Why in news?
Russia formally recognised the Taliban‑led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, becoming the first country to do so since the Taliban took power in 2021.
About Russia
- Location: Spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, Russia is the world’s largest country (17 million km²) and stretches across eleven time zones.
- Capital & governance: The capital is Moscow. Russia is a federal semi‑presidential republic led by President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
- Neighbours: Shares land borders with sixteen countries, including Norway, Finland, Poland (via Kaliningrad), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and North Korea, and maritime boundaries with Japan (Sea of Okhotsk) and the U.S. (Bering Strait).
- Physical features: Home to diverse landscapes such as tundra, taiga (boreal forest), steppe and permafrost. Major mountain ranges include the Urals (Europe–Asia divide), Caucasus (Mt Elbrus—the highest peak in Europe), Altai and Kamchatka ranges. Major rivers include the Volga, Lena, Yenisei and Ob. Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest lake.
- Resources: Russia is rich in oil, natural gas, metals and timber.
This mapping item helps candidates recall geographical facts and underscores Russia’s geopolitical significance.