Russia, country that stretches over a vast expanse of eastern Europe and northern Asia. Once the preeminent republic of the U.S.S.R., Russia became an independent country after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. The capital of Russia is Moscow., Russian air defence units downed dozens of Ukrainian drones in widely dispersed parts of the country, including two near the country's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, officials said., Russia - the largest country on earth - emerged from a decade of post-Soviet economic and political turmoil to seek to reassert itself as a world power. Income from vast natural, Russia, the world's largest country by area, stretches from Northern Asia to Eastern Europe. The Arctic Ocean borders Russia to the north and the Pacific to the east. The country also has a short coastline on the Baltic Sea in the northwest. The exclave of Russia, Kaliningrad also borders the Baltic Sea as well as Lithuania and Poland., View the latest Russia news and videos, including politics and business headlines. For the first time, Xi is missing a China-backed BRICS summit. Why? North Korea just opened a beach resort for, Stay on top of Russia latest developments on the ground with Al Jazeera’s fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated maps..