Russians

Russians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia. They form the country’s largest ethnic group and constitute the majority of the population in European Russia. The Russian language, an East Slavic language using the Cyrillic alphabet, is the primary means of communication and cultural expression for ethnic Russians.

Most Russians live within the Russian Federation, with large urban populations in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and other major cities. Communities of ethnic Russians are also found in many parts of the former Soviet Union and in the global diaspora, including Europe, North America, and other regions.

Historically, Russians emerged from East Slavic populations in medieval state formations such as Kievan Rus and the principality of Moscow. The growth of the Russian Empire, followed by the Soviet era, significantly shaped national identity, language standardization, and cultural institutions. In modern times, citizenship in the Russian Federation includes many people of diverse ethnic backgrounds, reflecting a multiethnic state.

Culturally, Russians have made major contributions to literature, music, theater, and the visual arts. Russian Orthodoxy has played a prominent historical role, though contemporary society is religiously diverse and increasingly secular in many areas. Other faiths and secular perspectives are widely practiced within Russia and among Russian communities abroad.

The term Russians can refer either to the ethnic group as such or to citizens of Russia regardless of ethnicity. This distinction is common in demographic discussions, nationality studies, and discussions of identity within and beyond the country.