Western Russia vs. Eastern Russia: Key Differences

Two Distinct Regions

Western Russia (Moscow to the European borders) includes Saint Petersburg, Novgorod, and Kaliningrad. It is the historic political, economic, and cultural heartland, heavily influenced by Europe.

Eastern Russia (Urals to the Pacific) encompasses Siberia, the Russian Far East, and Yakutia. It is resource-rich (oil, gas, minerals, timber), sparsely populated, and home to diverse indigenous peoples.

They differ in geography, history, economy, and demographics—far from being the same.