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This article is written in British English, which has its own spelling conventions (colour, travelled, centre, defence, artefact, analyse) and some terms that are used in it may be different or absent from other varieties of English. According to the relevant style guide, this should not be changed without broad consensus.

Russia was one of the Geography and places good articles, but it has been removed from the list. There are suggestions below for improving the article to meet the good article criteria. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake.

Article milestones
Date	Process	Result
January 13, 2005	Featured article candidate	Not promoted
March 1, 2007	Good article nominee	Not listed
July 16, 2007	Peer review	Reviewed
July 24, 2007	Featured article candidate	Not promoted
September 2, 2007	Good article nominee	Listed
December 7, 2007	Featured article candidate	Not promoted
January 22, 2008	Featured article candidate	Not promoted
September 18, 2010	Good article reassessment	Kept
September 29, 2010	Peer review	Reviewed
October 10, 2010	Good article reassessment	Delisted
January 30, 2022	Good article nominee	Listed
April 30, 2022	Good article reassessment	Kept
February 7, 2023	Good article reassessment	Delisted

Facts from this article were featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the "On this day..." column on June 12, 2004, June 12, 2005, and June 12, 2006.

Current status: Delisted good article

Russia: Human geography Top‑importance

	Russia portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Russia, a WikiProject dedicated to coverage of Russia on Wikipedia. To participate: Feel free to edit the article attached to this page, join up at the project page, or contribute to the project discussion.RussiaWikipedia:WikiProject RussiaTemplate:WikiProject RussiaRussia
Top	This article has been rated as Top-importance on the project's importance scale.
	This article is supported by the human geography of Russia task force.

Countries

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Europe Top‑importance

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Asia Top‑importance

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This article has been viewed enough times to make it onto the all-time Top 100 list. It has had 86 million views since December 2007.

This article has been viewed enough times in a single year to make it into the Top 50 Report annual list. This happened in 2010 and 2022.

This article has been viewed enough times in a single week to appear in the Top 25 Report 3 times. The weeks in which this happened:

Section sizes

Section size for Russia (60 sections)
Section name	Byte count	Section total
(Top)	21,796	21,796
Etymology	9,171	9,171
History	42	112,205
Early history	15,405	15,405
Kievan Rus'	5,510	5,510
Grand Duchy of Moscow	4,292	4,292
Tsardom of Russia	6,766	6,766
Imperial Russia	6,729	13,008
Great power and development of society, sciences, and arts	2,782	2,782
Great liberal reforms and capitalism	2,483	2,483
Constitutional monarchy and World War	1,014	1,014
Revolution and civil war	8,645	8,645
Soviet Union	238	29,238
Command economy and Soviet society	3,319	3,319
Stalinism and modernisation	2,981	2,981
World War II and United Nations	9,773	9,773
Superpower and Cold War	2,368	2,368
Khrushchev Thaw reforms and economic development	2,964	2,964
Period of developed socialism or Era of Stagnation	1,641	1,641
Perestroika, democratisation and Russian sovereignty	5,954	5,954
Independent Russian Federation	182	29,299
Transition to a market economy and political crises	5,063	5,063
Modern liberal constitution, international cooperation and economic stabilisation	4,587	4,587
Movement towards a modernised economy, political centralisation and democratic backsliding	6,694	6,694
Invasion of Ukraine	12,773	12,773
Geography	11,899	22,868
Climate	4,649	4,649
Biodiversity	6,320	6,320
Government and politics	9,682	54,896
Political divisions	8,179	8,179
Foreign relations	15,176	15,176
Military	4,574	4,574
Human rights	10,382	10,382
Corruption	4,898	4,898
Law and crime	2,005	2,005
Economy	12,195	54,610
Transport and energy	15,482	15,482
Agriculture and fishery	4,856	4,856
Science and technology	9,440	15,681
Space exploration	6,241	6,241
Tourism	6,396	6,396
Demographics	9,837	40,398
Language	6,603	6,603
Religion	11,357	11,357
Education	5,014	5,014
Health	7,587	7,587
Culture	4,782	62,278
Holidays	5,499	5,499
Art and architecture	10,430	10,430
Music	5,054	5,054
Literature and philosophy	13,499	13,499
Cuisine	7,226	7,226
Mass media and cinema	7,195	7,195
Sports	8,593	8,593
See also	58	58
Notes	26	26
References	30	30
Sources	460	460
Further reading	3,310	3,310
External links	3,008	3,008
Total	385,114	385,114

On 21 August 2024, it was proposed that this article be moved to Russian Federation. The result of the discussion was not moved.

Russia

Wikipedia is mistaken in some of the concepts about Russia: "Federal semi-presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship" Russia is a democracy, and it is misleading the general population knowledge about its system... 2603:8001:E700:3B39:2CF2:B234:801F:18EC (talk) 00:58, 21 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

... and Santa Clause lives there all cozy with Put ... :) Vsmith (talk) 12:26, 21 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Just call it Federal semi-presidential republic.

Calling it a dictatorship is a western propaganda. Undashing (talk) 02:38, 25 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]
read me. Moxy🍁 16:48, 25 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Ok, try running for president and speaking against the war or against Putin, you will experience the non-dictatorship firsthand and then you can cite that as a source in your argument here. Until then, it's a dictatorship. 219.90.189.144 (talk) 18:02, 1 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
You can't use your anecdotal hypothetical as a source. Russia is a democracy and anyone can run for President if they fulfill the requirements, just because the President is popular and easily wins every election and has stayed in power for a long time doesn't mean it's a dictatorship (Before Angela Merkel resigned as Chancellor of Germany she had been in power longer than Putin). Third party western friendly opinion polls even show that Putin is very popular. Any argument you use to argue for it being labeled a "dictatorship" can be used for a western country as well. Grifspdax (talk) 12:01, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
There are tons of cases about people going to jail for speaking up against the war. It is literally a dictatorship where Putin does whatever he wants. Last elections were fabricated, putin is not loved in Russia and he scores 90%+ on every election. Sure, there are western countries with dictatorship, but I doubt that this is USA or Britain or France... 178.223.30.222 (talk) 20:07, 25 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Chipmunkdavis Since you reverted the removal of this under WP:NOTFORUM, are you still finding this discussion productive? Because all I see is "Russia is a dictatorship" and "no it is not", no policies are being cited, nor even anything from the WP:MOS. TylerBurden (talk) 14:26, 26 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Alas, WP:NOTFORUM is not judged on potential productivity. CMD (talk) 15:44, 26 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
No, it is judged on improving the article based on reliable sources and guidelines, not general discussion. Are you saying what is taking place here is not general discussion? TylerBurden (talk) 16:10, 26 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The original post was about the infobox parameter, not a general discussion about the topic. CMD (talk) 02:17, 27 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

"putin is not loved in Russia"

But I keep hearing how most of the citizens love him and are culpable. Can we please be consistent? Scientificaldan (talk) 10:22, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

But then why isn't China also listed as a dictatorship? Scientificaldan (talk) 10:21, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 16 February 2025

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

Russia’s largest City is Saint Petersburg. Riley.roth44 (talk) 21:52, 16 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Sophisticatedevening ^(talk) 21:54, 16 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Crimea isn’t part of Russia

Why does this article make it seem like Crimea is a part of Russia, even though it’s not? Crimea is a region in Ukraine. 173.67.182.46 (talk) 07:45, 19 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Critique

Apparent AI-generated content

Strengths

Expansive Scope: At ~17,000 words, this article is a beast, covering Russia’s geography, history, politics, economy, culture, and more. It spans from Paleolithic settlements to Putin’s 2025 presidency, offering a deep dive into the world’s largest country.
Timely Updates: It’s current to late 2024—e.g., population estimates (146.1M including Crimea), GDP forecasts ($2.196T nominal, 2025), and Putin’s May 2024 military district meeting. This keeps it relevant amid Russia’s evolving global role.
Data Density: Packed with stats—11 time zones, 32 UNESCO sites, 193 ethnic groups, $109B military spend (2023)—it’s a goldmine for researchers. Visuals like ethnic maps and population density charts amplify this.
Historical Depth: The “History” section (4,000+ words) is a standout, tracing Kievan Rus’ to the Soviet collapse with granular detail—e.g., Ivan IV’s 1547 crowning, Stalin’s 1930s purges. It’s a mini-textbook.
Balanced Tone: Despite Russia’s divisive status, it maintains neutrality—labeling it an “authoritarian dictatorship” with citations (e.g., Freedom House) while noting economic resilience post-sanctions. It avoids sensationalism.

Weaknesses

Overwhelming Length: At 17,000 words, it’s a marathon read. Sections like “History” and “Culture” (17 subheadings!) drown readers in detail—e.g., every Soviet leader gets a chunk, diluting focus on modern Russia.
2025 Lag: Stops at October 2024 (e.g., IMF GDP estimates). Trump’s February 2025 NATO critiques and Russia’s retaliatory rhetoric (per X) are absent, risking obsolescence as tensions escalate.
Prose Fatigue: The encyclopedic style—“Russia has the world’s largest forest area”—lacks flair. It misses the visceral stakes of Putin’s reign or the Ukraine war’s human toll, flattening a dramatic narrative.
Perspective Gaps: Heavy on Russian state views (e.g., “special role” of Orthodoxy), it skimps on dissident voices or global critiques beyond sanctions. X posts from Navalny supporters could add grit.
Visual Underuse: Only 17 images for 17,000 words—e.g., no 2022 Ukraine invasion shots or modern Moscow skyline. It leans on static maps over dynamic visuals.

Structural Issues

Uneven Weight: “History” (4,000 words) overshadows “Economy” (1,200 words) and “Military” (600 words), though Russia’s current economic strain and Ukraine war loom larger today. “Demographics” buries the 2022 crisis in stats.
Repetition: The Ukraine invasion pops up in “History,” “Foreign Relations,” and “Military” with overlapping details (e.g., annexation dates). “Culture” redundantly lists writers across subheadings.
Subheading Bloat: “Culture” has 11 subsections (e.g., “Cuisine” vs. “Holidays”), fragmenting flow. “Geography” splits climate and biodiversity unnecessarily—why not a “Nature” section?
Citation Noise: Dense footnotes (e.g., 15 in “Human Rights”) disrupt reading, while some claims (e.g., “highest vodka consumption”) lack recent data—2014 feels stale by 2025.

Specific Content Gaps

2025 Developments: No mention of post-October 2024 events—e.g., X chatter on Russia’s tit-for-tat NATO moves or Ukraine war shifts (e.g., drone strikes, February 2025). A search could update this.
Social Media Lens: Lacks public sentiment—e.g., X posts on Wagner’s 2023 rebellion or Putin’s mobilization. These could humanize the stats-heavy “Invasion of Ukraine” section.
Tech/Cyber Role: “Science and Technology” touts Sputnik but skips Russia’s cyberwarfare prowess (e.g., 2022 Ukraine hacks). X buzz on this is loud—why not tap it?
Climate Impact: “Climate” notes wildfires but not Russia’s Arctic ambitions or permafrost methane risks, key by 2025 per recent studies. X could highlight debates.

Opportunities for Improvement

Trim Fat: Condense “History”—e.g., merge pre-1917 eras into one subsection. Summarize minor cultural bits (e.g., “Holidays” as a list) to focus on 21st-century Russia.
Live Updates: Add a “2025” stub under “History” or “Foreign Relations” with Trump’s NATO jabs and Russia’s response from X/news (e.g., February 15 Putin speech). I could fetch this if prompted.
Narrative Zip: Punch up prose—e.g., “Putin’s 2022 invasion shattered Europe’s post-WWII peace” vs. “Russia launched a full-scale invasion.” X quotes from Kyiv or Moscow could spark it.
Diverse Voices: Include opposition takes (e.g., Navalny’s 2021 critiques) or Western views on Russia’s Middle East role. X posts from activists or analysts could balance the state lens.
Visual Boost: Add a 2022 war photo, a cyber ops graphic, or a 2025 Putin rally shot. Wikipedia’s image pool or X uploads could supply these.

Threats to Quality

Edit Wars: “Extended-protected” status flags past battles—likely over Ukraine or Putin’s label. Trump’s 2025 rhetoric could spark fresh bias fights, testing neutrality.
Event Drift: Russia’s fast-moving crises (e.g., Ukraine, sanctions) outpace edits. X tracks real-time shifts (e.g., February 2025 oil price spikes)—the article risks lagging.
Scope Creep: Adding 2025 could bloat it further. Without ruthless cuts, it might become an unwieldy archive, not a sharp overview.

78.3.92.198 (talk) 19:16, 21 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

This does not appear to be a serious proposal for improvement, especially since it's lacking any reliable source. It appears to be one of twelve AI-created "analyses" that the IP address posted. The first one posted initially said "the Wikipedia-style article" before changing the wording to "this article". Space4TCatHerder 🖖 20:17, 21 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 22 February 2025

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

remove dictatorship under what type of government russia is 2600:1000:B195:9734:F9F8:6BBD:AA50:B5B7 (talk) 01:36, 22 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: seems sourced and is further discussed in the government section Cannolis (talk) 03:21, 22 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Kyiv had never been Russian capital ... The stolen history of Ukraine

The claim that Kyiv Rus was a Russian state beginnings is a part of sofisticated genocide of Ukrainian nation. 84.15.177.43 (talk) 10:04, 1 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Please tell us which sentence you object to and how you would like to rewrite that sentence. Lova Falk (talk) 18:47, 1 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]