Alternative History
Russian Federation
Росси́йская Федера́ция
Timeline: Differently
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: 
Патриотическая Песня
"Patriotic Song"

Location of Russia (Differently)
Location of Russia (green) with disputed territory of Ukraine (light green)
Capital
(and largest city)
Moscow
Official languages Russian
Other languages Belarusian • Ukrainian • Kazakh • several Northwest Caucasian, Turkic and indigenous languages
Religion 75.8% Christianity
-71.7% Orthodox
-3.2% Catholic
-0.9% other Christian
11.4 Irreligion
6.1% Islam
5.2% Zoroastrianism
1.5% other
Government Federal semi-presidential republic under a nationalist government
 -  President Viktoria Abramchenko
 -  Vice President Sergey Baburin
 -  Prime Minister Viktor Lukashenko
Establishment
 -  Kievan Rus' 879 
 -  Vladimir-Suzdal 1157 
 -  Grand Duchy of Moscow 1263 
 -  Tsardom of Russia 16 January 1547 
 -  Holy Russian Empire 12 January 1815 
 -  Monarchy abolished 15 March 1917 
 -  Soviet Union 30 December 1922 
 -  Russian Federation 4 December 1982 
 -  Reunification of Russia 21 January 1997 
Area
 -  Total 21,607,262 km2 
8,342,610 sq mi 
Population
 -  Estimate 209,336,053 (5th)
Currency Russian ruble (₽) (RUB)

Russia (Russian: Россия), officially the Russian Federation (Russian: Росси́йская Федера́ция), is a vast country extending from Eastern Europe throughout Northern Asia up to North America. It is by far the largest country in the world, covering 21.6 million square kilometres, or more than one-eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area, spanning thirteen time zones, and bordering sixteen sovereign nations. With 209.3 million inhabitants living in the country's 88 federal subjects as of 2020, Russia is the most populous nation in Europe and the fifth-most populous in the world. Russia's capital and largest city is Moscow; other major urban areas include Saint Petersburg, Kiev, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan and Chelyabinsk.

The East Slavs emerged as a recognisable group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD. The medieval state of Kievan Rus' arose in the 9th century. In 988, it adopted Orthodox Christianity from the Byzantine Empire. Rus' ultimately disintegrated, and the Grand Duchy of Moscow rose during the 15th century. From 862 to 1917 Russia was ruled by Rurik dynasty. By the 19th century, the nation had vastly expanded through conquest, annexation, and exploration to evolve into the Holy Russian Empire, the third-largest empire in the world. After its major loss in the Crimean War, it began declining as it slowed down in industrialisation and liberalisation, compared to the other European powers. In 1905, a revolution established a de-jure constitutional monarchy, although it was unofficially still an autocratic society.

The monarchy was abolished following the Russian Revolution in 1917, and the Russian Soviet Republic became the world's first constitutionally socialist state. Following a civil war, the Russian SFSR established the Soviet Union with three other republics, as its largest and the principal constituent. The country underwent a period of rapid industrialisation at the expense of millions of lives. The Soviet Union emerged as a superpower and rival to the United States during the Cold War. The Soviet regime collapsed in 1982, when the modern Russian Federation was founded. Since 2001, the country has been autocraticising and abandoning Western policies.

Today, Russia is a major world power, and is a member of the League of Nations and BRAC.

History[]

Post-Soviet era (1982–1990)[]

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1982, Russia became the legal successor to the former country, and for the first few years, it remained a socialist republic under Nikolay Tihonov who served in many positions in the previous Soviet system . The economy remained highly centralised, resulting in the continuation of the major economic recession that had plagued the Soviet Union since 1966. Freedom of speech and press was also a major issue in post-Soviet Russia, as Tihonov believed that Russia could survive as a communist state if the Soviet policies remained. This essentially removed all hope of reforming the government.

Under Tihonov, Russia still attempted to support all socialist nations, most notably the Confederation of American Socialist States, which had been fighting a guerilla war against the United States and its allies. Moscow sent weapons to the Socialist Confederate Army, and threatened to invade Canada and the United States in order to defend its communist ally. However, attempts to save the CASS failed, as eventually the communists fell from power and the Confederate States was officially restored in power. faced serious criticism from the Russian populace, which lead to an attempted coup by the Russian military in January 1979 to restore control - it resulted in a major major standoff between forces loyal to and forces loyal to the military, as fear of civil war emerged yet again.

Eventually, the two sides agreed to an agreement - Tihonov would transform Russia back into a capitalist society to improve the economy, and allow more liberal policies to make the Russian populace more happier. The government started working on a proper constitution to replace the previous Russian SFSR one. A constitutional referendum was held on 14 January 1984, with over 78.9% of voters voting in favour of the constitution. The constitution was officially adopted a day later by the Russian government.

Era of economic prosperity (1990–2000)[]

Putin era (2001–2011)[]

Present history (2011–present)[]

Borders and coast[]

The largest country in the world, Russia borders numerous nations: Finland, Estland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Danubia and Vlachia to the west, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Chagatai, Uyghuristan, Mongolia, Manchuria, Korea and Japan to the south and Canada to the east.

Russia is bounded by the cold Arctic Ocean to the north, the North Pacific Ocean on the east and by the Black, Caspian and Aral Seas on the south.

Federal subjects[]

A map of Russia's federal subjects

A map of Russia's federal subjects.

  Oblasts
  Republics
  Krais
  Autonomous Okrugs
  Federal Cities
  Autonomous Oblast (1)

The subjects of the Russian Federation (Russian: субъекты Российской Федерации, romanized: subyekty Rossiyskoy Federatsii) are the constituent entities of Russia, its top-level political divisions according to the Constitution of Russia. Each federal subject belongs to one of the following types:

  • Oblasts: The most common type of federal subject with a governor and locally elected legislature. Commonly named after their administrative centres.
  • Republics: Nominally autonomous, each with its own constitution, language, and legislature but represented by the federal government in international affairs. Each is home to a specific ethnic minority.
  • Krais: For all intents and purposes, krais are legally identical to oblasts. The title "krai" ("frontier" or "territory") is historic, related to geographic (frontier) position in a certain period of history. The current krais are not related to frontiers.
  • Autonomous Okrugs: Occasionally referred to as "autonomous districts", "autonomous areas", or "autonomous regions", each with a substantial or predominant ethnic minority.
  • Federal Cities: Major cities that function as separate regions.
  • Autonomous Oblast: Oblasts with a higher degree of autonomny. Currently there is only one, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast.
Name Capital/Admin Center [1] Type Area (km2) Population
Adygea
(Адыге́я)
(Адыгэ)
Maykop Republic 7,600 447,109
Alaska
(Аля́ска)

(Alax̂sxax̂)
(Alaasikaq)
(Alas'kaaq)
(Alaskaq)
(Anáaski)
Novo-Arkhangelsk
(Largest city: Alaska City)
Republic 663,268 710,249
Bashkortostan
(Башкортоста́н)
(Башҡортостан)
Ufa Republic 143,600 4,104,336
Buryatia
(Буря́тия)
(Буряад)
Ulan-Ude Republic 351,300 981,238
Altai Republic
(Респу́блика Алта́й)
(Алтай Республика)
Gorno-Altaysk Republic 92,600 202,947
Kazakhstan
(Казахстан)
(Қазақстан)
Astana Republic 2,724,900 18,711,560
Dagestan
(Дагеста́н)
(Республика)
(Дагъистаналъул)
Makhachkala Republic 50,300 2,576,531
Ingushetia
(Гӏалгӏай)
(Ингуше́тия)
Magas
(Largest city: Nazran)
Republic 4,000 467,294
Chechnya
(Чечня́)
(Нохчийчоь)
Grozny Republic 15,300 1,103,686
Kabardino-Balkaria
(Кабарди́но-Балка́рия)
(Къэбэрдей-Балъкъэр)
(Къабарты-Малкъар)
Nalchik Republic 12,500 901,494
Kalmykia
(Калмы́кия)
(Хальмг)
Elista Republic 76,100 292,410
Karachay-Cherkessia
(Карача́ево-Черке́сская)
Cherkessk Republic 14,100 439,470
Karelia
(Каре́лия)
(Karjal)
Petrozavodsk Republic 172,400 716,281
Komi
(Ко́ми)
(Коми)
Syktyvkar Republic 415,900 1,018,674
Mari El
(Мари́й Эл)
(Марий Эл)
(Мары Эл)
Yoshkar-Ola Republic 23,200 727,979
Mordovia
(Мордо́вия)
(Мордовия)
Saransk Republic 26,200 888,766
North Ossetia-Alania
(Северная Осетия—Алания)
(Цӕгат Ирыстон—Алани)
Vladikavkaz Republic 8,000 710,275
Tatarstan
(Татарста́н)
(Татарстан)
Kazan Republic 68,000 3,779,265
Tuva
(Тува́)
(Тыва)
Kyzyl Republic 170,500 305,510
Udmurtia
(Удму́ртия)
(Удмуртия)
Izhevsk Republic 42,100 1,570,316
Khakassia
(Хака́сия)
(Хака́с)
Abakan Republic 61,900 546,072
Belarus
(Белоруссия)
(Беларусь)
Minsk Republic 207,595 9,408,400
Ukraine
(Украина)
(Україна)
Kyiv Republic 603,628 48,457,102
Chuvashia
(Чува́шия)
(Чӑваш Ен)
Cheboksary Republic 18,300 1,313,754
Altai Krai
(Алта́йский край)
Barnaul Krai 169,100 2,607,426
Kuban
(Кубань)
Krasnodar Krai 76,000 5,125,221
Krasnoyarsk
(Красноя́рск)
Krasnoyarsk Krai 2,339,700 2,966,042
Primorsky
(Приморский)
Vladivostok Krai 165,900 2,071,210
Stavropol
(Ставрополь)
Stavropol Krai 66,500 2,735,139
Khabarovsk
(Хаба́ровск)
Khabarovsk Krai 788,600 1,436,570
Kamchatka
(Камча́тка)
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Krai 472,300 358,801
Perm
(Пермь)
Perm Krai 160,600 2,819,421
Zabaykalsky
(Забайкальский)
Chita Krai 431,500 1,155,346
Amur
(Аму́р)
Blagoveshchensk Oblast 363,700 902,844
Arkhangelsk
(Арха́нгельск)
Arkhangelsk Oblast 587,400 1,336,539
Astrakhan
(Астрахань)
Astrakhan Oblast 44,100 1,005,276
Belgorod
(Белгород)
Belgorod Oblast 27,100 1,511,620
Bryansk
(Брянск)
Bryansk Oblast 34,900 1,378,941
Vladimir
(Влади́мир)
Vladimir Oblast 29,000 1,523,990
Volgograd
(Волгогра́д)
Volgograd Oblast 113,900 2,699,223
Vologda
(Вологда)
Vologda
(Largest city: Cherepovets)
Oblast 145,700 1,269,568
Voronezh
(Воронеж)
Voronezh Oblast 52,400 2,378,803
Ivanovo
(Иваново)
Ivanovo Oblast 21,800 1,148,329
Irkutsk
(Иркутск)
Irkutsk Oblast 767,900 2,581,705
Kaluga
(Калу́га)
Kaluga Oblast 29,900 1,041,641
Kemerovo
(Ке́мерово)
Kemerovo Oblast 95,500 2,899,142
Kirov
(Ки́ров)
Kirov Oblast 120,800 1,503,529
Kostroma
(Кострома́)
Kostroma Oblast 60,100 736,641
Kurgan
(Курган)
Kurgan Oblast 71,000 1,019,532
Kursk
(Курск)
Kursk Oblast 29,800 1,235,091
Petrograd
(Петроград)
Largest city: Gatchina[2] Oblast 84,500 1,669,205
Lipetsk
(Липецк)
Lipetsk Oblast 24,100 1,213,499
Magadan
(Магадан)
Magadan Oblast 461,400 182,726
Moscow Oblast
(Моско́вская о́бласть)
Largest city: Balashikha[3] Oblast 44,300 6,618,538
Murmansk
(Му́рманск)
Murmansk Oblast 144,900 892,534
Nizhny Novgorod
(Нижний Новгород)
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast 76,900 3,524,028
Novgorod
(Новгород)
Veliky Novgorod Oblast 55,300 694,355
Novosibirsk
(Новосиби́рск)
Novosibirsk Oblast 178,200 2,692,251
Omsk
(Омск)
Omsk Oblast 139,700 2,079,220
Orenburg
(Оренбург)
Orenburg Oblast 124,000 2,179,551
Oryol
(Орёл)
Oryol Oblast 24,700 860,262
Penza
(Пе́нза)
Penza Oblast 43,200 1,452,941
Pskov
(Псков)
Pskov Oblast 55,300 760,810
Rostov
(Ростов)
Rostov-on-Don Oblast 100,800 4,404,013
Ryazan
(Рязань)
Ryazan Oblast 39,600 1,227,910
Sakhalin
(Сахали́н)
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Oblast 87,100 546,695
Samara
(Сама́ра)
Samara Oblast 53,600 3,239,737
Saratov
(Сара́тов)
Saratov Oblast 100,200 2,668,310
Smolensk
(Смоленск)
Smolensk Oblast 49,800 1,049,574
Sverdlovsk
(Свердло́вск)
Sverdlovsk Oblast 194,800 4,486,214
Tambov
(Тамбов)
Tambov Oblast 34,300 1,178,443
Tomsk
(Томск)
Tomsk Oblast 316,900 1,046,039
Tula
(Тула)
Tula Oblast 25,700 1,675,758
Tver
(Тверь)
Tver Oblast 84,100 1,471,459
Tyumen
(Тюмень)
Tyumen Oblast 143,520 3,264,841
Ulyanovsk
(Ульяновск)
Ulyanovsk Oblast 37,300 1,382,811
Yaroslavl
(Ярослáвль)
Yaroslavl Oblast 36,400 1,367,398
Moscow
(Москва)
Federal City 2,511 10,382,754
Saint Petersburg
(Санкт-Петербург)
Federal City 1,439 4,662,547
Jewish Autonomous Oblast
(Евре́йская автоно́мная о́бласть)
(ייִדישע אװטאָנאָמע געגנט)
Birobidzhan Autonomous Oblast 36,000 190,915
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
(Чукотский автономный округ)
(Чукоткакэн автономныкэн округ)
Anadyr Autonomous Okrug 737,700 53,824
Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug–Yugra
(Ханты-Мансийский автономный округ — Югра)
(Хӑнты-Мансийской Aвтономной Округ)
Khanty-Mansiysk
(Largest city: Surgut)
Autonomous Okrug 523,100 1,432,817
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
(Не́нецкий автоно́мный о́круг)
(Ненёцие автономной ӈокрук)
Naryan-Mar Autonomous Okrug 176,700 41,546
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
(Яма́ло-Не́нецкий автоно́мный о́круг)
(Ямалы-Ненёцие автономной ӈокрук)
Salekhard
(Largest city: Noyabrsk)
Autonomous Okrug 750,300 507,006

Notes[]

  1. The largest city will be listed, if it is different
  2. The governing bodies of the oblast are located in the city of St. Petersburg. However, St. Petersburg is not officially named to be the administrative center of the oblast.
  3. The governing bodies of the oblast are located in the city of Moscow. However, Moscow is not officially named to be the administrative center of the oblast.