Capital of Russia, home to iconic landmarks like the Kremlin, Red Square, and St. Basil’s Cathedral.
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2. Saint Petersburg, Saint Petersburg – Population: ~5,601,911
Cultural capital famed for its imperial architecture, canals, Hermitage Museum, and White Nights.
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3. Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk Oblast – Population: ~1,633,595
Largest city in Siberia, a major scientific and transportation hub on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
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4. Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast – Population: ~1,495,000
City straddling Europe and Asia; known for its industrial heritage and historical significance.
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5. Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast – Population: ~1,259,000
Historic city with a Kremlin overlooking the Volga River; a key trade and cultural center.
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6. Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan – Population: ~1,243,500
Home to a unique Tatar & Russian cultural blend, the Kazan Kremlin, and FIFA World Cup venues.
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7. Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast – Population: ~1,202,000
A large industrial city in the Urals, known for metallurgy and heavy machinery.
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8. Omsk, Omsk Oblast – Population: ~1,172,000
Major Trans-Siberian Railway city with rich cultural institutions and architecture.
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9. Samara, Samara Oblast – Population: ~1,163,000
Known for aerospace production, riverfront parks along the Volga, and a vibrant cultural scene.
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10. Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast – Population: ~1,130,000
Key port city and agricultural trade hub, often called the gateway to the Caucasus.
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11. Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan – Population: ~1,120,500
Center for oil refining and Bashkir culture at the Ural–Volga crossroads.
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12. Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai – Population: ~1,090,800
City on the Yenisei River, known for dramatic Siberian landscapes and outdoor excursions.
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13. Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast – Population: ~1,047,500
A cultural and industrial center with WWII history and shipbuilding on the Don River.
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14. Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast – Population: ~1,013,500
Historic city of Stalingrad, notable for its war memorials and Volga riverfront.
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15. Perm, Perm Krai – Population: ~982,400
An industrial and cultural hub along the Kama River in the Ural region.
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16. Saratov, Saratov Oblast – Population: ~844,900
Volga River port with classical architecture and significant educational institutions.
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17. Krasnodar, Krasnodar Krai – Population: ~899,500
Nicknamed the “Southern Capital”; close to the Black Sea and rich agricultural plains.
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18. Tyumen, Tyumen Oblast – Population: ~768,400
Often called the first Russian city in Siberia and a central oil and gas hub.
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19. Tolyatti, Samara Oblast – Population: ~702,900
Known for the AvtoVAZ factory that produces Lada vehicles.
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20. Barnaul, Altai Krai – Population: ~599,600
Gateway to the Altai Mountains, important for agriculture and trade.
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21. Ulyanovsk, Ulyanovsk Oblast – Population: ~640,700
Birthplace of Lenin and a prominent Volga river port.
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22. Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic – Population: ~631,000
Known for manufacturing arms, including the Kalashnikov rifle.
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23. Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl Oblast – Population: ~606,700
UNESCO-listed Golden Ring city, renowned for its Kremlin and historic churches.
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24. Vladivostok, Primorsky Krai – Population: ~587,000
Russia’s key Pacific port and naval base, known for dramatic coastal scenery.
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25. Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast – Population: ~586,700
Gateway to Lake Baikal with rich Siberian and religious wooden architecture.
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26. Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk Krai – Population: ~579,000
Major Far East city on the Amur River, near the Chinese border.
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27. Astrakhan, Astrakhan Oblast – Population: ~502,500
Caspian Sea port known for caviar and vibrant multi-ethnic markets.
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28. Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan – Population: ~509,900
Home to the KAMAZ truck plant and an important industrial city on the Kama River.
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29. Penza, Penza Oblast – Population: ~512,600
Main regional center noted for arts, culture, and memorial architecture.
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30. Lipetsk, Lipetsk Oblast – Population: ~515,600
Known for steel production and industrial complexes.
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31. Kemerovo, Kemerovo Oblast – Population: ~477,100
Central to the Kuzbass coal-mining region in southwestern Siberia.
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32. Tomsk, Tomsk Oblast – Population: ~485,500
Historic university city famous for its wooden architecture.
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33. Tula, Tula Oblast – Population: ~468,800
Famous for weapons production, samovars, and gingerbread.
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34. Kirov, Kirov Oblast – Population: ~457,400
Known for its timber industry and classical Russian architecture.
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35. Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic – Population: ~446,800
Capital of Chuvashia with a rich mix of Russian and Chuvash culture.
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36. Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast – Population: ~482,000
Russia’s exclave on the Baltic Sea, with German heritage and amber trade.
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37. Kursk, Kursk Oblast – Population: ~432,000
WWII site of the largest tank battle and a regional agricultural center.
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38. Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia – Population: ~437,000
Capital of Buryatia, known for its Buddhist culture and proximity to Lake Baikal.
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39. Stavropol, Stavropol Krai – Population: ~398,000
“Capital of the Northern Caucasus,” famed for its spa resorts and sunny weather.
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40. Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast – Population: ~404,000
City built around one of Russia’s largest steel-producing plants on the Ural River.
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41. Ivanovo, Ivanovo Oblast – Population: ~391,000
Historic textile center once called the “City of Brides.”
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42. Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast – Population: ~405,000
Regional capital near Belarus, with rich military and WWII heritage.
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43. Sochi, Krasnodar Krai – Population: ~343,000
Black Sea resort city that hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics.
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44. Belgorod, Belgorod Oblast – Population: ~389,000
Known for fertile black-soil agriculture and historic architecture.
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45. Nizhny Tagil, Sverdlovsk Oblast – Population: ~350,000
Major metallurgical center near the Ural Mountains.
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46. Vladimir, Vladimir Oblast – Population: ~350,000
Historic Golden Ring city with medieval churches and a kremlin.
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47. Arkhangelsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast – Population: ~350,000
Arctic port city with a rich maritime history and wooden architecture.
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48. Kaluga, Kaluga Oblast – Population: ~341,000
Aerospace and automotive hub near Moscow’s western corridor.
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49. Chita, Zabaykalsky Krai – Population: ~316,000
Far East city with Cossack heritage, near Siberia’s border with Mongolia.
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50. Smolensk, Smolensk Oblast – Population: ~327,000
Ancient fortified city steeped in WWII and medieval history.
