Russians

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Russians are an East Slavic people native to Eastern Europe. Their language is Russian, and Russian culture is known around the world. Most Russians live in Russia, but many also live in other countries.

Population and locations
- About 135 million Russians live in the world today.
- Large communities exist abroad in Germany, the United States, Canada, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and other countries.

Language and naming
- Russian is the official language of Russia and the most widely spoken Slavic language.
- In Russian, there are two common words for “Russians.” Russkiye usually means ethnic Russians, while rossiyane means people of Russia, no matter their ethnicity.
- Russian is widely used in media, on the Internet, and in space missions.

History in brief
- Russians come from East Slavic peoples who lived in the area of Kievan Rus’.
- Moscow grew as a center in medieval times, and Russia later formed a great empire.
- In 1917, the Russian Revolution led to the creation of the Soviet Union.
- The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, and the Russian Federation became the country known today as Russia.

Culture and achievements
- Literature: famous writers include Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Gogol, and many others.
- Science and technology: Dmitri Mendeleev created the periodic table.
- Space and exploration: Yuri Gagarin was the first person in space; Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space; Alexei Leonov did the first spacewalk.
- Arts: Russia has a long tradition in music (Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Prokofiev), cinema (Eisenstein, Tarkovsky), and painting.
- Architecture: onion domes and the Kremlin are recognizable symbols; St. Petersburg is known for its architecture.
- Sports: football (soccer) is very popular; ice hockey, basketball, gymnastics, and figure skating are strong traditions. Russia hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Religion
- Most Russians are Russian Orthodox Christians. There are also Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and people with no religious affiliation.

Identity
- Today, “Russians” covers both ethnic Russians and people who live in Russia. The country is home to many different ethnic groups, cultures, and traditions, all contributing to a rich national tapestry.