Russia's Heartland: Moscow to the Urals

The heartland of Russia is the core region centered on Moscow and extending eastward from the Volga River to the Ural Mountains. It encompasses the Central Federal District (including Moscow Oblast) and the western Volga Federal District. This area has been the political, economic, cultural, and demographic center of the Russian state for centuries, housing the capital, major industries, universities, and the bulk of the population.