the-summer-olympics).\nRussian clubs [CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pfc-cska-moscow) and [Zenit Saint Petersburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/zenit-saint-petersburg) won the [UEFA Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/uefa-cup) in 2005 and 2008.\nThe [Russian national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-football-team) reached the semi-finals of [Euro 2008](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-2008).\nRussia was the host nation for the [2017 FIFA Confederations Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2017-fifa-confederations-cup), and the [2018 FIFA World Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2018-fifa-world-cup).\n[Ice hockey](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-in-russia) is very popular in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) dominated the sport internationally throughout its existence, and the modern-day [Russia men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) is among the most successful teams in the sport.\n[Bandy](https://bliptext.com/articles/bandy) is Russia's national sport, and it has historically been the highest-achieving country in the sport.\nThe [Russian national basketball team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-basketball-team) won the [EuroBasket 2007](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurobasket-2007), and the Russian basketball club [PBC CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pbc-cska-moscow) is among the most successful European basketball teams.\nThe annual [Formula One](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-one) [Russian Grand Prix](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-grand-prix) is held at the [Sochi Autodrom](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-autodrom) in the [Sochi Olympic Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-olympic-park).\nRussia is the leading nation in [rhythmic gymnastics](https://bliptext.com/articles/rhythmic-gymnastics); and Russian [synchronized swimming](https://bliptext.com/articles/synchronized-swimming) is considered to be the world's best.\n[Figure skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/figure-skating) is another popular sport in Russia, especially [pair skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/pair-skating) and [ice dancing](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-dancing).\nRussia has produced a number of famous [tennis](https://bliptext.com/articles/tennis) players, such as [Maria Sharapova](https://bliptext.com/articles/maria-sharapova) and [Daniil Medvedev](https://bliptext.com/articles/daniil-medvedev).\n[Chess](https://bliptext.com/articles/chess) is also a widely popular pastime in the nation, with many of the world's top chess players being Russian for decades.\nThe [1980 Summer Olympic Games](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-summer-olympic-games) were held in Moscow, and the [2014 Winter Olympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-olympics) and the [2014 Winter Paralympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-paralympics) were hosted in Sochi.\n\n# Citations","wordIndex":120,"createdAt":"2025-03-19T20:23:00.139Z","user":{"id":"KmggrroavvkJkawuWRQ0IRZ0EHZKVW4K","name":"TheAxolotlking20 YT","image":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocLLm8GHlVHn6m6URnD5bRoA4J7pXKv2UUc_KS8Gj9jRcy_5kA=s96-c"}},{"id":"ea33a5b2-937d-4164-8896-d4384312ff0e","wordChanged":"an","newWord":":::summary\n**Group:** Russians \n**Native Name Lang:** ru \n**Population:** c. 135 million \n**Popplace:** Map of the Russian Diaspora in the World.svg · Russia 105,620,179 (2021) \n**Region 1:** Germany \n**Pop 1:** approx. 7,500,000 · (including [Russian Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) and [Russian Germans](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-germans-in-russia-ukraine-and-the-soviet-union)) \n**Region 2:** Ukraine \n**Pop 2:** 7,170,000 (2018) (including [Crimea](https://bliptext.com/articles/crimea)) \n**Region 3:** Kazakhstan \n**Pop 3:** 2,983,317 (2024 government est.) \n**Region 4:** United States \n**Pop 4:** 3,072,756 (2009) · (including Russian Jews and Russian Germans) \n**Region 7:** Uzbekistan \n**Pop 7:** 720,324 (2019) \n**Region 8:** Belarus \n**Pop 8:** 706,992 (2019) \n**Region 9:** Canada \n**Pop 9:** 622,445 (2016) (Russian ancestry, excluding Russian Germans) \n**Region 1 0:** Latvia \n**Pop 1 0:** 454,350 (2022) \n**Region 1 1:** Kyrgyzstan \n**Pop 1 1:** 352,960 (2018) \n**Region 1 3:** Estonia \n**Pop 1 3:** 315,252 (2021) \n**Region 1 4:** Argentina \n**Pop 1 4:** 300,000 (2018) \n**Region 1 5:** Moldova \n**Pop 1 5:** 201,218 (2014) \n**Region 1 6:** France \n**Ref 1 6:** 200,000 to 500,000 \n**Region 1 7:** Turkmenistan \n**Pop 1 7:** 150,000 (2012) \n**Region 1 8:** Lithuania \n**Pop 1 8:** 129,797 (2017) \n**Region 1 9:** Italy \n**Pop 1 9:** 120,459 \n**Region 2 0:** Azerbaijan \n**Pop 2 0:** 119,300 (2009) \n**Region 2 1:** Finland \n**Pop 2 1:** 90,801 (2020) \n**Region 2 2:** Spain \n**Pop 2 2:** 72,234 (2017) \n**Region 2 3:** Australia \n**Pop 2 3:** 67,055 (2006) \n**Region 2 4:** Turkey \n**Pop 2 4:** 50,000–100,000 · (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** Poland \n**Pop 2 5:** 40,000 (2019) \n**Region 2 6:** Romania \n**Pop 2 6:** 36,397 (2002) · ([Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans)) \n**Region 2 7:** Czech Republic \n**Pop 2 7:** 35,759 (2016) \n**Region 2 8:** Tajikistan \n**Pop 2 8:** 35,000 (2010) \n**Region 2 9:** South Korea \n**Pop 2 9:** 30,098 (2016) \n**Region 3 0:** Georgia \n**Pop 3 0:** 26,453 (2014) \n**Region 3 1:** Hungary \n**Pop 3 1:** 21,518 (2016) \n**Region 3 2:** Sweden \n**Pop 3 2:** 20,187 (2016) \n**Region 3 3:** China \n**Pop 3 3:** 15,609 (2000) \n**Region 3 4:** Bulgaria \n**Pop 3 4:** 15,595 (2002) \n**Region 3 5:** Armenia \n**Pop 3 5:** 14,076 (2022) \n**Region 3 6:** Greece \n**Pop 3 6:** 13,635 (2002)< \n**Region 3 7:** Serbia \n**Pop 3 7:** 10,486 (2021) \n**Region 3 8:** Slovakia \n**Pop 3 8:** 8,116 (2021) \n**Region 3 9:** India \n**Pop 3 9:** 6,000–15,000 (2011) \n**Region 4 0:** Denmark \n**Pop 4 0:** 7,686 (2019) \n**Region 4 1:** New Zealand \n**Pop 4 1:** 5,979 (2013)< \n**Langs:** [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) ([Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) Sign Language) \n**Rels:** Predominantly [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) ([Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy)), minority [irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Related:** Other [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) ([Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), [Rusyns](https://bliptext.com/articles/rusyns)) \n**Tablehdr:** [Diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) \n:::\n\n# \n**Russians** они крутые [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to [Eastern Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-europe).\nTheir [mother tongue](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-tongue) is [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language), the most spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nThe majority of Russians adhere to [Orthodox Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox-church), ever since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nBy total numbers, they are the largest [Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) and [European nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-groups-in-europe).\nGenetic studies show that Russians are closely related to [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), as well as [Estonians](https://bliptext.com/articles/estonians), [Latvians](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvians), [Lithuanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/lithuanians) and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finns).\nThey were formed from East Slavic tribes, and their cultural ancestry is based in [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe Russian word for the Russians is derived from the [people of Rus' and the territory of Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/names-of-rus-russia-and-ruthenia).\nRussians share many historical and cultural traits with other European peoples, and especially with other East Slavic ethnic groups, specifically [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians) and [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians).\nThe vast majority of Russians live in native Russia, but notable minorities are scattered throughout other [post-Soviet states](https://bliptext.com/articles/post-soviet-states) such as [Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-belarus), [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-kazakhstan), [Moldova](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-moldova), [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-ukraine), and the [Baltic states](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-the-baltic-states).\nA large [Russian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) (sometimes including Russian-speaking non-Russians), estimated at 25 million people, has developed all over the world, with notable numbers in the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-americans), [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-germany), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-brazilians), and [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-canadians).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThere are two [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) words which are commonly translated into English as \"[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language)s\".\nOne is русские (russkiye), which in modern Russia most often means \"ethnic Russians\".\nThe other one is россияне (rossiyane), derived from Россия (Rossiya, Russia), which denotes \"people of Russia\", regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation.\nIn daily usage, those terms are often mixed up, and since [Vladimir Putin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-putin) became president, the ethnic term русские has supplanted the non-ethnic term.\nThe name of the Russians derives from the early medieval [Rus' people](https://bliptext.com/articles/rus-people), a group of [Norse](https://bliptext.com/articles/norsemen) merchants and warriors who relocated from across the [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea) and played an important part in the foudation of the first [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavic-peoples) state that later became the [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe idea of a single \"[all-Russian nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/all-russian-nation)\" encompassing the [East Slavic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs), or a \"triune nation\" of three brotherly \"[Great Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-russia)\", \"[Little Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-russia)\" (i.e. [Ukrainian](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians)), and \"[White Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-ruthenia)\" (i.e. [Belarusian](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians)) peoples became the official doctrine of the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) from the beginning of the 19th century onwards.\n\n# History\n\n## Ancient history\nThe ancestors of modern Russians are the [Slavic tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ancient-slavic-peoples), whose original home is thought by some scholars to have been the wooded areas of the [Pinsk Marshes](https://bliptext.com/articles/pinsk-marshes), one of the largest [wetlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/wetland) in Europe.\nThe East Slavs gradually settled Western Russia with [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) included in two waves: one moving from [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev) toward present-day [Suzdal](https://bliptext.com/articles/suzdal) and [Murom](https://bliptext.com/articles/murom) and another from [Polotsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/polotsk) toward [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod) and [Rostov](https://bliptext.com/articles/rostov-yaroslavl-oblast).\nPrior to the Slavic migration in the 6-7th centuries, the Suzdal-Murom and Novgorod-Rostov areas were populated by [Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples), including the [Merya](https://bliptext.com/articles/meryans), the [Muromians](https://bliptext.com/articles/muromians), and the [Meshchera](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshchera).\nFrom the 7th century onwards, the East Slavs slowly assimilated the native Finnic peoples, so that by year 1100, the majority of the population in Western Russia was Slavic-speaking.\nRecent genetic studies confirm the presence of a Finnic substrate in modern Russian population.\nOutside archaeological remains, little is known about the predecessors to Russians in general prior to 859 AD, when the [Primary Chronicle](https://bliptext.com/articles/primary-chronicle) starts its records.\nBy 600 AD, the [Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) are believed to have split linguistically into [southern](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavs), [western](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs), and eastern branches.\n# [East Slavic tribes and peoples, 8th–9th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/East///Slavic///tribes///peoples///8th///9th///century.jpg]\n\n## Medieval history\nThe Rus' state was established in northern Russia in the year 862, which was ruled by the [Varangians](https://bliptext.com/articles/varangians).\n[Staraya Ladoga](https://bliptext.com/articles/staraya-ladoga) and [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/veliky-novgorod) became the first major cities of the new union of immigrants from [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) with the Slavs and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples).\nIn 882, the prince [Oleg](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-the-wise) seized [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev), thereby uniting the northern and southern lands of the [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) under one authority.\nThe state [adopted Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus) from the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 988.\n[Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus) ultimately disintegrated as a state as a result of in-fighting between members of the princely family that ruled it collectively.\nAfter the 13th century, [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) became a political and cultural center.\nMoscow has become a center for the [unification of Russian lands](https://bliptext.com/articles/collector-of-russian-lands).\nBy the end of the 15th century, Moscow united the northeastern and northwestern Russian principalities, overthrew the \"Mongol yoke\" in 1480, and would be transformed into the [Tsardom of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsardom-of-russia) after [Ivan IV](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-the-terrible) was crowned tsar in 1547.\n# [The Baptism of Kievans, by Klavdy Lebedev | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Lebedev///baptism.jpg]\n\n## Modern history\nIn 1721, Tsar [Peter the Great](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-the-great) renamed his state as the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire), hoping to associate it with historical and cultural achievements of ancient Rus' – in contrast to his policies oriented towards Western Europe.\nThe state now extended from the eastern borders of the [Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-lithuanian-commonwealth) to the [Pacific Ocean](https://bliptext.com/articles/pacific-ocean), and became a [great power](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-power); and one of the most powerful states in Europe after the [victory over Napoleon](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-russia).\nPeasant revolts were common, and all were fiercely suppressed.\nThe Emperor [Alexander II](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-ii-of-russia) [abolished](https://bliptext.com/articles/emancipation-reform-of-1861) [Russian serfdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serfdom-in-russia) in 1861, but the peasants fared poorly and revolutionary pressures grew.\nIn the following decades, reform efforts such as the [Stolypin reforms](https://bliptext.com/articles/stolypin-reform) of 1906–1914, the [constitution of 1906](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-constitution-of-1906), and the [State Duma](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-duma-russian-empire) (1906–1917) attempted to open and liberalize the economy and political system, but the Emperors refused to relinquish [autocratic rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsarist-autocracy) and resisted sharing their power.\nA combination of economic breakdown, [war-weariness](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-in-world-war-i), and discontent with the autocratic system of government triggered [revolution in Russia in 1917](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution).\nThe [overthrow of the monarchy](https://bliptext.com/articles/february-revolution) initially brought into office a coalition of liberals and moderate socialists, but their failed policies led to [seizure of power](https://bliptext.com/articles/october-revolution) by the [communist](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) [Bolsheviks](https://bliptext.com/articles/bolsheviks) on 25 October 1917 (7 November [New Style](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-style-and-new-style-dates)).\nIn 1922, Soviet Russia, along with [Soviet Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-ukraine), [Soviet Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-belarus), and the [Transcaucasian SFSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/transcaucasian-sfsr) signed the [Treaty on the Creation of the USSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-on-the-creation-of-the-ussr), officially merging all four republics to form the Soviet Union as a country.\nBetween 1922 and 1991, the history of Russia became essentially the [history of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-soviet-union), effectively an ideologically based state roughly conterminous with the Russian Empire before the 1918 [Treaty of Brest-Litovsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-brest-litovsk-russia-central-powers).\nFrom its first years, government in the Soviet Union based itself on the one-party rule of the Communists, as the Bolsheviks called themselves, beginning in March 1918.\nThe approach to the building of socialism, however, varied over different periods in Soviet history: from the [mixed economy](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-economic-policy) and diverse society and culture of the 1920s through the [command economy and repressions](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinism) of the [Joseph Stalin](https://bliptext.com/articles/joseph-stalin) era to the [\"era of stagnation\"](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-of-stagnation) from the 1960s to the 1980s.\nThe actions of the Soviet government caused the death of millions of citizens in the [famine of 1930–1933](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-famine-of-1930-1933) and the [Great Purge](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-purge).\nThe [attack](https://bliptext.com/articles/operation-barbarossa) by [Nazi Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/nazi-germany) and the ensuing [war](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), together with [the Holocaust](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-holocaust), again claimed [millions of lives](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii-casualties-of-the-soviet-union).\nMillions of Russian civilians and [prisoners of war](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-atrocities-committed-against-soviet-prisoners-of-war) were killed or starved to death during Nazi Germany's genocidal policies called the [Hunger Plan](https://bliptext.com/articles/hunger-plan) and the [Generalplan Ost](https://bliptext.com/articles/generalplan-ost), including one million civilian casualties during the [Siege of Leningrad](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-leningrad).\nAfter the victory of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) and the [Western Allies](https://bliptext.com/articles/allies-of-world-war-ii), the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) became a [superpower](https://bliptext.com/articles/superpower) opposing Western countries during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nBy the mid-1980s, with Soviet economic and political weaknesses becoming acute, Soviet leader [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-gorbachev) embarked on major reforms; these culminated in the [dissolution of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-the-soviet-union), leaving Russia again alone and marking the beginning of the [post-Soviet](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-russia-1991-present) Russian period.\nThe [Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-soviet-federative-socialist-republic) renamed itself the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) and became the [successor state to the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/succession-of-states).\n# [Grandma's Fairy Tales, by Vassily Maximov | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B2///%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B///%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BA%D0%B8///1867.jpg]\n# [Percentage of ethnic Russians by federal subjects of Russia according to the 2010 census: \n{{legend|#ff0000|above 80%|undefined | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Percentage///of///Russians///by///region.svg]\n\n# Geographic distribution\nEthnic Russians historically migrated within the areas of the former [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union), though they were sometimes encouraged to re-settle in borderland areas by the Tsarist and later Soviet government.\nSometimes ethnic Russian communities, such as the [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) who settled in the [Danube delta](https://bliptext.com/articles/danube-delta) or the [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) in [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), emigrated as religious dissidents fleeing the central authority.\nThere are also small Russian communities in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) — including [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) in the Danube delta — Central European nations such as [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) and [Poland](https://bliptext.com/articles/poland), as well as Russians settled in [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china), [Japan](https://bliptext.com/articles/japan), [South Korea](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-korea), [Mexico](https://bliptext.com/articles/mexico), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/brazil), [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) and [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia).\nThese communities identify themselves to varying degrees as Russians, citizens of these countries, or both.\nSignificant numbers of Russians emigrated to [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) and the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states).\n[Brighton Beach, Brooklyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/brighton-beach-brooklyn) and [South Beach, Staten Island](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-beach-staten-island) in [New York City](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-city) are examples of large communities of recent Russian and [Russian-Jewish](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) immigrants.\nOther examples are [Sunny Isles Beach](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunny-isles-beach), a northern suburb of [Miami](https://bliptext.com/articles/miami), and [West Hollywood](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-hollywood) of the [Los Angeles](https://bliptext.com/articles/los-angeles) area.\nAfter the [Russian Revolution](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution-of-1917) in 1917, many Russians who were identified with the [White army](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-army) moved to [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china) — most of them settling in [Harbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/harbin) and [Shanghai](https://bliptext.com/articles/shanghai).\nBy the 1930s, Harbin had 100,000 Russians.\nMany of these Russians moved back to the Soviet Union after [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii).\nToday, a large group in northern China still speak Russian as a second language.\nRussians (eluosizu) are one of the [56 ethnic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/nationalities-of-china) officially recognized by the [People's Republic of China](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-china) (as the Russ); there are approximately 15,600 Russian Chinese living mostly in northern [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang), and also in [Inner Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/inner-mongolia) and [Heilongjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/heilongjiang).\nAccording to the [2021 Russian census](https://bliptext.com/articles/2021-russian-census), the number of ethnic Russians in the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) decreased by nearly 5.43 million, from roughly 111 million people in 2010 to approximately 105.5 million in 2021.\n# [Ethnic Russians in former Soviet Union states in 1994 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Russians///ethnic///94.jpg]\n# [Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery in Paris, the resting place of many eminent Russian émigrés after 1917 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Eglise///notre///dame///de///l///assomption///7.jpg]\n\n# Ethnographic groups\nAmong Russians, a number of [ethnographic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnographic-group) stand out, such as: the [Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), the [Southern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-russian-dialects), the [Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks), the [Goryuns](https://bliptext.com/articles/goryuns), the [Kamchadals](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamchadals), the [Polekhs](https://bliptext.com/articles/polekhs), the [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), the [Russian Chinese](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-china), the [Siberians](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberians) (Siberiaks), [Starozhily](https://bliptext.com/articles/starozhily), some groupings of [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers) ([Kamenschiks](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamenschik), [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans), [Semeiskie](https://bliptext.com/articles/semeiskie)), and others.\nThe main ones are the Northern and Southern Russian groups.\nAt the same time, the proposal of the ethnographer [Dmitry Zelenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-konstantinovich-zelenin) in his major work of 1927 Russian (East Slavic) Ethnography to consider them as separate East Slavic peoples did not find support in scientific circles.\nRussia's Arctic coastline had been explored and settled by [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), Russian settlers from [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-republic).\n[Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks) inhabited sparsely populated areas in the [Don](https://bliptext.com/articles/don-river), [Terek](https://bliptext.com/articles/terek-river), and [Ural](https://bliptext.com/articles/ural-river) river basins, and played an important role in the historical and cultural development of parts of Russia.\n# [Lipovans in the Danube Delta | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%2C///%D0%94%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5///%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8///1962///%D0%B3.JPG]\n\n# Genetics\nIn accordance with the 2008 research results of Russian and Estonian geneticists, two groups of Russians are distinguished: the northern and southern populations.\nCentral and Southern Russians, to which the majority of Russian populations belong, according to [Y chromosome](https://bliptext.com/articles/y-chromosome) R1a, are included in the general \"[East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) European\" [gene cluster](https://bliptext.com/articles/gene-cluster) with the rest [East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) and [West Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs) (Poles, Czechs and Slovaks), as well as the non-Slavic [Hungarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/hungarians) and [Aromanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanians).\nGenetically, East Slavs are quite similar to West Slavs; such genetic similarity is somewhat unusual for genetics with such a wide settlement of the Slavs, especially Russians.\nThe high unity of the [autosomal](https://bliptext.com/articles/autosome) markers of the East Slavic populations and their significant differences from the neighboring Finnic, Turkic and Caucasian peoples were revealed.\n[Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), according to [mtDNA](https://bliptext.com/articles/mitochondrial-dna), Y chromosome and autosomal marker CCR5de132, are included in the \"North European\" gene cluster (the [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), the [Balts](https://bliptext.com/articles/balts), [Germanic](https://bliptext.com/articles/germanic-speaking-europe) and [Baltic Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-finnic-peoples)).\nConsequently, the already existing biologo-genetic studies have made all hypotheses about the mixing of the Russians with non-Slavic ethnic groups or their \"non-Slavism\" obsolete or pseudoscientific.\nAt the same time, the long-standing identification of the Northern Russian and Southern Russian ethnographic groups by ethnologists was confirmed.\nThe previous conclusions of physical anthropologists, historians and linguists (see, in particular, the works of the academician [Valentin Yanin](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-yanin)) about the proximity of the ancient [Novgorod Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-slavs) and their language not to the East, but to west [Baltic Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/lechites).\nAs can be seen from [genetic resources](https://bliptext.com/articles/genetic-resources), the contemporary Northern Russians also are genetically close of all Slavic peoples only to the Poles and similar to the Balts.\nHowever, this does not mean the northern Russians origin from the Balts or the Poles, more likely, that all the peoples of the Nordic gene pool are descendants of [Paleo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-hunter-gatherer) population, which has remained around [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea).\n# [Russian people in Saint-Petersburg. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/%D0%97%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8///%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F///Cosmos///%D0%BD%D0%B0///Geek///Picnic///2018///SPb.jpg]\n\n# Assimilation and immigration\nRussians have sometimes found it useful to emphasize their self-perceived ability to [assimilate](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) other people [to the Russian ethnicity](https://bliptext.com/articles/russification) - and as a historic great power with imperial expansionist tendencies the Russian state has sometimes encouraged Russian-centred monoculturalism.\nSteppe peoples, Tatars, Baltic Germans, Lithuanians and native Siberians in [Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus), [Muscovy](https://bliptext.com/articles/muscovy-disambiguation) or the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) could in theory become \"Russians\" simply by accepting [Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy) as their faith.\nThe attitude of ready inclusivity is summed up in the popular phrase (sometimes attributed to Emperor [Alexander III of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-iii-of-russia)) - Хочешь быть русским - будь им!\n.\n\n# Language\n[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) is the [official](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) and the predominantly spoken language in Russia.\nIt is the most-spoken native language in Europe, the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, as well as the world's most widely spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nRussian is the third-most used language on the [Internet](https://bliptext.com/articles/internet) after [English](https://bliptext.com/articles/english-language) and [Spanish](https://bliptext.com/articles/spanish-language), and is one of two official languages aboard the [International Space Station](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-space-station), as well as one of the six [official languages of the United Nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-languages-of-the-united-nations).\n\n# Culture\n# [Russian artist Boris Kustodiev's Maslenitsa, 1916 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Boris///Kustodiev///-///Shrovetide///-///Google///Art///Project.jpg]\n\n## Literature\n[Russian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-literature) is considered to be among the world's most influential and developed.\nIt can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages), when epics and chronicles in [Old East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-east-slavic) were composed.\nBy the [Age of Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment), literature had grown in importance, with works from [Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov), [Denis Fonvizin](https://bliptext.com/articles/denis-fonvizin), [Gavrila Derzhavin](https://bliptext.com/articles/gavrila-derzhavin), and [Nikolay Karamzin](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-karamzin).\nFrom the early 1830s, during the [Golden Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/golden-age-of-russian-poetry), literature underwent an astounding golden age in poetry, prose and drama.\n[Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) permitted a flowering of poetic talent: [Vasily Zhukovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vasily-zhukovsky) and later his protégé [Alexander Pushkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-pushkin) came to the fore.\nFollowing Pushkin's footsteps, a new generation of poets were born, including [Mikhail Lermontov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lermontov), [Nikolay Nekrasov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-nekrasov), [Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksey-konstantinovich-tolstoy), [Fyodor Tyutchev](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-tyutchev) and [Afanasy Fet](https://bliptext.com/articles/afanasy-fet).\nThe first great Russian novelist was [Nikolai Gogol](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-gogol).\nThen came [Ivan Turgenev](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-turgenev), who mastered both short stories and novels.\n[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-dostoyevsky) and [Leo Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/leo-tolstoy) soon became internationally renowned.\n[Ivan Goncharov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-goncharov) is remembered mainly for his novel [Oblomov](https://bliptext.com/articles/oblomov).\n[Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-saltykov-shchedrin) wrote prose satire, while [Nikolai Leskov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-leskov) is best remembered for his shorter fiction.\nIn the second half of the century [Anton Chekhov](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-chekhov) excelled in short stories and became a leading dramatist.\nOther important 19th-century developments included the fabulist [Ivan Krylov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-krylov), non-fiction writers such as the critic [Vissarion Belinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vissarion-belinsky), and playwrights such as [Aleksandr Griboyedov](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-griboyedov) and [Aleksandr Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-ostrovsky).\nThe beginning of the 20th century ranks as the [Silver Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/silver-age-of-russian-poetry).\nThis era had poets such as [Alexander Blok](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-blok), [Anna Akhmatova](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-akhmatova), [Boris Pasternak](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-pasternak), [Konstantin Balmont](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-balmont), [Marina Tsvetaeva](https://bliptext.com/articles/marina-tsvetaeva), [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-mayakovsky), and [Osip Mandelstam](https://bliptext.com/articles/osip-mandelstam).\nIt also produced some first-rate novelists and short-story writers, such as [Aleksandr Kuprin](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-kuprin), Nobel Prize winner [Ivan Bunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-bunin), [Leonid Andreyev](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-andreyev), [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yevgeny-zamyatin), [Dmitry Merezhkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-merezhkovsky) and [Andrei Bely](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-bely).\nAfter the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russian literature split into Soviet and [white émigré](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-migr) parts.\nIn the 1930s, [Socialist realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-realism) became the predominant trend in Russia.\nIts leading figure was [Maxim Gorky](https://bliptext.com/articles/maxim-gorky), who laid the foundations of this style.\n[Mikhail Bulgakov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bulgakov) was one of the leading writers of the Soviet era.\n[Nikolay Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-ostrovsky)'s novel [How the Steel Was Tempered](https://bliptext.com/articles/how-the-steel-was-tempered) has been among the most successful works of Russian literature.\nInfluential émigré writers include [Vladimir Nabokov](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-nabokov).\nSome writers dared to oppose Soviet ideology, such as Nobel Prize-winning novelist [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn), who wrote about life in the Gulag camps.\n# [Leo Tolstoy's (1828–1910) notable works include the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, often cited as pinnacles of realist fiction. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/L.N.Tolstoy///Prokudin-Gorsky.jpg]\n\n## Philosophy\n[Russian philosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-philosophy) has been greatly influential.\n[Alexander Herzen](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-herzen) is known as one of the fathers of [agrarian](https://bliptext.com/articles/agrarianism) [populism](https://bliptext.com/articles/populism).\n[Mikhail Bakunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakunin) is referred to as the father of [anarchism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarchism).\n[Peter Kropotkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-kropotkin) was the most important theorist of [anarcho-communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarcho-communism).\n[Mikhail Bakhtin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakhtin)'s writings have significantly inspired scholars.\n[Helena Blavatsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/helena-blavatsky) gained international following as the leading theoretician of [Theosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophy), and co-founded the [Theosophical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophical-society).\n[Vladimir Lenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-lenin), a major revolutionary, developed a variant of communism known as [Leninism](https://bliptext.com/articles/leninism).\n[Leon Trotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/leon-trotsky), on the other hand, founded [Trotskyism](https://bliptext.com/articles/trotskyism).\n[Alexander Zinoviev](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-zinoviev) was a prominent philosopher in the second half of the 20th century.\n\n## Science\n[Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov) proposed the [conservation of mass](https://bliptext.com/articles/conservation-of-mass) in [chemical reactions](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemical-reactions), discovered the [atmosphere of Venus](https://bliptext.com/articles/atmosphere-of-venus), and founded modern [geology](https://bliptext.com/articles/geology).\nSince the times of [Nikolay Lobachevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-lobachevsky), who pioneered the [non-Euclidean geometry](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-euclidean-geometry), and a prominent tutor [Pafnuty Chebyshev](https://bliptext.com/articles/pafnuty-chebyshev), Russian [mathematicians](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-russian-mathematicians) became among the world's most influential.\n[Dmitry Mendeleev](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-mendeleev) invented the [Periodic table](https://bliptext.com/articles/periodic-table), the main framework of modern [chemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemistry).\n[Sofya Kovalevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/sofya-kovalevskaya) was a pioneer among [women in mathematics](https://bliptext.com/articles/timeline-of-women-in-mathematics) in the 19th century.\n[Grigori Perelman](https://bliptext.com/articles/grigori-perelman) was offered the first ever Clay [Millennium Prize Problems](https://bliptext.com/articles/millennium-prize-problems) Award for his final proof of the [Poincaré conjecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/poincar-conjecture) in 2002, as well as the Fields Medal in 2006, both of which he declined.\n[Alexander Popov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-stepanovich-popov) was among the [inventors of radio](https://bliptext.com/articles/invention-of-radio), while [Nikolai Basov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-basov) and [Alexander Prokhorov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-prokhorov) were co-inventors of [laser](https://bliptext.com/articles/laser) and [maser](https://bliptext.com/articles/maser).\n[Zhores Alferov](https://bliptext.com/articles/zhores-alferov) contributed significantly to the creation of [modern heterostructure physics and electronics](https://bliptext.com/articles/heterojunction).\n[Oleg Losev](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-losev) made crucial contributions in the field of [semiconductor junctions](https://bliptext.com/articles/semiconductor-junction), and discovered [light-emitting diodes](https://bliptext.com/articles/light-emitting-diode).\n[Vladimir Vernadsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vernadsky) is considered one of the founders of [geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), bio[geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), and [radiogeology](https://bliptext.com/articles/radiometric-dating).\n[Élie Metchnikoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/lie-metchnikoff) is known for his groundbreaking research in [immunology](https://bliptext.com/articles/immunology).\n[Ivan Pavlov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-pavlov) is known chiefly for his work in [classical conditioning](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-conditioning).\n[Lev Landau](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-landau) made fundamental contributions to many areas of [theoretical physics](https://bliptext.com/articles/theoretical-physics).\n[Nikolai Vavilov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-vavilov) was best known for having identified the [centers](https://bliptext.com/articles/vavilov-center) of origin of [cultivated](https://bliptext.com/articles/horticulture) plants.\nMany famous Russian scientists and inventors were [émigrés](https://bliptext.com/articles/migr-s).\n[Igor Sikorsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-sikorsky) was an [aviation pioneer](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-aviation-pioneers).\n[Vladimir Zworykin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-zworykin) was the inventor of the [iconoscope](https://bliptext.com/articles/iconoscope) and [kinescope](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinescope) television systems.\n[Theodosius Dobzhansky](https://bliptext.com/articles/theodosius-dobzhansky) was the central figure in the field of [evolutionary biology](https://bliptext.com/articles/evolutionary-biology) for his work in shaping the [modern synthesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-synthesis-20th-century).\n[George Gamow](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-gamow) was one of the foremost advocates of the [Big Bang](https://bliptext.com/articles/big-bang) theory.\n[Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-tsiolkovsky) is called the father of theoretical [astronautics](https://bliptext.com/articles/astronautics), whose works had inspired leading Soviet rocket engineers, such as [Valentin Glushko](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-glushko), and many others.\nIn 1961, the first human trip into space was successfully made by [Yuri Gagarin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yuri-gagarin).\nIn 1963, [Valentina Tereshkova](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentina-tereshkova) became the first and youngest [woman in space](https://bliptext.com/articles/women-in-space), having flown a solo mission on [Vostok 6](https://bliptext.com/articles/vostok-6).\nIn 1965, [Alexei Leonov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexei-leonov) became the first human to conduct a [spacewalk](https://bliptext.com/articles/spacewalk), exiting the [space capsule](https://bliptext.com/articles/space-capsule) during [Voskhod 2](https://bliptext.com/articles/voskhod-2).\n# [Dmitri Mendeleev (1837–1906) is best known for formulating the Periodic Law and creating a version of the periodic table of elements. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Dmitri///Mendeleev///%281834%E2%80%931907%29.jpg]\n\n## Music\nUntil the 18th century, music in Russia consisted mainly of church music and folk songs and dances.\nIn the 19th century, it was defined by the tension between classical composer [Mikhail Glinka](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-glinka) along with other members of [The Mighty Handful](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-mighty-handful), and the [Russian Musical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-musical-society) led by composers [Anton](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-rubinstein) and [Nikolay Rubinstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-rubinstein).\nThe later tradition of [Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky), one of the greatest composers of the [Romantic era](https://bliptext.com/articles/romantic-music), was continued into the 20th century by [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-rachmaninoff), one of the last great champions of the Romantic style of European classical music.\nWorld-renowned composers of the 20th century include [Alexander Scriabin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-scriabin), [Alexander Glazunov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-glazunov), [Igor Stravinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-stravinsky), [Sergei Prokofiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-prokofiev), [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitri-shostakovich), [Georgy Sviridov](https://bliptext.com/articles/georgy-sviridov) and [Alfred Schnittke](https://bliptext.com/articles/alfred-schnittke).\nSoviet and Russian conservatories have turned out generations of world-renowned soloists.\nAmong the best known are violinists [David Oistrakh](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-oistrakh) and [Gidon Kremer](https://bliptext.com/articles/gidon-kremer), cellist [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/mstislav-rostropovich), pianists [Vladimir Horowitz](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-horowitz), [Sviatoslav Richter](https://bliptext.com/articles/sviatoslav-richter), and [Emil Gilels](https://bliptext.com/articles/emil-gilels), and vocalist [Galina Vishnevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/galina-vishnevskaya).\nDuring the Soviet times, [popular music](https://bliptext.com/articles/popular-music) also produced a number of renowned figures, such as the two [balladeers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bard-soviet-union)—[Vladimir Vysotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vysotsky) and [Bulat Okudzhava](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulat-okudzhava), and performers such as [Alla Pugacheva](https://bliptext.com/articles/alla-pugacheva).\n[Jazz](https://bliptext.com/articles/jazz), even with sanctions from Soviet authorities, flourished and evolved into one of the country's most popular musical forms.\nThe [Ganelin Trio](https://bliptext.com/articles/vyacheslav-ganelin) have been described by critics as the greatest ensemble of free-jazz in [continental Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/continental-europe).\nBy the 1980s, [rock music](https://bliptext.com/articles/rock-music-in-russia) became popular across Russia, and produced bands such as [Aria](https://bliptext.com/articles/aria-band), [Aquarium](https://bliptext.com/articles/aquarium-band), [DDT](https://bliptext.com/articles/ddt-band), and [Kino](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-band).\n[Pop music](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-pop) in Russia has continued to flourish since the 1960s, with globally famous acts such as [t.A.T.u.](https://bliptext.com/articles/t-a-t-u) In the recent times, [Little Big](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-big-band), a [rave](https://bliptext.com/articles/rave-music) band, has gained popularity in Russia and across Europe.\n# [The classic ballet of Swan Lake was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Portr%C3%A4t///des///Komponisten///Pjotr///I.///Tschaikowski///%281840-1893%29.jpg]\n\n## Cinema\nRussian and later [Soviet cinema](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-cinema) was a hotbed of invention, resulting in world-renowned films such as [The Battleship Potemkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-battleship-potemkin).\nSoviet-era filmmakers, most notably [Sergei Eisenstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-eisenstein) and [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-tarkovsky), would go on to become among of the world's most innovative and influential directors.\nEisenstein was a student of [Lev Kuleshov](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-kuleshov), who developed the groundbreaking [Soviet montage theory](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-montage-theory) of film editing at the world's first [film school](https://bliptext.com/articles/film-school), the [All-Union Institute of Cinematography](https://bliptext.com/articles/gerasimov-institute-of-cinematography).\n[Dziga Vertov](https://bliptext.com/articles/dziga-vertov)'s \"[Kino-Eye](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-eye)\" theory had a huge impact on the development of documentary filmmaking and cinema realism.\nMany Soviet socialist realism films were artistically successful, including [Chapaev](https://bliptext.com/articles/chapaev-film), [The Cranes Are Flying](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-cranes-are-flying), and [Ballad of a Soldier](https://bliptext.com/articles/ballad-of-a-soldier).\nThe 1960s and 1970s saw a greater variety of artistic styles in Soviet cinema.\nThe comedies of [Eldar Ryazanov](https://bliptext.com/articles/eldar-ryazanov) and [Leonid Gaidai](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-gaidai) of that time were immensely popular, with many of the catchphrases still in use today.\nIn 1961–68 [Sergey Bondarchuk](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergey-bondarchuk) directed an [Oscar](https://bliptext.com/articles/academy-award)-winning [film adaptation](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace-film-series) of Leo Tolstoy's epic [War and Peace](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace), which was [the most expensive film](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-most-expensive-film) made in the Soviet Union.\nIn 1969, [Vladimir Motyl](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-motyl)'s [White Sun of the Desert](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-sun-of-the-desert) was released, a very popular film in a genre of [ostern](https://bliptext.com/articles/ostern); the film is traditionally watched by [cosmonauts](https://bliptext.com/articles/cosmonauts) before any trip into space.\nIn 2002, [Russian Ark](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-ark) was the first feature film ever to be shot in a single take.\nToday, the Russian cinema industry continues to expand.\n# [Poster of Battleship Potemkin (1925) by Sergei Eisenstein, which was named the greatest film of all time at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Vintage///Potemkin.jpg]\n\n## Architecture\nThe history of [Russian architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-architecture) begins with early woodcraft buildings of ancient Slavs, and the [architecture of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/architecture-of-kievan-rus).\nFollowing the [Christianization of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus), for several centuries it was influenced predominantly by the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire).\n[Aristotle Fioravanti](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristotle-fioravanti) and other Italian architects brought [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) trends into Russia.\nThe 16th century saw the development of the unique [tent-like churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/tent-like-church); and the [onion dome](https://bliptext.com/articles/onion-dome) design, which is a distinctive feature of Russian architecture.\nIn the 17th century, the \"fiery style\" of ornamentation flourished in Moscow and [Yaroslavl](https://bliptext.com/articles/yaroslavl), gradually paving the way for the [Naryshkin baroque](https://bliptext.com/articles/naryshkin-baroque) of the 1690s.\nAfter the reforms of Peter the Great, Russia's architecture became influenced by Western European styles.\nThe 18th-century taste for [Rococo](https://bliptext.com/articles/rococo) architecture led to the splendid works of [Bartolomeo Rastrelli](https://bliptext.com/articles/bartolomeo-rastrelli) and his followers.\nDuring the reign of Catherine the Great, Saint Petersburg was transformed into an outdoor museum of [Neoclassical architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/neoclassical-architecture).\nDuring [Alexander I](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-i-of-russia)'s rule, [Empire style](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-style) became the de facto architectural style, and [Nicholas I](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicholas-i-of-russia) opened the gate of [Eclecticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/eclecticism) to Russia.\nThe second half of the 19th-century was dominated by the [Neo-Byzantine](https://bliptext.com/articles/neo-byzantine-architecture-in-the-russian-empire) and [Russian Revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revival) style.\nIn early 20th-century, [Russian neoclassical revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-neoclassical-revival) became a trend.\nPrevalent styles of the late 20th-century were the [Art Nouveau](https://bliptext.com/articles/art-nouveau-architecture-in-russia), [Constructivism](https://bliptext.com/articles/constructivism-art), and [Socialist Classicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinist-architecture).\n# [Saint Basil's Cathedral, built between 1555 and 1683, in Moscow | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Saint///Basil%27s///Cathedral///in///Moscow.jpg]\n\n## Religion\nRussia's largest religion is [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity-in-russia)—It has the world's [largest Orthodox population](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy-by-country).\nAccording to differing sociological surveys on religious adherence, between 41% to over 80% of the total population of Russia adhere to the [Russian Orthodox Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodox-church).There is no official census of religion in Russia, and estimates are based on surveys only.\nIn August 2012, [ARENA](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that about 46.8% of Russians are Christians (including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational), which is slightly less than an absolute 50%+ majority.\nHowever, later that year the [Levada Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 76% of Russians are Christians, and in June 2013 the [Public Opinion Foundation](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 65% of Russians are Christians.\nThese findings are in line with [Pew](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey, which determined that 73.3% of Russians are Christians, with [VTSIOM](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey (~77% Christian), and with [Ipsos MORI](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2011 survey (69%).\nNon-religious Russians may associate themselves with the Orthodox faith for cultural reasons.\nSome Russian people are [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers): a relatively small [schismatic](https://bliptext.com/articles/schism-religion) group of the Russian Orthodoxy that rejected the liturgical reforms introduced in the 17th century.\nOther schisms from Orthodoxy include [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) which in the 18th century rejected secular government, the Russian Orthodox priests, icons, all church ritual, the Bible as the supreme source of divine revelation and the divinity of Jesus, and later emigrated into Canada.\nAn even earlier sect were [Molokans](https://bliptext.com/articles/molokan) which formed in 1550 and rejected Czar's [divine right to rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/divine-right-of-kings), icons, the [Trinity](https://bliptext.com/articles/trinity) as outlined by the [Nicene Creed](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicene-creed), Orthodox [fasts](https://bliptext.com/articles/fasting), military service, and practices including [water baptism](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptism).\nOther world religions have negligible representation among ethnic Russians.\nThe largest of these groups are [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) with over 100,000 followers from national minorities, and [Baptists](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptists) with over 85,000 Russian adherents.\nOthers are mostly [Pentecostals](https://bliptext.com/articles/pentecostals), [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicals), [Seventh-day Adventists](https://bliptext.com/articles/seventh-day-adventists), [Lutherans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lutherans) and [Jehovah's Witnesses](https://bliptext.com/articles/jehovah-s-witnesses).\nSince the fall of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) various new religious movements have sprung up and gathered a following among ethnic Russians.\nThe most prominent of these are [Rodnovery](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-neopaganism), the revival of the Slavic native religion also common to other [Slavic nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs).\n# [Trinity Sunday in Russia; the Russian Orthodox Church has experienced a great revival since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a country that had a policy of state atheism. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C///%D0%A1%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B9///%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%86%D1%8B.///%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9///%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA.jpg]\n\n## Sports\n[Football](https://bliptext.com/articles/association-football) is the most popular sport in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-national-football-team) became the first European champions by winning [Euro 1960](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1960), and reached the finals of [Euro 1988](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1988).\nIn 1956 and 1988, the Soviet Union won gold at the [Olympic football tournament](https://bliptext.com/articles/football-at-the-summer-olympics).\nRussian clubs [CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pfc-cska-moscow) and [Zenit Saint Petersburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/zenit-saint-petersburg) won the [UEFA Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/uefa-cup) in 2005 and 2008.\nThe [Russian national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-football-team) reached the semi-finals of [Euro 2008](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-2008).\nRussia was the host nation for the [2017 FIFA Confederations Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2017-fifa-confederations-cup), and the [2018 FIFA World Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2018-fifa-world-cup).\n[Ice hockey](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-in-russia) is very popular in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) dominated the sport internationally throughout its existence, and the modern-day [Russia men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) is among the most successful teams in the sport.\n[Bandy](https://bliptext.com/articles/bandy) is Russia's national sport, and it has historically been the highest-achieving country in the sport.\nThe [Russian national basketball team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-basketball-team) won the [EuroBasket 2007](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurobasket-2007), and the Russian basketball club [PBC CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pbc-cska-moscow) is among the most successful European basketball teams.\nThe annual [Formula One](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-one) [Russian Grand Prix](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-grand-prix) is held at the [Sochi Autodrom](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-autodrom) in the [Sochi Olympic Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-olympic-park).\nRussia is the leading nation in [rhythmic gymnastics](https://bliptext.com/articles/rhythmic-gymnastics); and Russian [synchronized swimming](https://bliptext.com/articles/synchronized-swimming) is considered to be the world's best.\n[Figure skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/figure-skating) is another popular sport in Russia, especially [pair skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/pair-skating) and [ice dancing](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-dancing).\nRussia has produced a number of famous [tennis](https://bliptext.com/articles/tennis) players, such as [Maria Sharapova](https://bliptext.com/articles/maria-sharapova) and [Daniil Medvedev](https://bliptext.com/articles/daniil-medvedev).\n[Chess](https://bliptext.com/articles/chess) is also a widely popular pastime in the nation, with many of the world's top chess players being Russian for decades.\nThe [1980 Summer Olympic Games](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-summer-olympic-games) were held in Moscow, and the [2014 Winter Olympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-olympics) and the [2014 Winter Paralympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-paralympics) were hosted in Sochi.\n\n# Citations","wordIndex":3,"createdAt":"2025-03-14T14:19:58.996Z","user":{"id":"UJciJQ2hQIrZps3kZm935H9iZdLdqPq0","name":"Twich","image":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocLD3PsgJqJm6oirWur8MXi2zojkfsa29nbZahVzxk4vLrwyjw=s96-c"}},{"id":"35eddab5-730f-4c19-8998-719b597dcb1a","wordChanged":"are","newWord":":::summary\n**Group:** Russians \n**Native Name Lang:** ru \n**Population:** c. 135 million \n**Popplace:** Map of the Russian Diaspora in the World.svg · Russia 105,620,179 (2021) \n**Region 1:** Germany \n**Pop 1:** approx. 7,500,000 · (including [Russian Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) and [Russian Germans](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-germans-in-russia-ukraine-and-the-soviet-union)) \n**Region 2:** Ukraine \n**Pop 2:** 7,170,000 (2018) (including [Crimea](https://bliptext.com/articles/crimea)) \n**Region 3:** Kazakhstan \n**Pop 3:** 2,983,317 (2024 government est.) \n**Region 4:** United States \n**Pop 4:** 3,072,756 (2009) · (including Russian Jews and Russian Germans) \n**Region 7:** Uzbekistan \n**Pop 7:** 720,324 (2019) \n**Region 8:** Belarus \n**Pop 8:** 706,992 (2019) \n**Region 9:** Canada \n**Pop 9:** 622,445 (2016) (Russian ancestry, excluding Russian Germans) \n**Region 1 0:** Latvia \n**Pop 1 0:** 454,350 (2022) \n**Region 1 1:** Kyrgyzstan \n**Pop 1 1:** 352,960 (2018) \n**Region 1 3:** Estonia \n**Pop 1 3:** 315,252 (2021) \n**Region 1 4:** Argentina \n**Pop 1 4:** 300,000 (2018) \n**Region 1 5:** Moldova \n**Pop 1 5:** 201,218 (2014) \n**Region 1 6:** France \n**Ref 1 6:** 200,000 to 500,000 \n**Region 1 7:** Turkmenistan \n**Pop 1 7:** 150,000 (2012) \n**Region 1 8:** Lithuania \n**Pop 1 8:** 129,797 (2017) \n**Region 1 9:** Italy \n**Pop 1 9:** 120,459 \n**Region 2 0:** Azerbaijan \n**Pop 2 0:** 119,300 (2009) \n**Region 2 1:** Finland \n**Pop 2 1:** 90,801 (2020) \n**Region 2 2:** Spain \n**Pop 2 2:** 72,234 (2017) \n**Region 2 3:** Australia \n**Pop 2 3:** 67,055 (2006) \n**Region 2 4:** Turkey \n**Pop 2 4:** 50,000–100,000 · (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** Poland \n**Pop 2 5:** 40,000 (2019) \n**Region 2 6:** Romania \n**Pop 2 6:** 36,397 (2002) · ([Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans)) \n**Region 2 7:** Czech Republic \n**Pop 2 7:** 35,759 (2016) \n**Region 2 8:** Tajikistan \n**Pop 2 8:** 35,000 (2010) \n**Region 2 9:** South Korea \n**Pop 2 9:** 30,098 (2016) \n**Region 3 0:** Georgia \n**Pop 3 0:** 26,453 (2014) \n**Region 3 1:** Hungary \n**Pop 3 1:** 21,518 (2016) \n**Region 3 2:** Sweden \n**Pop 3 2:** 20,187 (2016) \n**Region 3 3:** China \n**Pop 3 3:** 15,609 (2000) \n**Region 3 4:** Bulgaria \n**Pop 3 4:** 15,595 (2002) \n**Region 3 5:** Armenia \n**Pop 3 5:** 14,076 (2022) \n**Region 3 6:** Greece \n**Pop 3 6:** 13,635 (2002)< \n**Region 3 7:** Serbia \n**Pop 3 7:** 10,486 (2021) \n**Region 3 8:** Slovakia \n**Pop 3 8:** 8,116 (2021) \n**Region 3 9:** India \n**Pop 3 9:** 6,000–15,000 (2011) \n**Region 4 0:** Denmark \n**Pop 4 0:** 7,686 (2019) \n**Region 4 1:** New Zealand \n**Pop 4 1:** 5,979 (2013)< \n**Langs:** [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) ([Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) Sign Language) \n**Rels:** Predominantly [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) ([Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy)), minority [irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Related:** Other [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) ([Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), [Rusyns](https://bliptext.com/articles/rusyns)) \n**Tablehdr:** [Diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) \n:::\n\n# \n**Russians** они an [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to [Eastern Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-europe).\nTheir [mother tongue](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-tongue) is [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language), the most spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nThe majority of Russians adhere to [Orthodox Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox-church), ever since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nBy total numbers, they are the largest [Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) and [European nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-groups-in-europe).\nGenetic studies show that Russians are closely related to [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), as well as [Estonians](https://bliptext.com/articles/estonians), [Latvians](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvians), [Lithuanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/lithuanians) and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finns).\nThey were formed from East Slavic tribes, and their cultural ancestry is based in [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe Russian word for the Russians is derived from the [people of Rus' and the territory of Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/names-of-rus-russia-and-ruthenia).\nRussians share many historical and cultural traits with other European peoples, and especially with other East Slavic ethnic groups, specifically [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians) and [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians).\nThe vast majority of Russians live in native Russia, but notable minorities are scattered throughout other [post-Soviet states](https://bliptext.com/articles/post-soviet-states) such as [Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-belarus), [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-kazakhstan), [Moldova](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-moldova), [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-ukraine), and the [Baltic states](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-the-baltic-states).\nA large [Russian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) (sometimes including Russian-speaking non-Russians), estimated at 25 million people, has developed all over the world, with notable numbers in the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-americans), [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-germany), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-brazilians), and [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-canadians).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThere are two [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) words which are commonly translated into English as \"[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language)s\".\nOne is русские (russkiye), which in modern Russia most often means \"ethnic Russians\".\nThe other one is россияне (rossiyane), derived from Россия (Rossiya, Russia), which denotes \"people of Russia\", regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation.\nIn daily usage, those terms are often mixed up, and since [Vladimir Putin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-putin) became president, the ethnic term русские has supplanted the non-ethnic term.\nThe name of the Russians derives from the early medieval [Rus' people](https://bliptext.com/articles/rus-people), a group of [Norse](https://bliptext.com/articles/norsemen) merchants and warriors who relocated from across the [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea) and played an important part in the foudation of the first [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavic-peoples) state that later became the [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe idea of a single \"[all-Russian nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/all-russian-nation)\" encompassing the [East Slavic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs), or a \"triune nation\" of three brotherly \"[Great Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-russia)\", \"[Little Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-russia)\" (i.e. [Ukrainian](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians)), and \"[White Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-ruthenia)\" (i.e. [Belarusian](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians)) peoples became the official doctrine of the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) from the beginning of the 19th century onwards.\n\n# History\n\n## Ancient history\nThe ancestors of modern Russians are the [Slavic tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ancient-slavic-peoples), whose original home is thought by some scholars to have been the wooded areas of the [Pinsk Marshes](https://bliptext.com/articles/pinsk-marshes), one of the largest [wetlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/wetland) in Europe.\nThe East Slavs gradually settled Western Russia with [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) included in two waves: one moving from [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev) toward present-day [Suzdal](https://bliptext.com/articles/suzdal) and [Murom](https://bliptext.com/articles/murom) and another from [Polotsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/polotsk) toward [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod) and [Rostov](https://bliptext.com/articles/rostov-yaroslavl-oblast).\nPrior to the Slavic migration in the 6-7th centuries, the Suzdal-Murom and Novgorod-Rostov areas were populated by [Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples), including the [Merya](https://bliptext.com/articles/meryans), the [Muromians](https://bliptext.com/articles/muromians), and the [Meshchera](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshchera).\nFrom the 7th century onwards, the East Slavs slowly assimilated the native Finnic peoples, so that by year 1100, the majority of the population in Western Russia was Slavic-speaking.\nRecent genetic studies confirm the presence of a Finnic substrate in modern Russian population.\nOutside archaeological remains, little is known about the predecessors to Russians in general prior to 859 AD, when the [Primary Chronicle](https://bliptext.com/articles/primary-chronicle) starts its records.\nBy 600 AD, the [Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) are believed to have split linguistically into [southern](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavs), [western](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs), and eastern branches.\n# [East Slavic tribes and peoples, 8th–9th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/East///Slavic///tribes///peoples///8th///9th///century.jpg]\n\n## Medieval history\nThe Rus' state was established in northern Russia in the year 862, which was ruled by the [Varangians](https://bliptext.com/articles/varangians).\n[Staraya Ladoga](https://bliptext.com/articles/staraya-ladoga) and [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/veliky-novgorod) became the first major cities of the new union of immigrants from [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) with the Slavs and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples).\nIn 882, the prince [Oleg](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-the-wise) seized [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev), thereby uniting the northern and southern lands of the [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) under one authority.\nThe state [adopted Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus) from the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 988.\n[Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus) ultimately disintegrated as a state as a result of in-fighting between members of the princely family that ruled it collectively.\nAfter the 13th century, [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) became a political and cultural center.\nMoscow has become a center for the [unification of Russian lands](https://bliptext.com/articles/collector-of-russian-lands).\nBy the end of the 15th century, Moscow united the northeastern and northwestern Russian principalities, overthrew the \"Mongol yoke\" in 1480, and would be transformed into the [Tsardom of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsardom-of-russia) after [Ivan IV](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-the-terrible) was crowned tsar in 1547.\n# [The Baptism of Kievans, by Klavdy Lebedev | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Lebedev///baptism.jpg]\n\n## Modern history\nIn 1721, Tsar [Peter the Great](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-the-great) renamed his state as the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire), hoping to associate it with historical and cultural achievements of ancient Rus' – in contrast to his policies oriented towards Western Europe.\nThe state now extended from the eastern borders of the [Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-lithuanian-commonwealth) to the [Pacific Ocean](https://bliptext.com/articles/pacific-ocean), and became a [great power](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-power); and one of the most powerful states in Europe after the [victory over Napoleon](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-russia).\nPeasant revolts were common, and all were fiercely suppressed.\nThe Emperor [Alexander II](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-ii-of-russia) [abolished](https://bliptext.com/articles/emancipation-reform-of-1861) [Russian serfdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serfdom-in-russia) in 1861, but the peasants fared poorly and revolutionary pressures grew.\nIn the following decades, reform efforts such as the [Stolypin reforms](https://bliptext.com/articles/stolypin-reform) of 1906–1914, the [constitution of 1906](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-constitution-of-1906), and the [State Duma](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-duma-russian-empire) (1906–1917) attempted to open and liberalize the economy and political system, but the Emperors refused to relinquish [autocratic rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsarist-autocracy) and resisted sharing their power.\nA combination of economic breakdown, [war-weariness](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-in-world-war-i), and discontent with the autocratic system of government triggered [revolution in Russia in 1917](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution).\nThe [overthrow of the monarchy](https://bliptext.com/articles/february-revolution) initially brought into office a coalition of liberals and moderate socialists, but their failed policies led to [seizure of power](https://bliptext.com/articles/october-revolution) by the [communist](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) [Bolsheviks](https://bliptext.com/articles/bolsheviks) on 25 October 1917 (7 November [New Style](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-style-and-new-style-dates)).\nIn 1922, Soviet Russia, along with [Soviet Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-ukraine), [Soviet Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-belarus), and the [Transcaucasian SFSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/transcaucasian-sfsr) signed the [Treaty on the Creation of the USSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-on-the-creation-of-the-ussr), officially merging all four republics to form the Soviet Union as a country.\nBetween 1922 and 1991, the history of Russia became essentially the [history of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-soviet-union), effectively an ideologically based state roughly conterminous with the Russian Empire before the 1918 [Treaty of Brest-Litovsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-brest-litovsk-russia-central-powers).\nFrom its first years, government in the Soviet Union based itself on the one-party rule of the Communists, as the Bolsheviks called themselves, beginning in March 1918.\nThe approach to the building of socialism, however, varied over different periods in Soviet history: from the [mixed economy](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-economic-policy) and diverse society and culture of the 1920s through the [command economy and repressions](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinism) of the [Joseph Stalin](https://bliptext.com/articles/joseph-stalin) era to the [\"era of stagnation\"](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-of-stagnation) from the 1960s to the 1980s.\nThe actions of the Soviet government caused the death of millions of citizens in the [famine of 1930–1933](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-famine-of-1930-1933) and the [Great Purge](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-purge).\nThe [attack](https://bliptext.com/articles/operation-barbarossa) by [Nazi Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/nazi-germany) and the ensuing [war](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), together with [the Holocaust](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-holocaust), again claimed [millions of lives](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii-casualties-of-the-soviet-union).\nMillions of Russian civilians and [prisoners of war](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-atrocities-committed-against-soviet-prisoners-of-war) were killed or starved to death during Nazi Germany's genocidal policies called the [Hunger Plan](https://bliptext.com/articles/hunger-plan) and the [Generalplan Ost](https://bliptext.com/articles/generalplan-ost), including one million civilian casualties during the [Siege of Leningrad](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-leningrad).\nAfter the victory of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) and the [Western Allies](https://bliptext.com/articles/allies-of-world-war-ii), the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) became a [superpower](https://bliptext.com/articles/superpower) opposing Western countries during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nBy the mid-1980s, with Soviet economic and political weaknesses becoming acute, Soviet leader [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-gorbachev) embarked on major reforms; these culminated in the [dissolution of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-the-soviet-union), leaving Russia again alone and marking the beginning of the [post-Soviet](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-russia-1991-present) Russian period.\nThe [Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-soviet-federative-socialist-republic) renamed itself the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) and became the [successor state to the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/succession-of-states).\n# [Grandma's Fairy Tales, by Vassily Maximov | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B2///%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B///%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BA%D0%B8///1867.jpg]\n# [Percentage of ethnic Russians by federal subjects of Russia according to the 2010 census: \n{{legend|#ff0000|above 80%|undefined | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Percentage///of///Russians///by///region.svg]\n\n# Geographic distribution\nEthnic Russians historically migrated within the areas of the former [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union), though they were sometimes encouraged to re-settle in borderland areas by the Tsarist and later Soviet government.\nSometimes ethnic Russian communities, such as the [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) who settled in the [Danube delta](https://bliptext.com/articles/danube-delta) or the [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) in [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), emigrated as religious dissidents fleeing the central authority.\nThere are also small Russian communities in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) — including [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) in the Danube delta — Central European nations such as [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) and [Poland](https://bliptext.com/articles/poland), as well as Russians settled in [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china), [Japan](https://bliptext.com/articles/japan), [South Korea](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-korea), [Mexico](https://bliptext.com/articles/mexico), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/brazil), [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) and [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia).\nThese communities identify themselves to varying degrees as Russians, citizens of these countries, or both.\nSignificant numbers of Russians emigrated to [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) and the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states).\n[Brighton Beach, Brooklyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/brighton-beach-brooklyn) and [South Beach, Staten Island](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-beach-staten-island) in [New York City](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-city) are examples of large communities of recent Russian and [Russian-Jewish](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) immigrants.\nOther examples are [Sunny Isles Beach](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunny-isles-beach), a northern suburb of [Miami](https://bliptext.com/articles/miami), and [West Hollywood](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-hollywood) of the [Los Angeles](https://bliptext.com/articles/los-angeles) area.\nAfter the [Russian Revolution](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution-of-1917) in 1917, many Russians who were identified with the [White army](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-army) moved to [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china) — most of them settling in [Harbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/harbin) and [Shanghai](https://bliptext.com/articles/shanghai).\nBy the 1930s, Harbin had 100,000 Russians.\nMany of these Russians moved back to the Soviet Union after [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii).\nToday, a large group in northern China still speak Russian as a second language.\nRussians (eluosizu) are one of the [56 ethnic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/nationalities-of-china) officially recognized by the [People's Republic of China](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-china) (as the Russ); there are approximately 15,600 Russian Chinese living mostly in northern [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang), and also in [Inner Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/inner-mongolia) and [Heilongjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/heilongjiang).\nAccording to the [2021 Russian census](https://bliptext.com/articles/2021-russian-census), the number of ethnic Russians in the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) decreased by nearly 5.43 million, from roughly 111 million people in 2010 to approximately 105.5 million in 2021.\n# [Ethnic Russians in former Soviet Union states in 1994 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Russians///ethnic///94.jpg]\n# [Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery in Paris, the resting place of many eminent Russian émigrés after 1917 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Eglise///notre///dame///de///l///assomption///7.jpg]\n\n# Ethnographic groups\nAmong Russians, a number of [ethnographic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnographic-group) stand out, such as: the [Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), the [Southern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-russian-dialects), the [Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks), the [Goryuns](https://bliptext.com/articles/goryuns), the [Kamchadals](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamchadals), the [Polekhs](https://bliptext.com/articles/polekhs), the [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), the [Russian Chinese](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-china), the [Siberians](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberians) (Siberiaks), [Starozhily](https://bliptext.com/articles/starozhily), some groupings of [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers) ([Kamenschiks](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamenschik), [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans), [Semeiskie](https://bliptext.com/articles/semeiskie)), and others.\nThe main ones are the Northern and Southern Russian groups.\nAt the same time, the proposal of the ethnographer [Dmitry Zelenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-konstantinovich-zelenin) in his major work of 1927 Russian (East Slavic) Ethnography to consider them as separate East Slavic peoples did not find support in scientific circles.\nRussia's Arctic coastline had been explored and settled by [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), Russian settlers from [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-republic).\n[Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks) inhabited sparsely populated areas in the [Don](https://bliptext.com/articles/don-river), [Terek](https://bliptext.com/articles/terek-river), and [Ural](https://bliptext.com/articles/ural-river) river basins, and played an important role in the historical and cultural development of parts of Russia.\n# [Lipovans in the Danube Delta | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%2C///%D0%94%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5///%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8///1962///%D0%B3.JPG]\n\n# Genetics\nIn accordance with the 2008 research results of Russian and Estonian geneticists, two groups of Russians are distinguished: the northern and southern populations.\nCentral and Southern Russians, to which the majority of Russian populations belong, according to [Y chromosome](https://bliptext.com/articles/y-chromosome) R1a, are included in the general \"[East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) European\" [gene cluster](https://bliptext.com/articles/gene-cluster) with the rest [East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) and [West Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs) (Poles, Czechs and Slovaks), as well as the non-Slavic [Hungarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/hungarians) and [Aromanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanians).\nGenetically, East Slavs are quite similar to West Slavs; such genetic similarity is somewhat unusual for genetics with such a wide settlement of the Slavs, especially Russians.\nThe high unity of the [autosomal](https://bliptext.com/articles/autosome) markers of the East Slavic populations and their significant differences from the neighboring Finnic, Turkic and Caucasian peoples were revealed.\n[Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), according to [mtDNA](https://bliptext.com/articles/mitochondrial-dna), Y chromosome and autosomal marker CCR5de132, are included in the \"North European\" gene cluster (the [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), the [Balts](https://bliptext.com/articles/balts), [Germanic](https://bliptext.com/articles/germanic-speaking-europe) and [Baltic Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-finnic-peoples)).\nConsequently, the already existing biologo-genetic studies have made all hypotheses about the mixing of the Russians with non-Slavic ethnic groups or their \"non-Slavism\" obsolete or pseudoscientific.\nAt the same time, the long-standing identification of the Northern Russian and Southern Russian ethnographic groups by ethnologists was confirmed.\nThe previous conclusions of physical anthropologists, historians and linguists (see, in particular, the works of the academician [Valentin Yanin](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-yanin)) about the proximity of the ancient [Novgorod Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-slavs) and their language not to the East, but to west [Baltic Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/lechites).\nAs can be seen from [genetic resources](https://bliptext.com/articles/genetic-resources), the contemporary Northern Russians also are genetically close of all Slavic peoples only to the Poles and similar to the Balts.\nHowever, this does not mean the northern Russians origin from the Balts or the Poles, more likely, that all the peoples of the Nordic gene pool are descendants of [Paleo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-hunter-gatherer) population, which has remained around [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea).\n# [Russian people in Saint-Petersburg. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/%D0%97%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8///%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F///Cosmos///%D0%BD%D0%B0///Geek///Picnic///2018///SPb.jpg]\n\n# Assimilation and immigration\nRussians have sometimes found it useful to emphasize their self-perceived ability to [assimilate](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) other people [to the Russian ethnicity](https://bliptext.com/articles/russification) - and as a historic great power with imperial expansionist tendencies the Russian state has sometimes encouraged Russian-centred monoculturalism.\nSteppe peoples, Tatars, Baltic Germans, Lithuanians and native Siberians in [Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus), [Muscovy](https://bliptext.com/articles/muscovy-disambiguation) or the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) could in theory become \"Russians\" simply by accepting [Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy) as their faith.\nThe attitude of ready inclusivity is summed up in the popular phrase (sometimes attributed to Emperor [Alexander III of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-iii-of-russia)) - Хочешь быть русским - будь им!\n.\n\n# Language\n[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) is the [official](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) and the predominantly spoken language in Russia.\nIt is the most-spoken native language in Europe, the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, as well as the world's most widely spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nRussian is the third-most used language on the [Internet](https://bliptext.com/articles/internet) after [English](https://bliptext.com/articles/english-language) and [Spanish](https://bliptext.com/articles/spanish-language), and is one of two official languages aboard the [International Space Station](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-space-station), as well as one of the six [official languages of the United Nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-languages-of-the-united-nations).\n\n# Culture\n# [Russian artist Boris Kustodiev's Maslenitsa, 1916 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Boris///Kustodiev///-///Shrovetide///-///Google///Art///Project.jpg]\n\n## Literature\n[Russian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-literature) is considered to be among the world's most influential and developed.\nIt can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages), when epics and chronicles in [Old East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-east-slavic) were composed.\nBy the [Age of Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment), literature had grown in importance, with works from [Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov), [Denis Fonvizin](https://bliptext.com/articles/denis-fonvizin), [Gavrila Derzhavin](https://bliptext.com/articles/gavrila-derzhavin), and [Nikolay Karamzin](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-karamzin).\nFrom the early 1830s, during the [Golden Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/golden-age-of-russian-poetry), literature underwent an astounding golden age in poetry, prose and drama.\n[Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) permitted a flowering of poetic talent: [Vasily Zhukovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vasily-zhukovsky) and later his protégé [Alexander Pushkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-pushkin) came to the fore.\nFollowing Pushkin's footsteps, a new generation of poets were born, including [Mikhail Lermontov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lermontov), [Nikolay Nekrasov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-nekrasov), [Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksey-konstantinovich-tolstoy), [Fyodor Tyutchev](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-tyutchev) and [Afanasy Fet](https://bliptext.com/articles/afanasy-fet).\nThe first great Russian novelist was [Nikolai Gogol](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-gogol).\nThen came [Ivan Turgenev](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-turgenev), who mastered both short stories and novels.\n[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-dostoyevsky) and [Leo Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/leo-tolstoy) soon became internationally renowned.\n[Ivan Goncharov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-goncharov) is remembered mainly for his novel [Oblomov](https://bliptext.com/articles/oblomov).\n[Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-saltykov-shchedrin) wrote prose satire, while [Nikolai Leskov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-leskov) is best remembered for his shorter fiction.\nIn the second half of the century [Anton Chekhov](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-chekhov) excelled in short stories and became a leading dramatist.\nOther important 19th-century developments included the fabulist [Ivan Krylov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-krylov), non-fiction writers such as the critic [Vissarion Belinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vissarion-belinsky), and playwrights such as [Aleksandr Griboyedov](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-griboyedov) and [Aleksandr Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-ostrovsky).\nThe beginning of the 20th century ranks as the [Silver Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/silver-age-of-russian-poetry).\nThis era had poets such as [Alexander Blok](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-blok), [Anna Akhmatova](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-akhmatova), [Boris Pasternak](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-pasternak), [Konstantin Balmont](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-balmont), [Marina Tsvetaeva](https://bliptext.com/articles/marina-tsvetaeva), [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-mayakovsky), and [Osip Mandelstam](https://bliptext.com/articles/osip-mandelstam).\nIt also produced some first-rate novelists and short-story writers, such as [Aleksandr Kuprin](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-kuprin), Nobel Prize winner [Ivan Bunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-bunin), [Leonid Andreyev](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-andreyev), [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yevgeny-zamyatin), [Dmitry Merezhkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-merezhkovsky) and [Andrei Bely](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-bely).\nAfter the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russian literature split into Soviet and [white émigré](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-migr) parts.\nIn the 1930s, [Socialist realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-realism) became the predominant trend in Russia.\nIts leading figure was [Maxim Gorky](https://bliptext.com/articles/maxim-gorky), who laid the foundations of this style.\n[Mikhail Bulgakov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bulgakov) was one of the leading writers of the Soviet era.\n[Nikolay Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-ostrovsky)'s novel [How the Steel Was Tempered](https://bliptext.com/articles/how-the-steel-was-tempered) has been among the most successful works of Russian literature.\nInfluential émigré writers include [Vladimir Nabokov](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-nabokov).\nSome writers dared to oppose Soviet ideology, such as Nobel Prize-winning novelist [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn), who wrote about life in the Gulag camps.\n# [Leo Tolstoy's (1828–1910) notable works include the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, often cited as pinnacles of realist fiction. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/L.N.Tolstoy///Prokudin-Gorsky.jpg]\n\n## Philosophy\n[Russian philosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-philosophy) has been greatly influential.\n[Alexander Herzen](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-herzen) is known as one of the fathers of [agrarian](https://bliptext.com/articles/agrarianism) [populism](https://bliptext.com/articles/populism).\n[Mikhail Bakunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakunin) is referred to as the father of [anarchism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarchism).\n[Peter Kropotkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-kropotkin) was the most important theorist of [anarcho-communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarcho-communism).\n[Mikhail Bakhtin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakhtin)'s writings have significantly inspired scholars.\n[Helena Blavatsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/helena-blavatsky) gained international following as the leading theoretician of [Theosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophy), and co-founded the [Theosophical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophical-society).\n[Vladimir Lenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-lenin), a major revolutionary, developed a variant of communism known as [Leninism](https://bliptext.com/articles/leninism).\n[Leon Trotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/leon-trotsky), on the other hand, founded [Trotskyism](https://bliptext.com/articles/trotskyism).\n[Alexander Zinoviev](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-zinoviev) was a prominent philosopher in the second half of the 20th century.\n\n## Science\n[Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov) proposed the [conservation of mass](https://bliptext.com/articles/conservation-of-mass) in [chemical reactions](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemical-reactions), discovered the [atmosphere of Venus](https://bliptext.com/articles/atmosphere-of-venus), and founded modern [geology](https://bliptext.com/articles/geology).\nSince the times of [Nikolay Lobachevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-lobachevsky), who pioneered the [non-Euclidean geometry](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-euclidean-geometry), and a prominent tutor [Pafnuty Chebyshev](https://bliptext.com/articles/pafnuty-chebyshev), Russian [mathematicians](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-russian-mathematicians) became among the world's most influential.\n[Dmitry Mendeleev](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-mendeleev) invented the [Periodic table](https://bliptext.com/articles/periodic-table), the main framework of modern [chemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemistry).\n[Sofya Kovalevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/sofya-kovalevskaya) was a pioneer among [women in mathematics](https://bliptext.com/articles/timeline-of-women-in-mathematics) in the 19th century.\n[Grigori Perelman](https://bliptext.com/articles/grigori-perelman) was offered the first ever Clay [Millennium Prize Problems](https://bliptext.com/articles/millennium-prize-problems) Award for his final proof of the [Poincaré conjecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/poincar-conjecture) in 2002, as well as the Fields Medal in 2006, both of which he declined.\n[Alexander Popov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-stepanovich-popov) was among the [inventors of radio](https://bliptext.com/articles/invention-of-radio), while [Nikolai Basov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-basov) and [Alexander Prokhorov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-prokhorov) were co-inventors of [laser](https://bliptext.com/articles/laser) and [maser](https://bliptext.com/articles/maser).\n[Zhores Alferov](https://bliptext.com/articles/zhores-alferov) contributed significantly to the creation of [modern heterostructure physics and electronics](https://bliptext.com/articles/heterojunction).\n[Oleg Losev](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-losev) made crucial contributions in the field of [semiconductor junctions](https://bliptext.com/articles/semiconductor-junction), and discovered [light-emitting diodes](https://bliptext.com/articles/light-emitting-diode).\n[Vladimir Vernadsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vernadsky) is considered one of the founders of [geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), bio[geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), and [radiogeology](https://bliptext.com/articles/radiometric-dating).\n[Élie Metchnikoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/lie-metchnikoff) is known for his groundbreaking research in [immunology](https://bliptext.com/articles/immunology).\n[Ivan Pavlov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-pavlov) is known chiefly for his work in [classical conditioning](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-conditioning).\n[Lev Landau](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-landau) made fundamental contributions to many areas of [theoretical physics](https://bliptext.com/articles/theoretical-physics).\n[Nikolai Vavilov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-vavilov) was best known for having identified the [centers](https://bliptext.com/articles/vavilov-center) of origin of [cultivated](https://bliptext.com/articles/horticulture) plants.\nMany famous Russian scientists and inventors were [émigrés](https://bliptext.com/articles/migr-s).\n[Igor Sikorsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-sikorsky) was an [aviation pioneer](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-aviation-pioneers).\n[Vladimir Zworykin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-zworykin) was the inventor of the [iconoscope](https://bliptext.com/articles/iconoscope) and [kinescope](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinescope) television systems.\n[Theodosius Dobzhansky](https://bliptext.com/articles/theodosius-dobzhansky) was the central figure in the field of [evolutionary biology](https://bliptext.com/articles/evolutionary-biology) for his work in shaping the [modern synthesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-synthesis-20th-century).\n[George Gamow](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-gamow) was one of the foremost advocates of the [Big Bang](https://bliptext.com/articles/big-bang) theory.\n[Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-tsiolkovsky) is called the father of theoretical [astronautics](https://bliptext.com/articles/astronautics), whose works had inspired leading Soviet rocket engineers, such as [Valentin Glushko](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-glushko), and many others.\nIn 1961, the first human trip into space was successfully made by [Yuri Gagarin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yuri-gagarin).\nIn 1963, [Valentina Tereshkova](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentina-tereshkova) became the first and youngest [woman in space](https://bliptext.com/articles/women-in-space), having flown a solo mission on [Vostok 6](https://bliptext.com/articles/vostok-6).\nIn 1965, [Alexei Leonov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexei-leonov) became the first human to conduct a [spacewalk](https://bliptext.com/articles/spacewalk), exiting the [space capsule](https://bliptext.com/articles/space-capsule) during [Voskhod 2](https://bliptext.com/articles/voskhod-2).\n# [Dmitri Mendeleev (1837–1906) is best known for formulating the Periodic Law and creating a version of the periodic table of elements. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Dmitri///Mendeleev///%281834%E2%80%931907%29.jpg]\n\n## Music\nUntil the 18th century, music in Russia consisted mainly of church music and folk songs and dances.\nIn the 19th century, it was defined by the tension between classical composer [Mikhail Glinka](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-glinka) along with other members of [The Mighty Handful](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-mighty-handful), and the [Russian Musical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-musical-society) led by composers [Anton](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-rubinstein) and [Nikolay Rubinstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-rubinstein).\nThe later tradition of [Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky), one of the greatest composers of the [Romantic era](https://bliptext.com/articles/romantic-music), was continued into the 20th century by [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-rachmaninoff), one of the last great champions of the Romantic style of European classical music.\nWorld-renowned composers of the 20th century include [Alexander Scriabin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-scriabin), [Alexander Glazunov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-glazunov), [Igor Stravinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-stravinsky), [Sergei Prokofiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-prokofiev), [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitri-shostakovich), [Georgy Sviridov](https://bliptext.com/articles/georgy-sviridov) and [Alfred Schnittke](https://bliptext.com/articles/alfred-schnittke).\nSoviet and Russian conservatories have turned out generations of world-renowned soloists.\nAmong the best known are violinists [David Oistrakh](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-oistrakh) and [Gidon Kremer](https://bliptext.com/articles/gidon-kremer), cellist [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/mstislav-rostropovich), pianists [Vladimir Horowitz](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-horowitz), [Sviatoslav Richter](https://bliptext.com/articles/sviatoslav-richter), and [Emil Gilels](https://bliptext.com/articles/emil-gilels), and vocalist [Galina Vishnevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/galina-vishnevskaya).\nDuring the Soviet times, [popular music](https://bliptext.com/articles/popular-music) also produced a number of renowned figures, such as the two [balladeers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bard-soviet-union)—[Vladimir Vysotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vysotsky) and [Bulat Okudzhava](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulat-okudzhava), and performers such as [Alla Pugacheva](https://bliptext.com/articles/alla-pugacheva).\n[Jazz](https://bliptext.com/articles/jazz), even with sanctions from Soviet authorities, flourished and evolved into one of the country's most popular musical forms.\nThe [Ganelin Trio](https://bliptext.com/articles/vyacheslav-ganelin) have been described by critics as the greatest ensemble of free-jazz in [continental Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/continental-europe).\nBy the 1980s, [rock music](https://bliptext.com/articles/rock-music-in-russia) became popular across Russia, and produced bands such as [Aria](https://bliptext.com/articles/aria-band), [Aquarium](https://bliptext.com/articles/aquarium-band), [DDT](https://bliptext.com/articles/ddt-band), and [Kino](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-band).\n[Pop music](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-pop) in Russia has continued to flourish since the 1960s, with globally famous acts such as [t.A.T.u.](https://bliptext.com/articles/t-a-t-u) In the recent times, [Little Big](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-big-band), a [rave](https://bliptext.com/articles/rave-music) band, has gained popularity in Russia and across Europe.\n# [The classic ballet of Swan Lake was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Portr%C3%A4t///des///Komponisten///Pjotr///I.///Tschaikowski///%281840-1893%29.jpg]\n\n## Cinema\nRussian and later [Soviet cinema](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-cinema) was a hotbed of invention, resulting in world-renowned films such as [The Battleship Potemkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-battleship-potemkin).\nSoviet-era filmmakers, most notably [Sergei Eisenstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-eisenstein) and [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-tarkovsky), would go on to become among of the world's most innovative and influential directors.\nEisenstein was a student of [Lev Kuleshov](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-kuleshov), who developed the groundbreaking [Soviet montage theory](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-montage-theory) of film editing at the world's first [film school](https://bliptext.com/articles/film-school), the [All-Union Institute of Cinematography](https://bliptext.com/articles/gerasimov-institute-of-cinematography).\n[Dziga Vertov](https://bliptext.com/articles/dziga-vertov)'s \"[Kino-Eye](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-eye)\" theory had a huge impact on the development of documentary filmmaking and cinema realism.\nMany Soviet socialist realism films were artistically successful, including [Chapaev](https://bliptext.com/articles/chapaev-film), [The Cranes Are Flying](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-cranes-are-flying), and [Ballad of a Soldier](https://bliptext.com/articles/ballad-of-a-soldier).\nThe 1960s and 1970s saw a greater variety of artistic styles in Soviet cinema.\nThe comedies of [Eldar Ryazanov](https://bliptext.com/articles/eldar-ryazanov) and [Leonid Gaidai](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-gaidai) of that time were immensely popular, with many of the catchphrases still in use today.\nIn 1961–68 [Sergey Bondarchuk](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergey-bondarchuk) directed an [Oscar](https://bliptext.com/articles/academy-award)-winning [film adaptation](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace-film-series) of Leo Tolstoy's epic [War and Peace](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace), which was [the most expensive film](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-most-expensive-film) made in the Soviet Union.\nIn 1969, [Vladimir Motyl](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-motyl)'s [White Sun of the Desert](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-sun-of-the-desert) was released, a very popular film in a genre of [ostern](https://bliptext.com/articles/ostern); the film is traditionally watched by [cosmonauts](https://bliptext.com/articles/cosmonauts) before any trip into space.\nIn 2002, [Russian Ark](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-ark) was the first feature film ever to be shot in a single take.\nToday, the Russian cinema industry continues to expand.\n# [Poster of Battleship Potemkin (1925) by Sergei Eisenstein, which was named the greatest film of all time at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Vintage///Potemkin.jpg]\n\n## Architecture\nThe history of [Russian architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-architecture) begins with early woodcraft buildings of ancient Slavs, and the [architecture of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/architecture-of-kievan-rus).\nFollowing the [Christianization of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus), for several centuries it was influenced predominantly by the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire).\n[Aristotle Fioravanti](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristotle-fioravanti) and other Italian architects brought [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) trends into Russia.\nThe 16th century saw the development of the unique [tent-like churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/tent-like-church); and the [onion dome](https://bliptext.com/articles/onion-dome) design, which is a distinctive feature of Russian architecture.\nIn the 17th century, the \"fiery style\" of ornamentation flourished in Moscow and [Yaroslavl](https://bliptext.com/articles/yaroslavl), gradually paving the way for the [Naryshkin baroque](https://bliptext.com/articles/naryshkin-baroque) of the 1690s.\nAfter the reforms of Peter the Great, Russia's architecture became influenced by Western European styles.\nThe 18th-century taste for [Rococo](https://bliptext.com/articles/rococo) architecture led to the splendid works of [Bartolomeo Rastrelli](https://bliptext.com/articles/bartolomeo-rastrelli) and his followers.\nDuring the reign of Catherine the Great, Saint Petersburg was transformed into an outdoor museum of [Neoclassical architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/neoclassical-architecture).\nDuring [Alexander I](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-i-of-russia)'s rule, [Empire style](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-style) became the de facto architectural style, and [Nicholas I](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicholas-i-of-russia) opened the gate of [Eclecticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/eclecticism) to Russia.\nThe second half of the 19th-century was dominated by the [Neo-Byzantine](https://bliptext.com/articles/neo-byzantine-architecture-in-the-russian-empire) and [Russian Revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revival) style.\nIn early 20th-century, [Russian neoclassical revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-neoclassical-revival) became a trend.\nPrevalent styles of the late 20th-century were the [Art Nouveau](https://bliptext.com/articles/art-nouveau-architecture-in-russia), [Constructivism](https://bliptext.com/articles/constructivism-art), and [Socialist Classicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinist-architecture).\n# [Saint Basil's Cathedral, built between 1555 and 1683, in Moscow | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Saint///Basil%27s///Cathedral///in///Moscow.jpg]\n\n## Religion\nRussia's largest religion is [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity-in-russia)—It has the world's [largest Orthodox population](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy-by-country).\nAccording to differing sociological surveys on religious adherence, between 41% to over 80% of the total population of Russia adhere to the [Russian Orthodox Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodox-church).There is no official census of religion in Russia, and estimates are based on surveys only.\nIn August 2012, [ARENA](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that about 46.8% of Russians are Christians (including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational), which is slightly less than an absolute 50%+ majority.\nHowever, later that year the [Levada Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 76% of Russians are Christians, and in June 2013 the [Public Opinion Foundation](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 65% of Russians are Christians.\nThese findings are in line with [Pew](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey, which determined that 73.3% of Russians are Christians, with [VTSIOM](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey (~77% Christian), and with [Ipsos MORI](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2011 survey (69%).\nNon-religious Russians may associate themselves with the Orthodox faith for cultural reasons.\nSome Russian people are [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers): a relatively small [schismatic](https://bliptext.com/articles/schism-religion) group of the Russian Orthodoxy that rejected the liturgical reforms introduced in the 17th century.\nOther schisms from Orthodoxy include [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) which in the 18th century rejected secular government, the Russian Orthodox priests, icons, all church ritual, the Bible as the supreme source of divine revelation and the divinity of Jesus, and later emigrated into Canada.\nAn even earlier sect were [Molokans](https://bliptext.com/articles/molokan) which formed in 1550 and rejected Czar's [divine right to rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/divine-right-of-kings), icons, the [Trinity](https://bliptext.com/articles/trinity) as outlined by the [Nicene Creed](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicene-creed), Orthodox [fasts](https://bliptext.com/articles/fasting), military service, and practices including [water baptism](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptism).\nOther world religions have negligible representation among ethnic Russians.\nThe largest of these groups are [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) with over 100,000 followers from national minorities, and [Baptists](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptists) with over 85,000 Russian adherents.\nOthers are mostly [Pentecostals](https://bliptext.com/articles/pentecostals), [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicals), [Seventh-day Adventists](https://bliptext.com/articles/seventh-day-adventists), [Lutherans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lutherans) and [Jehovah's Witnesses](https://bliptext.com/articles/jehovah-s-witnesses).\nSince the fall of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) various new religious movements have sprung up and gathered a following among ethnic Russians.\nThe most prominent of these are [Rodnovery](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-neopaganism), the revival of the Slavic native religion also common to other [Slavic nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs).\n# [Trinity Sunday in Russia; the Russian Orthodox Church has experienced a great revival since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a country that had a policy of state atheism. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C///%D0%A1%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B9///%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%86%D1%8B.///%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9///%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA.jpg]\n\n## Sports\n[Football](https://bliptext.com/articles/association-football) is the most popular sport in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-national-football-team) became the first European champions by winning [Euro 1960](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1960), and reached the finals of [Euro 1988](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1988).\nIn 1956 and 1988, the Soviet Union won gold at the [Olympic football tournament](https://bliptext.com/articles/football-at-the-summer-olympics).\nRussian clubs [CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pfc-cska-moscow) and [Zenit Saint Petersburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/zenit-saint-petersburg) won the [UEFA Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/uefa-cup) in 2005 and 2008.\nThe [Russian national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-football-team) reached the semi-finals of [Euro 2008](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-2008).\nRussia was the host nation for the [2017 FIFA Confederations Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2017-fifa-confederations-cup), and the [2018 FIFA World Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2018-fifa-world-cup).\n[Ice hockey](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-in-russia) is very popular in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) dominated the sport internationally throughout its existence, and the modern-day [Russia men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) is among the most successful teams in the sport.\n[Bandy](https://bliptext.com/articles/bandy) is Russia's national sport, and it has historically been the highest-achieving country in the sport.\nThe [Russian national basketball team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-basketball-team) won the [EuroBasket 2007](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurobasket-2007), and the Russian basketball club [PBC CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pbc-cska-moscow) is among the most successful European basketball teams.\nThe annual [Formula One](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-one) [Russian Grand Prix](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-grand-prix) is held at the [Sochi Autodrom](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-autodrom) in the [Sochi Olympic Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-olympic-park).\nRussia is the leading nation in [rhythmic gymnastics](https://bliptext.com/articles/rhythmic-gymnastics); and Russian [synchronized swimming](https://bliptext.com/articles/synchronized-swimming) is considered to be the world's best.\n[Figure skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/figure-skating) is another popular sport in Russia, especially [pair skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/pair-skating) and [ice dancing](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-dancing).\nRussia has produced a number of famous [tennis](https://bliptext.com/articles/tennis) players, such as [Maria Sharapova](https://bliptext.com/articles/maria-sharapova) and [Daniil Medvedev](https://bliptext.com/articles/daniil-medvedev).\n[Chess](https://bliptext.com/articles/chess) is also a widely popular pastime in the nation, with many of the world's top chess players being Russian for decades.\nThe [1980 Summer Olympic Games](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-summer-olympic-games) were held in Moscow, and the [2014 Winter Olympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-olympics) and the [2014 Winter Paralympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-paralympics) were hosted in Sochi.\n\n# Citations","wordIndex":2,"createdAt":"2025-03-14T14:19:09.730Z","user":{"id":"UJciJQ2hQIrZps3kZm935H9iZdLdqPq0","name":"Twich","image":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocLD3PsgJqJm6oirWur8MXi2zojkfsa29nbZahVzxk4vLrwyjw=s96-c"}}],"article":{"id":"c14894fa-aa1e-456b-aa51-0b0bba457a20","title":"Russians","slug":"russians","content":":::summary\n**Group:** Russians \n**Native Name Lang:** ru \n**Population:** c. 135 million \n**Popplace:** Map of the Russian Diaspora in the World.svg · Russia 105,620,179 (2021) \n**Region 1:** Germany \n**Pop 1:** approx. 7,500,000 · (including [Russian Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) and [Russian Germans](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-germans-in-russia-ukraine-and-the-soviet-union)) \n**Region 2:** Ukraine \n**Pop 2:** 7,170,000 (2018) (including [Crimea](https://bliptext.com/articles/crimea)) \n**Region 3:** Kazakhstan \n**Pop 3:** 2,983,317 (2024 government est.) \n**Region 4:** United States \n**Pop 4:** 3,072,756 (2009) · (including Russian Jews and Russian Germans) \n**Region 7:** Uzbekistan \n**Pop 7:** 720,324 (2019) \n**Region 8:** Belarus \n**Pop 8:** 706,992 (2019) \n**Region 9:** Canada \n**Pop 9:** 622,445 (2016) (Russian ancestry, excluding Russian Germans) \n**Region 1 0:** Latvia \n**Pop 1 0:** 454,350 (2022) \n**Region 1 1:** Kyrgyzstan \n**Pop 1 1:** 352,960 (2018) \n**Region 1 3:** Estonia \n**Pop 1 3:** 315,252 (2021) \n**Region 1 4:** Argentina \n**Pop 1 4:** 300,000 (2018) \n**Region 1 5:** Moldova \n**Pop 1 5:** 201,218 (2014) \n**Region 1 6:** France \n**Ref 1 6:** 200,000 to 500,000 \n**Region 1 7:** Turkmenistan \n**Pop 1 7:** 150,000 (2012) \n**Region 1 8:** Lithuania \n**Pop 1 8:** 129,797 (2017) \n**Region 1 9:** Italy \n**Pop 1 9:** 120,459 \n**Region 2 0:** Azerbaijan \n**Pop 2 0:** 119,300 (2009) \n**Region 2 1:** Finland \n**Pop 2 1:** 90,801 (2020) \n**Region 2 2:** Spain \n**Pop 2 2:** 72,234 (2017) \n**Region 2 3:** Australia \n**Pop 2 3:** 67,055 (2006) \n**Region 2 4:** Turkey \n**Pop 2 4:** 50,000–100,000 · (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** Poland \n**Pop 2 5:** 40,000 (2019) \n**Region 2 6:** Romania \n**Pop 2 6:** 36,397 (2002) · ([Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans)) \n**Region 2 7:** Czech Republic \n**Pop 2 7:** 35,759 (2016) \n**Region 2 8:** Tajikistan \n**Pop 2 8:** 35,000 (2010) \n**Region 2 9:** South Korea \n**Pop 2 9:** 30,098 (2016) \n**Region 3 0:** Georgia \n**Pop 3 0:** 26,453 (2014) \n**Region 3 1:** Hungary \n**Pop 3 1:** 21,518 (2016) \n**Region 3 2:** Sweden \n**Pop 3 2:** 20,187 (2016) \n**Region 3 3:** China \n**Pop 3 3:** 15,609 (2000) \n**Region 3 4:** Bulgaria \n**Pop 3 4:** 15,595 (2002) \n**Region 3 5:** Armenia \n**Pop 3 5:** 14,076 (2022) \n**Region 3 6:** Greece \n**Pop 3 6:** 13,635 (2002)< \n**Region 3 7:** Serbia \n**Pop 3 7:** 10,486 (2021) \n**Region 3 8:** Slovakia \n**Pop 3 8:** 8,116 (2021) \n**Region 3 9:** India \n**Pop 3 9:** 6,000–15,000 (2011) \n**Region 4 0:** Denmark \n**Pop 4 0:** 7,686 (2019) \n**Region 4 1:** New Zealand \n**Pop 4 1:** 5,979 (2013)< \n**Langs:** [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) ([Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) Sign Language) \n**Rels:** Predominantly [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) ([Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy)), minority [irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Related:** Other [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) ([Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), [Rusyns](https://bliptext.com/articles/rusyns)) \n**Tablehdr:** [Diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) \n:::\n\n# \nGypsys они крутые [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to [Eastern Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-europe).\nTheir [mother tongue](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-tongue) is [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language), the most spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nThe majority of Russians adhere to [Orthodox Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox-church), ever since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nBy total numbers, they are the largest [Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) and [European nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-groups-in-europe).\nGenetic studies show that Russians are closely related to [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians), [Ukrainians](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians), as well as [Estonians](https://bliptext.com/articles/estonians), [Latvians](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvians), [Lithuanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/lithuanians) and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finns).\nThey were formed from East Slavic tribes, and their cultural ancestry is based in [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe Russian word for the Russians is derived from the [people of Rus' and the territory of Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/names-of-rus-russia-and-ruthenia).\nRussians share many historical and cultural traits with other European peoples, and especially with other East Slavic ethnic groups, specifically [Belarusians](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians) and ДурыХохлы.\nThe vast majority of Russians live in native Russia, but notable minorities are scattered throughout other [post-Soviet states](https://bliptext.com/articles/post-soviet-states) such as [Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-belarus), [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-kazakhstan), [Moldova](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-moldova), [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-ukraine), and the [Baltic states](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-the-baltic-states).\nA large [Russian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-diaspora) (sometimes including Russian-speaking non-Russians), estimated at 25 million people, has developed all over the world, with notable numbers in the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-americans), [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-germany), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-brazilians), and [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-canadians).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThere are two [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) words which are commonly translated into English as \"[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language)s\".\nOne is русские (russkiye), which in modern Russia most often means \"ethnic Russians\".\nThe other one is россияне (rossiyane), derived from Россия (Rossiya, Russia), which denotes \"people of Russia\", regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation.\nIn daily usage, those terms are often mixed up, and since [Vladimir Putin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-putin) became president, the ethnic term русские has supplanted the non-ethnic term.\nThe name of the Russians derives from the early medieval [Rus' people](https://bliptext.com/articles/rus-people), a group of [Norse](https://bliptext.com/articles/norsemen) merchants and warriors who relocated from across the [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea) and played an important part in the foudation of the first [East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavic-peoples) state that later became the [Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus).\nThe idea of a single \"[all-Russian nation](https://bliptext.com/articles/all-russian-nation)\" encompassing the [East Slavic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs), or a \"triune nation\" of three brotherly \"[Great Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-russia)\", \"[Little Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-russia)\" (i.e. [Ukrainian](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukrainians)), and \"[White Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-ruthenia)\" (i.e. [Belarusian](https://bliptext.com/articles/belarusians)) peoples became the official doctrine of the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) from the beginning of the 19th century onwards.\n\n# History\n\n## Ancient history\nThe ancestors of modern Russians are the [Slavic tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ancient-slavic-peoples), whose original home is thought by some scholars to have been the wooded areas of the [Pinsk Marshes](https://bliptext.com/articles/pinsk-marshes), one of the largest [wetlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/wetland) in Europe.\nThe East Slavs gradually settled Western Russia with [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) included in two waves: one moving from [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev) toward present-day [Suzdal](https://bliptext.com/articles/suzdal) and [Murom](https://bliptext.com/articles/murom) and another from [Polotsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/polotsk) toward [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod) and [Rostov](https://bliptext.com/articles/rostov-yaroslavl-oblast).\nPrior to the Slavic migration in the 6-7th centuries, the Suzdal-Murom and Novgorod-Rostov areas were populated by [Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples), including the [Merya](https://bliptext.com/articles/meryans), the [Muromians](https://bliptext.com/articles/muromians), and the [Meshchera](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshchera).\nFrom the 7th century onwards, the East Slavs slowly assimilated the native Finnic peoples, so that by year 1100, the majority of the population in Western Russia was Slavic-speaking.\nRecent genetic studies confirm the presence of a Finnic substrate in modern Russian population.\nOutside archaeological remains, little is known about the predecessors to Russians in general prior to 859 AD, when the [Primary Chronicle](https://bliptext.com/articles/primary-chronicle) starts its records.\nBy 600 AD, the [Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs) are believed to have split linguistically into [southern](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavs), [western](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs), and eastern branches.\n# [East Slavic tribes and peoples, 8th–9th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/East///Slavic///tribes///peoples///8th///9th///century.jpg]\n\n## Medieval history\nThe Rus' state was established in northern Russia in the year 862, which was ruled by the [Varangians](https://bliptext.com/articles/varangians).\n[Staraya Ladoga](https://bliptext.com/articles/staraya-ladoga) and [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/veliky-novgorod) became the first major cities of the new union of immigrants from [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) with the Slavs and [Finns](https://bliptext.com/articles/finnic-peoples).\nIn 882, the prince [Oleg](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-the-wise) seized [Kiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/kiev), thereby uniting the northern and southern lands of the [East Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) under one authority.\nThe state [adopted Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus) from the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 988.\n[Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus) ultimately disintegrated as a state as a result of in-fighting between members of the princely family that ruled it collectively.\nAfter the 13th century, [Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/moscow) became a political and cultural center.\nMoscow has become a center for the [unification of Russian lands](https://bliptext.com/articles/collector-of-russian-lands).\nBy the end of the 15th century, Moscow united the northeastern and northwestern Russian principalities, overthrew the \"Mongol yoke\" in 1480, and would be transformed into the [Tsardom of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsardom-of-russia) after [Ivan IV](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-the-terrible) was crowned tsar in 1547.\n# [The Baptism of Kievans, by Klavdy Lebedev | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Lebedev///baptism.jpg]\n\n## Modern history\nIn 1721, Tsar [Peter the Great](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-the-great) renamed his state as the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire), hoping to associate it with historical and cultural achievements of ancient Rus' – in contrast to his policies oriented towards Western Europe.\nThe state now extended from the eastern borders of the [Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-lithuanian-commonwealth) to the [Pacific Ocean](https://bliptext.com/articles/pacific-ocean), and became a [great power](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-power); and one of the most powerful states in Europe after the [victory over Napoleon](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-russia).\nPeasant revolts were common, and all were fiercely suppressed.\nThe Emperor [Alexander II](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-ii-of-russia) [abolished](https://bliptext.com/articles/emancipation-reform-of-1861) [Russian serfdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serfdom-in-russia) in 1861, but the peasants fared poorly and revolutionary pressures grew.\nIn the following decades, reform efforts such as the [Stolypin reforms](https://bliptext.com/articles/stolypin-reform) of 1906–1914, the [constitution of 1906](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-constitution-of-1906), and the [State Duma](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-duma-russian-empire) (1906–1917) attempted to open and liberalize the economy and political system, but the Emperors refused to relinquish [autocratic rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/tsarist-autocracy) and resisted sharing their power.\nA combination of economic breakdown, [war-weariness](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-in-world-war-i), and discontent with the autocratic system of government triggered [revolution in Russia in 1917](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution).\nThe [overthrow of the monarchy](https://bliptext.com/articles/february-revolution) initially brought into office a coalition of liberals and moderate socialists, but their failed policies led to [seizure of power](https://bliptext.com/articles/october-revolution) by the [communist](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) [Bolsheviks](https://bliptext.com/articles/bolsheviks) on 25 October 1917 (7 November [New Style](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-style-and-new-style-dates)).\nIn 1922, Soviet Russia, along with [Soviet Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-ukraine), [Soviet Belarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-belarus), and the [Transcaucasian SFSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/transcaucasian-sfsr) signed the [Treaty on the Creation of the USSR](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-on-the-creation-of-the-ussr), officially merging all four republics to form the Soviet Union as a country.\nBetween 1922 and 1991, the history of Russia became essentially the [history of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-soviet-union), effectively an ideologically based state roughly conterminous with the Russian Empire before the 1918 [Treaty of Brest-Litovsk](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-brest-litovsk-russia-central-powers).\nFrom its first years, government in the Soviet Union based itself on the one-party rule of the Communists, as the Bolsheviks called themselves, beginning in March 1918.\nThe approach to the building of socialism, however, varied over different periods in Soviet history: from the [mixed economy](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-economic-policy) and diverse society and culture of the 1920s through the [command economy and repressions](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinism) of the [Joseph Stalin](https://bliptext.com/articles/joseph-stalin) era to the [\"era of stagnation\"](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-of-stagnation) from the 1960s to the 1980s.\nThe actions of the Soviet government caused the death of millions of citizens in the [famine of 1930–1933](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-famine-of-1930-1933) and the [Great Purge](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-purge).\nThe [attack](https://bliptext.com/articles/operation-barbarossa) by [Nazi Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/nazi-germany) and the ensuing [war](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), together with [the Holocaust](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-holocaust), again claimed [millions of lives](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii-casualties-of-the-soviet-union).\nMillions of Russian civilians and [prisoners of war](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-atrocities-committed-against-soviet-prisoners-of-war) were killed or starved to death during Nazi Germany's genocidal policies called the [Hunger Plan](https://bliptext.com/articles/hunger-plan) and the [Generalplan Ost](https://bliptext.com/articles/generalplan-ost), including one million civilian casualties during the [Siege of Leningrad](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-leningrad).\nAfter the victory of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) and the [Western Allies](https://bliptext.com/articles/allies-of-world-war-ii), the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) became a [superpower](https://bliptext.com/articles/superpower) opposing Western countries during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nBy the mid-1980s, with Soviet economic and political weaknesses becoming acute, Soviet leader [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-gorbachev) embarked on major reforms; these culminated in the [dissolution of the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-the-soviet-union), leaving Russia again alone and marking the beginning of the [post-Soviet](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-russia-1991-present) Russian period.\nThe [Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-soviet-federative-socialist-republic) renamed itself the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) and became the [successor state to the Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/succession-of-states).\n# [Grandma's Fairy Tales, by Vassily Maximov | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B2///%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B///%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BA%D0%B8///1867.jpg]\n# [Percentage of ethnic Russians by federal subjects of Russia according to the 2010 census: \n{{legend|#ff0000|above 80%|undefined | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Percentage///of///Russians///by///region.svg]\n\n# Geographic distribution\nEthnic Russians historically migrated within the areas of the former [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union), though they were sometimes encouraged to re-settle in borderland areas by the Tsarist and later Soviet government.\nSometimes ethnic Russian communities, such as the [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) who settled in the [Danube delta](https://bliptext.com/articles/danube-delta) or the [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) in [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), emigrated as religious dissidents fleeing the central authority.\nThere are also small Russian communities in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) — including [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans) in the Danube delta — Central European nations such as [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) and [Poland](https://bliptext.com/articles/poland), as well as Russians settled in [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china), [Japan](https://bliptext.com/articles/japan), [South Korea](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-korea), [Mexico](https://bliptext.com/articles/mexico), [Brazil](https://bliptext.com/articles/brazil), [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) and [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia).\nThese communities identify themselves to varying degrees as Russians, citizens of these countries, or both.\nSignificant numbers of Russians emigrated to [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada), [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) and the [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states).\n[Brighton Beach, Brooklyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/brighton-beach-brooklyn) and [South Beach, Staten Island](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-beach-staten-island) in [New York City](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-city) are examples of large communities of recent Russian and [Russian-Jewish](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) immigrants.\nOther examples are [Sunny Isles Beach](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunny-isles-beach), a northern suburb of [Miami](https://bliptext.com/articles/miami), and [West Hollywood](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-hollywood) of the [Los Angeles](https://bliptext.com/articles/los-angeles) area.\nAfter the [Russian Revolution](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revolution-of-1917) in 1917, many Russians who were identified with the [White army](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-army) moved to [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china) — most of them settling in [Harbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/harbin) and [Shanghai](https://bliptext.com/articles/shanghai).\nBy the 1930s, Harbin had 100,000 Russians.\nMany of these Russians moved back to the Soviet Union after [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii).\nToday, a large group in northern China still speak Russian as a second language.\nRussians (eluosizu) are one of the [56 ethnic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/nationalities-of-china) officially recognized by the [People's Republic of China](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-china) (as the Russ); there are approximately 15,600 Russian Chinese living mostly in northern [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang), and also in [Inner Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/inner-mongolia) and [Heilongjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/heilongjiang).\nAccording to the [2021 Russian census](https://bliptext.com/articles/2021-russian-census), the number of ethnic Russians in the [Russian Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-federation) decreased by nearly 5.43 million, from roughly 111 million people in 2010 to approximately 105.5 million in 2021.\n# [Ethnic Russians in former Soviet Union states in 1994 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Russians///ethnic///94.jpg]\n# [Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery in Paris, the resting place of many eminent Russian émigrés after 1917 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Eglise///notre///dame///de///l///assomption///7.jpg]\n\n# Ethnographic groups\nAmong Russians, a number of [ethnographic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnographic-group) stand out, such as: the [Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), the [Southern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-russian-dialects), the [Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks), the [Goryuns](https://bliptext.com/articles/goryuns), the [Kamchadals](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamchadals), the [Polekhs](https://bliptext.com/articles/polekhs), the [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), the [Russian Chinese](https://bliptext.com/articles/russians-in-china), the [Siberians](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberians) (Siberiaks), [Starozhily](https://bliptext.com/articles/starozhily), some groupings of [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers) ([Kamenschiks](https://bliptext.com/articles/kamenschik), [Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans), [Semeiskie](https://bliptext.com/articles/semeiskie)), and others.\nThe main ones are the Northern and Southern Russian groups.\nAt the same time, the proposal of the ethnographer [Dmitry Zelenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-konstantinovich-zelenin) in his major work of 1927 Russian (East Slavic) Ethnography to consider them as separate East Slavic peoples did not find support in scientific circles.\nRussia's Arctic coastline had been explored and settled by [Pomors](https://bliptext.com/articles/pomors), Russian settlers from [Novgorod](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-republic).\n[Cossacks](https://bliptext.com/articles/cossacks) inhabited sparsely populated areas in the [Don](https://bliptext.com/articles/don-river), [Terek](https://bliptext.com/articles/terek-river), and [Ural](https://bliptext.com/articles/ural-river) river basins, and played an important role in the historical and cultural development of parts of Russia.\n# [Lipovans in the Danube Delta | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%2C///%D0%94%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5///%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8///1962///%D0%B3.JPG]\n\n# Genetics\nIn accordance with the 2008 research results of Russian and Estonian geneticists, two groups of Russians are distinguished: the northern and southern populations.\nCentral and Southern Russians, to which the majority of Russian populations belong, according to [Y chromosome](https://bliptext.com/articles/y-chromosome) R1a, are included in the general \"[East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) European\" [gene cluster](https://bliptext.com/articles/gene-cluster) with the rest [East](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-slavs) and [West Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-slavs) (Poles, Czechs and Slovaks), as well as the non-Slavic [Hungarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/hungarians) and [Aromanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanians).\nGenetically, East Slavs are quite similar to West Slavs; such genetic similarity is somewhat unusual for genetics with such a wide settlement of the Slavs, especially Russians.\nThe high unity of the [autosomal](https://bliptext.com/articles/autosome) markers of the East Slavic populations and their significant differences from the neighboring Finnic, Turkic and Caucasian peoples were revealed.\n[Northern Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-russian-dialects), according to [mtDNA](https://bliptext.com/articles/mitochondrial-dna), Y chromosome and autosomal marker CCR5de132, are included in the \"North European\" gene cluster (the [Poles](https://bliptext.com/articles/polish-people), the [Balts](https://bliptext.com/articles/balts), [Germanic](https://bliptext.com/articles/germanic-speaking-europe) and [Baltic Finnic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-finnic-peoples)).\nConsequently, the already existing biologo-genetic studies have made all hypotheses about the mixing of the Russians with non-Slavic ethnic groups or their \"non-Slavism\" obsolete or pseudoscientific.\nAt the same time, the long-standing identification of the Northern Russian and Southern Russian ethnographic groups by ethnologists was confirmed.\nThe previous conclusions of physical anthropologists, historians and linguists (see, in particular, the works of the academician [Valentin Yanin](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-yanin)) about the proximity of the ancient [Novgorod Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/novgorod-slavs) and their language not to the East, but to west [Baltic Slavs](https://bliptext.com/articles/lechites).\nAs can be seen from [genetic resources](https://bliptext.com/articles/genetic-resources), the contemporary Northern Russians also are genetically close of all Slavic peoples only to the Poles and similar to the Balts.\nHowever, this does not mean the northern Russians origin from the Balts or the Poles, more likely, that all the peoples of the Nordic gene pool are descendants of [Paleo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-hunter-gatherer) population, which has remained around [Baltic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/baltic-sea).\n# [Russian people in Saint-Petersburg. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/%D0%97%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8///%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F///Cosmos///%D0%BD%D0%B0///Geek///Picnic///2018///SPb.jpg]\n\n# Assimilation and immigration\nRussians have sometimes found it useful to emphasize their self-perceived ability to [assimilate](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) other people [to the Russian ethnicity](https://bliptext.com/articles/russification) - and as a historic great power with imperial expansionist tendencies the Russian state has sometimes encouraged Russian-centred monoculturalism.\nSteppe peoples, Tatars, Baltic Germans, Lithuanians and native Siberians in [Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/kievan-rus), [Muscovy](https://bliptext.com/articles/muscovy-disambiguation) or the [Russian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) could in theory become \"Russians\" simply by accepting [Russian Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodoxy) as their faith.\nThe attitude of ready inclusivity is summed up in the popular phrase (sometimes attributed to Emperor [Alexander III of Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-iii-of-russia)) - Хочешь быть русским - будь им!\n.\n\n# Language\n[Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-language) is the [official](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) and the predominantly spoken language in Russia.\nIt is the most-spoken native language in Europe, the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, as well as the world's most widely spoken [Slavic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-languages).\nRussian is the third-most used language on the [Internet](https://bliptext.com/articles/internet) after [English](https://bliptext.com/articles/english-language) and [Spanish](https://bliptext.com/articles/spanish-language), and is one of two official languages aboard the [International Space Station](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-space-station), as well as one of the six [official languages of the United Nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-languages-of-the-united-nations).\n\n# Culture\n# [Russian artist Boris Kustodiev's Maslenitsa, 1916 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Boris///Kustodiev///-///Shrovetide///-///Google///Art///Project.jpg]\n\n## Literature\n[Russian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-literature) is considered to be among the world's most influential and developed.\nIt can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages), when epics and chronicles in [Old East Slavic](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-east-slavic) were composed.\nBy the [Age of Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment), literature had grown in importance, with works from [Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov), [Denis Fonvizin](https://bliptext.com/articles/denis-fonvizin), [Gavrila Derzhavin](https://bliptext.com/articles/gavrila-derzhavin), and [Nikolay Karamzin](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-karamzin).\nFrom the early 1830s, during the [Golden Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/golden-age-of-russian-poetry), literature underwent an astounding golden age in poetry, prose and drama.\n[Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) permitted a flowering of poetic talent: [Vasily Zhukovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vasily-zhukovsky) and later his protégé [Alexander Pushkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-pushkin) came to the fore.\nFollowing Pushkin's footsteps, a new generation of poets were born, including [Mikhail Lermontov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lermontov), [Nikolay Nekrasov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-nekrasov), [Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksey-konstantinovich-tolstoy), [Fyodor Tyutchev](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-tyutchev) and [Afanasy Fet](https://bliptext.com/articles/afanasy-fet).\nThe first great Russian novelist was [Nikolai Gogol](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-gogol).\nThen came [Ivan Turgenev](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-turgenev), who mastered both short stories and novels.\n[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/fyodor-dostoyevsky) and [Leo Tolstoy](https://bliptext.com/articles/leo-tolstoy) soon became internationally renowned.\n[Ivan Goncharov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-goncharov) is remembered mainly for his novel [Oblomov](https://bliptext.com/articles/oblomov).\n[Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-saltykov-shchedrin) wrote prose satire, while [Nikolai Leskov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-leskov) is best remembered for his shorter fiction.\nIn the second half of the century [Anton Chekhov](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-chekhov) excelled in short stories and became a leading dramatist.\nOther important 19th-century developments included the fabulist [Ivan Krylov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-krylov), non-fiction writers such as the critic [Vissarion Belinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vissarion-belinsky), and playwrights such as [Aleksandr Griboyedov](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-griboyedov) and [Aleksandr Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-ostrovsky).\nThe beginning of the 20th century ranks as the [Silver Age of Russian Poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/silver-age-of-russian-poetry).\nThis era had poets such as [Alexander Blok](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-blok), [Anna Akhmatova](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-akhmatova), [Boris Pasternak](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-pasternak), [Konstantin Balmont](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-balmont), [Marina Tsvetaeva](https://bliptext.com/articles/marina-tsvetaeva), [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-mayakovsky), and [Osip Mandelstam](https://bliptext.com/articles/osip-mandelstam).\nIt also produced some first-rate novelists and short-story writers, such as [Aleksandr Kuprin](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-kuprin), Nobel Prize winner [Ivan Bunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-bunin), [Leonid Andreyev](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-andreyev), [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yevgeny-zamyatin), [Dmitry Merezhkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-merezhkovsky) and [Andrei Bely](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-bely).\nAfter the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russian literature split into Soviet and [white émigré](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-migr) parts.\nIn the 1930s, [Socialist realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-realism) became the predominant trend in Russia.\nIts leading figure was [Maxim Gorky](https://bliptext.com/articles/maxim-gorky), who laid the foundations of this style.\n[Mikhail Bulgakov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bulgakov) was one of the leading writers of the Soviet era.\n[Nikolay Ostrovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-ostrovsky)'s novel [How the Steel Was Tempered](https://bliptext.com/articles/how-the-steel-was-tempered) has been among the most successful works of Russian literature.\nInfluential émigré writers include [Vladimir Nabokov](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-nabokov).\nSome writers dared to oppose Soviet ideology, such as Nobel Prize-winning novelist [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn), who wrote about life in the Gulag camps.\n# [Leo Tolstoy's (1828–1910) notable works include the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, often cited as pinnacles of realist fiction. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/L.N.Tolstoy///Prokudin-Gorsky.jpg]\n\n## Philosophy\n[Russian philosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-philosophy) has been greatly influential.\n[Alexander Herzen](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-herzen) is known as one of the fathers of [agrarian](https://bliptext.com/articles/agrarianism) [populism](https://bliptext.com/articles/populism).\n[Mikhail Bakunin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakunin) is referred to as the father of [anarchism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarchism).\n[Peter Kropotkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-kropotkin) was the most important theorist of [anarcho-communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/anarcho-communism).\n[Mikhail Bakhtin](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-bakhtin)'s writings have significantly inspired scholars.\n[Helena Blavatsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/helena-blavatsky) gained international following as the leading theoretician of [Theosophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophy), and co-founded the [Theosophical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/theosophical-society).\n[Vladimir Lenin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-lenin), a major revolutionary, developed a variant of communism known as [Leninism](https://bliptext.com/articles/leninism).\n[Leon Trotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/leon-trotsky), on the other hand, founded [Trotskyism](https://bliptext.com/articles/trotskyism).\n[Alexander Zinoviev](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-zinoviev) was a prominent philosopher in the second half of the 20th century.\n\n## Science\n[Mikhail Lomonosov](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-lomonosov) proposed the [conservation of mass](https://bliptext.com/articles/conservation-of-mass) in [chemical reactions](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemical-reactions), discovered the [atmosphere of Venus](https://bliptext.com/articles/atmosphere-of-venus), and founded modern [geology](https://bliptext.com/articles/geology).\nSince the times of [Nikolay Lobachevsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-lobachevsky), who pioneered the [non-Euclidean geometry](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-euclidean-geometry), and a prominent tutor [Pafnuty Chebyshev](https://bliptext.com/articles/pafnuty-chebyshev), Russian [mathematicians](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-russian-mathematicians) became among the world's most influential.\n[Dmitry Mendeleev](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitry-mendeleev) invented the [Periodic table](https://bliptext.com/articles/periodic-table), the main framework of modern [chemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/chemistry).\n[Sofya Kovalevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/sofya-kovalevskaya) was a pioneer among [women in mathematics](https://bliptext.com/articles/timeline-of-women-in-mathematics) in the 19th century.\n[Grigori Perelman](https://bliptext.com/articles/grigori-perelman) was offered the first ever Clay [Millennium Prize Problems](https://bliptext.com/articles/millennium-prize-problems) Award for his final proof of the [Poincaré conjecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/poincar-conjecture) in 2002, as well as the Fields Medal in 2006, both of which he declined.\n[Alexander Popov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-stepanovich-popov) was among the [inventors of radio](https://bliptext.com/articles/invention-of-radio), while [Nikolai Basov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-basov) and [Alexander Prokhorov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-prokhorov) were co-inventors of [laser](https://bliptext.com/articles/laser) and [maser](https://bliptext.com/articles/maser).\n[Zhores Alferov](https://bliptext.com/articles/zhores-alferov) contributed significantly to the creation of [modern heterostructure physics and electronics](https://bliptext.com/articles/heterojunction).\n[Oleg Losev](https://bliptext.com/articles/oleg-losev) made crucial contributions in the field of [semiconductor junctions](https://bliptext.com/articles/semiconductor-junction), and discovered [light-emitting diodes](https://bliptext.com/articles/light-emitting-diode).\n[Vladimir Vernadsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vernadsky) is considered one of the founders of [geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), bio[geochemistry](https://bliptext.com/articles/geochemistry), and [radiogeology](https://bliptext.com/articles/radiometric-dating).\n[Élie Metchnikoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/lie-metchnikoff) is known for his groundbreaking research in [immunology](https://bliptext.com/articles/immunology).\n[Ivan Pavlov](https://bliptext.com/articles/ivan-pavlov) is known chiefly for his work in [classical conditioning](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-conditioning).\n[Lev Landau](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-landau) made fundamental contributions to many areas of [theoretical physics](https://bliptext.com/articles/theoretical-physics).\n[Nikolai Vavilov](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolai-vavilov) was best known for having identified the [centers](https://bliptext.com/articles/vavilov-center) of origin of [cultivated](https://bliptext.com/articles/horticulture) plants.\nMany famous Russian scientists and inventors were [émigrés](https://bliptext.com/articles/migr-s).\n[Igor Sikorsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-sikorsky) was an [aviation pioneer](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-aviation-pioneers).\n[Vladimir Zworykin](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-zworykin) was the inventor of the [iconoscope](https://bliptext.com/articles/iconoscope) and [kinescope](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinescope) television systems.\n[Theodosius Dobzhansky](https://bliptext.com/articles/theodosius-dobzhansky) was the central figure in the field of [evolutionary biology](https://bliptext.com/articles/evolutionary-biology) for his work in shaping the [modern synthesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-synthesis-20th-century).\n[George Gamow](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-gamow) was one of the foremost advocates of the [Big Bang](https://bliptext.com/articles/big-bang) theory.\n[Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/konstantin-tsiolkovsky) is called the father of theoretical [astronautics](https://bliptext.com/articles/astronautics), whose works had inspired leading Soviet rocket engineers, such as [Valentin Glushko](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentin-glushko), and many others.\nIn 1961, the first human trip into space was successfully made by [Yuri Gagarin](https://bliptext.com/articles/yuri-gagarin).\nIn 1963, [Valentina Tereshkova](https://bliptext.com/articles/valentina-tereshkova) became the first and youngest [woman in space](https://bliptext.com/articles/women-in-space), having flown a solo mission on [Vostok 6](https://bliptext.com/articles/vostok-6).\nIn 1965, [Alexei Leonov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexei-leonov) became the first human to conduct a [spacewalk](https://bliptext.com/articles/spacewalk), exiting the [space capsule](https://bliptext.com/articles/space-capsule) during [Voskhod 2](https://bliptext.com/articles/voskhod-2).\n# [Dmitri Mendeleev (1837–1906) is best known for formulating the Periodic Law and creating a version of the periodic table of elements. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Dmitri///Mendeleev///%281834%E2%80%931907%29.jpg]\n\n## Music\nUntil the 18th century, music in Russia consisted mainly of church music and folk songs and dances.\nIn the 19th century, it was defined by the tension between classical composer [Mikhail Glinka](https://bliptext.com/articles/mikhail-glinka) along with other members of [The Mighty Handful](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-mighty-handful), and the [Russian Musical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-musical-society) led by composers [Anton](https://bliptext.com/articles/anton-rubinstein) and [Nikolay Rubinstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/nikolay-rubinstein).\nThe later tradition of [Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky), one of the greatest composers of the [Romantic era](https://bliptext.com/articles/romantic-music), was continued into the 20th century by [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-rachmaninoff), one of the last great champions of the Romantic style of European classical music.\nWorld-renowned composers of the 20th century include [Alexander Scriabin](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-scriabin), [Alexander Glazunov](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-glazunov), [Igor Stravinsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/igor-stravinsky), [Sergei Prokofiev](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-prokofiev), [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/dmitri-shostakovich), [Georgy Sviridov](https://bliptext.com/articles/georgy-sviridov) and [Alfred Schnittke](https://bliptext.com/articles/alfred-schnittke).\nSoviet and Russian conservatories have turned out generations of world-renowned soloists.\nAmong the best known are violinists [David Oistrakh](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-oistrakh) and [Gidon Kremer](https://bliptext.com/articles/gidon-kremer), cellist [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://bliptext.com/articles/mstislav-rostropovich), pianists [Vladimir Horowitz](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-horowitz), [Sviatoslav Richter](https://bliptext.com/articles/sviatoslav-richter), and [Emil Gilels](https://bliptext.com/articles/emil-gilels), and vocalist [Galina Vishnevskaya](https://bliptext.com/articles/galina-vishnevskaya).\nDuring the Soviet times, [popular music](https://bliptext.com/articles/popular-music) also produced a number of renowned figures, such as the two [balladeers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bard-soviet-union)—[Vladimir Vysotsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-vysotsky) and [Bulat Okudzhava](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulat-okudzhava), and performers such as [Alla Pugacheva](https://bliptext.com/articles/alla-pugacheva).\n[Jazz](https://bliptext.com/articles/jazz), even with sanctions from Soviet authorities, flourished and evolved into one of the country's most popular musical forms.\nThe [Ganelin Trio](https://bliptext.com/articles/vyacheslav-ganelin) have been described by critics as the greatest ensemble of free-jazz in [continental Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/continental-europe).\nBy the 1980s, [rock music](https://bliptext.com/articles/rock-music-in-russia) became popular across Russia, and produced bands such as [Aria](https://bliptext.com/articles/aria-band), [Aquarium](https://bliptext.com/articles/aquarium-band), [DDT](https://bliptext.com/articles/ddt-band), and [Kino](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-band).\n[Pop music](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-pop) in Russia has continued to flourish since the 1960s, with globally famous acts such as [t.A.T.u.](https://bliptext.com/articles/t-a-t-u) In the recent times, [Little Big](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-big-band), a [rave](https://bliptext.com/articles/rave-music) band, has gained popularity in Russia and across Europe.\n# [The classic ballet of Swan Lake was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Portr%C3%A4t///des///Komponisten///Pjotr///I.///Tschaikowski///%281840-1893%29.jpg]\n\n## Cinema\nRussian and later [Soviet cinema](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-cinema) was a hotbed of invention, resulting in world-renowned films such as [The Battleship Potemkin](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-battleship-potemkin).\nSoviet-era filmmakers, most notably [Sergei Eisenstein](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergei-eisenstein) and [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrei-tarkovsky), would go on to become among of the world's most innovative and influential directors.\nEisenstein was a student of [Lev Kuleshov](https://bliptext.com/articles/lev-kuleshov), who developed the groundbreaking [Soviet montage theory](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-montage-theory) of film editing at the world's first [film school](https://bliptext.com/articles/film-school), the [All-Union Institute of Cinematography](https://bliptext.com/articles/gerasimov-institute-of-cinematography).\n[Dziga Vertov](https://bliptext.com/articles/dziga-vertov)'s \"[Kino-Eye](https://bliptext.com/articles/kino-eye)\" theory had a huge impact on the development of documentary filmmaking and cinema realism.\nMany Soviet socialist realism films were artistically successful, including [Chapaev](https://bliptext.com/articles/chapaev-film), [The Cranes Are Flying](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-cranes-are-flying), and [Ballad of a Soldier](https://bliptext.com/articles/ballad-of-a-soldier).\nThe 1960s and 1970s saw a greater variety of artistic styles in Soviet cinema.\nThe comedies of [Eldar Ryazanov](https://bliptext.com/articles/eldar-ryazanov) and [Leonid Gaidai](https://bliptext.com/articles/leonid-gaidai) of that time were immensely popular, with many of the catchphrases still in use today.\nIn 1961–68 [Sergey Bondarchuk](https://bliptext.com/articles/sergey-bondarchuk) directed an [Oscar](https://bliptext.com/articles/academy-award)-winning [film adaptation](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace-film-series) of Leo Tolstoy's epic [War and Peace](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-and-peace), which was [the most expensive film](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-most-expensive-film) made in the Soviet Union.\nIn 1969, [Vladimir Motyl](https://bliptext.com/articles/vladimir-motyl)'s [White Sun of the Desert](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-sun-of-the-desert) was released, a very popular film in a genre of [ostern](https://bliptext.com/articles/ostern); the film is traditionally watched by [cosmonauts](https://bliptext.com/articles/cosmonauts) before any trip into space.\nIn 2002, [Russian Ark](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-ark) was the first feature film ever to be shot in a single take.\nToday, the Russian cinema industry continues to expand.\n# [Poster of Battleship Potemkin (1925) by Sergei Eisenstein, which was named the greatest film of all time at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Vintage///Potemkin.jpg]\n\n## Architecture\nThe history of [Russian architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-architecture) begins with early woodcraft buildings of ancient Slavs, and the [architecture of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/architecture-of-kievan-rus).\nFollowing the [Christianization of Kievan Rus'](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianization-of-kievan-rus), for several centuries it was influenced predominantly by the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire).\n[Aristotle Fioravanti](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristotle-fioravanti) and other Italian architects brought [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) trends into Russia.\nThe 16th century saw the development of the unique [tent-like churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/tent-like-church); and the [onion dome](https://bliptext.com/articles/onion-dome) design, which is a distinctive feature of Russian architecture.\nIn the 17th century, the \"fiery style\" of ornamentation flourished in Moscow and [Yaroslavl](https://bliptext.com/articles/yaroslavl), gradually paving the way for the [Naryshkin baroque](https://bliptext.com/articles/naryshkin-baroque) of the 1690s.\nAfter the reforms of Peter the Great, Russia's architecture became influenced by Western European styles.\nThe 18th-century taste for [Rococo](https://bliptext.com/articles/rococo) architecture led to the splendid works of [Bartolomeo Rastrelli](https://bliptext.com/articles/bartolomeo-rastrelli) and his followers.\nDuring the reign of Catherine the Great, Saint Petersburg was transformed into an outdoor museum of [Neoclassical architecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/neoclassical-architecture).\nDuring [Alexander I](https://bliptext.com/articles/alexander-i-of-russia)'s rule, [Empire style](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-style) became the de facto architectural style, and [Nicholas I](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicholas-i-of-russia) opened the gate of [Eclecticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/eclecticism) to Russia.\nThe second half of the 19th-century was dominated by the [Neo-Byzantine](https://bliptext.com/articles/neo-byzantine-architecture-in-the-russian-empire) and [Russian Revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-revival) style.\nIn early 20th-century, [Russian neoclassical revival](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-neoclassical-revival) became a trend.\nPrevalent styles of the late 20th-century were the [Art Nouveau](https://bliptext.com/articles/art-nouveau-architecture-in-russia), [Constructivism](https://bliptext.com/articles/constructivism-art), and [Socialist Classicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/stalinist-architecture).\n# [Saint Basil's Cathedral, built between 1555 and 1683, in Moscow | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Saint///Basil%27s///Cathedral///in///Moscow.jpg]\n\n## Religion\nRussia's largest religion is [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity-in-russia)—It has the world's [largest Orthodox population](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy-by-country).\nAccording to differing sociological surveys on religious adherence, between 41% to over 80% of the total population of Russia adhere to the [Russian Orthodox Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-orthodox-church).There is no official census of religion in Russia, and estimates are based on surveys only.\nIn August 2012, [ARENA](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that about 46.8% of Russians are Christians (including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational), which is slightly less than an absolute 50%+ majority.\nHowever, later that year the [Levada Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 76% of Russians are Christians, and in June 2013 the [Public Opinion Foundation](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 65% of Russians are Christians.\nThese findings are in line with [Pew](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey, which determined that 73.3% of Russians are Christians, with [VTSIOM](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey (~77% Christian), and with [Ipsos MORI](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2011 survey (69%).\nNon-religious Russians may associate themselves with the Orthodox faith for cultural reasons.\nSome Russian people are [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers): a relatively small [schismatic](https://bliptext.com/articles/schism-religion) group of the Russian Orthodoxy that rejected the liturgical reforms introduced in the 17th century.\nOther schisms from Orthodoxy include [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) which in the 18th century rejected secular government, the Russian Orthodox priests, icons, all church ritual, the Bible as the supreme source of divine revelation and the divinity of Jesus, and later emigrated into Canada.\nAn even earlier sect were [Molokans](https://bliptext.com/articles/molokan) which formed in 1550 and rejected Czar's [divine right to rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/divine-right-of-kings), icons, the [Trinity](https://bliptext.com/articles/trinity) as outlined by the [Nicene Creed](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicene-creed), Orthodox [fasts](https://bliptext.com/articles/fasting), military service, and practices including [water baptism](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptism).\nOther world religions have negligible representation among ethnic Russians.\nThe largest of these groups are [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) with over 100,000 followers from national minorities, and [Baptists](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptists) with over 85,000 Russian adherents.\nOthers are mostly [Pentecostals](https://bliptext.com/articles/pentecostals), [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicals), [Seventh-day Adventists](https://bliptext.com/articles/seventh-day-adventists), [Lutherans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lutherans) and [Jehovah's Witnesses](https://bliptext.com/articles/jehovah-s-witnesses).\nSince the fall of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) various new religious movements have sprung up and gathered a following among ethnic Russians.\nThe most prominent of these are [Rodnovery](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-neopaganism), the revival of the Slavic native religion also common to other [Slavic nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs).\n# [Trinity Sunday in Russia; the Russian Orthodox Church has experienced a great revival since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a country that had a policy of state atheism. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C///%D0%A1%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B9///%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%86%D1%8B.///%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9///%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA.jpg]\n\n## Sports\n[Football](https://bliptext.com/articles/association-football) is the most popular sport in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-national-football-team) became the first European champions by winning [Euro 1960](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1960), and reached the finals of [Euro 1988](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1988).\nIn 1956 and 1988, the Soviet Union won gold at the [Olympic football tournament](https://bliptext.com/articles/football-at-the-summer-olympics).\nRussian clubs [CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pfc-cska-moscow) and [Zenit Saint Petersburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/zenit-saint-petersburg) won the [UEFA Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/uefa-cup) in 2005 and 2008.\nThe [Russian national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-football-team) reached the semi-finals of [Euro 2008](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-2008).\nRussia was the host nation for the [2017 FIFA Confederations Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2017-fifa-confederations-cup), and the [2018 FIFA World Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2018-fifa-world-cup).\n[Ice hockey](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-in-russia) is very popular in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) dominated the sport internationally throughout its existence, and the modern-day [Russia men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) is among the most successful teams in the sport.\n[Bandy](https://bliptext.com/articles/bandy) is Russia's national sport, and it has historically been the highest-achieving country in the sport.\nThe [Russian national basketball team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-basketball-team) won the [EuroBasket 2007](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurobasket-2007), and the Russian basketball club [PBC CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pbc-cska-moscow) is among the most successful European basketball teams.\nThe annual [Formula One](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-one) [Russian Grand Prix](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-grand-prix) is held at the [Sochi Autodrom](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-autodrom) in the [Sochi Olympic Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-olympic-park).\nRussia is the leading nation in [rhythmic gymnastics](https://bliptext.com/articles/rhythmic-gymnastics); and Russian [synchronized swimming](https://bliptext.com/articles/synchronized-swimming) is considered to be the world's best.\n[Figure skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/figure-skating) is another popular sport in Russia, especially [pair skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/pair-skating) and [ice dancing](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-dancing).\nRussia has produced a number of famous [tennis](https://bliptext.com/articles/tennis) players, such as [Maria Sharapova](https://bliptext.com/articles/maria-sharapova) and [Daniil Medvedev](https://bliptext.com/articles/daniil-medvedev).\n[Chess](https://bliptext.com/articles/chess) is also a widely popular pastime in the nation, with many of the world's top chess players being Russian for decades.\nThe [1980 Summer Olympic Games](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-summer-olympic-games) were held in Moscow, and the [2014 Winter Olympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-olympics) and the [2014 Winter Paralympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-paralympics) were hosted in Sochi.\n\n# Citations","current_revision":"1a07b591-0938-4448-8d09-3a299ac897bc","created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-25T17:47:28.431Z","updated_at":"2025-03-24T17:36:20.340Z","search_vector":"'russian':1","search_content":" \n**Group:** Russians \n**Native Name Lang:** ru \n**Population:** c. 135 million \n**Popplace:** Map of the Russian Diaspora in the World.svg · Russia 105,620,179 (2021) \n**Region 1:** Germany \n**Pop 1:** approx. 7,500,000 · (including [Russian Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-jews) and [Russian Germans](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-germans-in-russia-ukraine-and-the-soviet-union)) \n**Region 2:** Ukraine \n**Pop 2:** 7,170,000 (2018) (including [Crimea](https://bliptext.com/articles/crimea)) \n**Region 3:** Kazakhstan \n**Pop 3:** 2,983,317 (2024 government est.) \n**Region 4:** United States \n**Pop 4:** 3,072,756 (2009) · (including Russian Jews and Russian Germans) \n**Region 7:** Uzbekistan \n**Pop 7:** 720,324 (2019) \n**Region 8:** Belarus \n**Pop 8:** 706,992 (2019) \n**Region 9:** Canada \n**Pop 9:** 622,445 (2016) (Russian ancestry, excluding Russian Germans) \n**Region 1 0:** Latvia \n**Pop 1 0:** 454,350 (2022) \n**Region 1 1:** Kyrgyzstan \n**Pop 1 1:** 352,960 (2018) \n**Region 1 3:** Estonia \n**Pop 1 3:** 315,252 (2021) \n**Region 1 4:** Argentina \n**Pop 1 4:** 300,000 (2018) \n**Region 1 5:** Moldova \n**Pop 1 5:** 201,218 (2014) \n**Region 1 6:** France \n**Ref 1 6:** 200,000 to 500,000 \n**Region 1 7:** Turkmenistan \n**Pop 1 7:** 150,000 (2012) \n**Region 1 8:** Lithuania \n**Pop 1 8:** 129,797 (2017) \n**Region 1 9:** Italy \n**Pop 1 9:** 120,459 \n**Region 2 0:** Azerbaijan \n**Pop 2 0:** 119,300 (2009) \n**Region 2 1:** Finland \n**Pop 2 1:** 90,801 (2020) \n**Region 2 2:** Spain \n**Pop 2 2:** 72,234 (2017) \n**Region 2 3:** Australia \n**Pop 2 3:** 67,055 (2006) \n**Region 2 4:** Turkey \n**Pop 2 4:** 50,000–100,000 · (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** Poland \n**Pop 2 5:** 40,000 (2019) \n**Region 2 6:** Romania \n**Pop 2 6:** 36,397 (2002) · ([Lipovans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lipovans)) \n**Region 2 7:** Czech Republic \n**Pop 2 7:** 35,759 (2016) \n**Region 2 8:** Tajikistan \n**Pop 2 8:** 35,000 (2010) \n**Region 2 9:** South Korea \n**Pop 2 9:** 30,098 (2016) \n**Region 3 0:** Georgia \n**Pop 3 0:** 26,453 (2014) \n**Region 3 1:** Hungary \n**Pop 3 1:** 21,518 (2016) \n**Region 3 2:** Sweden \n**Pop 3 2:** 20,187 (2016) \n**Region 3 3:** China \n**Pop 3 3:** 15,609 (2000) \n**Region 3 4:** Bulgaria \n**Pop 3 4:** 15,595 (2002) \n**Region 3 5:** Armenia \n**Pop 3 5:** 14,076 (2022) \n**Region 3 6:** Greece \n**Pop 3 6:** 13,635 (2002) There is no official census of religion in Russia, and estimates are based on surveys only.\nIn August 2012, [ARENA](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that about 46.8% of Russians are Christians (including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational), which is slightly less than an absolute 50%+ majority.\nHowever, later that year the [Levada Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 76% of Russians are Christians, and in June 2013 the [Public Opinion Foundation](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) determined that 65% of Russians are Christians.\nThese findings are in line with [Pew](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey, which determined that 73.3% of Russians are Christians, with [VTSIOM](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2010 survey (~77% Christian), and with [Ipsos MORI](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 's 2011 survey (69%).\nNon-religious Russians may associate themselves with the Orthodox faith for cultural reasons.\nSome Russian people are [Old Believers](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-believers): a relatively small [schismatic](https://bliptext.com/articles/schism-religion) group of the Russian Orthodoxy that rejected the liturgical reforms introduced in the 17th century.\nOther schisms from Orthodoxy include [Doukhobors](https://bliptext.com/articles/doukhobor) which in the 18th century rejected secular government, the Russian Orthodox priests, icons, all church ritual, the Bible as the supreme source of divine revelation and the divinity of Jesus, and later emigrated into Canada.\nAn even earlier sect were [Molokans](https://bliptext.com/articles/molokan) which formed in 1550 and rejected Czar's [divine right to rule](https://bliptext.com/articles/divine-right-of-kings), icons, the [Trinity](https://bliptext.com/articles/trinity) as outlined by the [Nicene Creed](https://bliptext.com/articles/nicene-creed), Orthodox [fasts](https://bliptext.com/articles/fasting), military service, and practices including [water baptism](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptism).\nOther world religions have negligible representation among ethnic Russians.\nThe largest of these groups are [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) with over 100,000 followers from national minorities, and [Baptists](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptists) with over 85,000 Russian adherents.\nOthers are mostly [Pentecostals](https://bliptext.com/articles/pentecostals), [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicals), [Seventh-day Adventists](https://bliptext.com/articles/seventh-day-adventists), [Lutherans](https://bliptext.com/articles/lutherans) and [Jehovah's Witnesses](https://bliptext.com/articles/jehovah-s-witnesses).\nSince the fall of the [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union) various new religious movements have sprung up and gathered a following among ethnic Russians.\nThe most prominent of these are [Rodnovery](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavic-neopaganism), the revival of the Slavic native religion also common to other [Slavic nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/slavs).\n# [Trinity Sunday in Russia; the Russian Orthodox Church has experienced a great revival since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a country that had a policy of state atheism. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C///%D0%A1%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B9///%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%86%D1%8B.///%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D 0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9///%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA.jpg]\n\n## Sports\n[Football](https://bliptext.com/articles/association-football) is the most popular sport in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-national-football-team) became the first European champions by winning [Euro 1960](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1960), and reached the finals of [Euro 1988](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-1988).\nIn 1956 and 1988, the Soviet Union won gold at the [Olympic football tournament](https://bliptext.com/articles/football-at-the-summer-olympics).\nRussian clubs [CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pfc-cska-moscow) and [Zenit Saint Petersburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/zenit-saint-petersburg) won the [UEFA Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/uefa-cup) in 2005 and 2008.\nThe [Russian national football team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-football-team) reached the semi-finals of [Euro 2008](https://bliptext.com/articles/euro-2008).\nRussia was the host nation for the [2017 FIFA Confederations Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2017-fifa-confederations-cup), and the [2018 FIFA World Cup](https://bliptext.com/articles/2018-fifa-world-cup).\n[Ice hockey](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-in-russia) is very popular in Russia.\nThe [Soviet Union men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) dominated the sport internationally throughout its existence, and the modern-day [Russia men's national ice hockey team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) is among the most successful teams in the sport.\n[Bandy](https://bliptext.com/articles/bandy) is Russia's national sport, and it has historically been the highest-achieving country in the sport.\nThe [Russian national basketball team](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-national-basketball-team) won the [EuroBasket 2007](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurobasket-2007), and the Russian basketball club [PBC CSKA Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/pbc-cska-moscow) is among the most successful European basketball teams.\nThe annual [Formula One](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-one) [Russian Grand Prix](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-grand-prix) is held at the [Sochi Autodrom](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-autodrom) in the [Sochi Olympic Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/sochi-olympic-park).\nRussia is the leading nation in [rhythmic gymnastics](https://bliptext.com/articles/rhythmic-gymnastics); and Russian [synchronized swimming](https://bliptext.com/articles/synchronized-swimming) is considered to be the world's best.\n[Figure skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/figure-skating) is another popular sport in Russia, especially [pair skating](https://bliptext.com/articles/pair-skating) and [ice dancing](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-dancing).\nRussia has produced a number of famous [tennis](https://bliptext.com/articles/tennis) players, such as [Maria Sharapova](https://bliptext.com/articles/maria-sharapova) and [Daniil Medvedev](https://bliptext.com/articles/daniil-medvedev).\n[Chess](https://bliptext.com/articles/chess) is also a widely popular pastime in the nation, with many of the world's top chess players being Russian for decades.\nThe [1980 Summer Olympic Games](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-summer-olympic-games) were held in Moscow, and the [2014 Winter Olympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-olympics) and the [2014 Winter Paralympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/2014-winter-paralympics) were hosted in Sochi.\n\n# Citations","revisionCount":4},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}