People
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Votkinsk, Udmurtia, Russia
Born in Votkinsk, he wrote the ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker and the 1812 Overture.
Lived: 1840–1893 · Known for: Composer
Russia: leaders, famous people, culture and history
9 places on the atlas covering people, architecture, language, culture, folklore and crafts. Highlights include Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Saint Basil's Cathedral, Russian and Russian banya.
See Russia on the map Etiquette guide
What is on the atlas
- People Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Leo Tolstoy and Yuri Gagarin
- Architecture Saint Basil's Cathedral
- Language Russian
- Culture Russian banya
- Folklore Baba Yaga and Tuvan throat singing
- Crafts Matryoshka dolls
Who leads Russia?
| President | Vladimir Putin |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Mikhail Mishustin |
Office-holders as of July 2026. Governments change, so check Russia’s official government website for the latest. Full list of heads of state and government.
Famous people from Russia
- Leo Tolstoy novelist
- Fyodor Dostoevsky novelist
- Alexander Pushkin national poet
- Peter the Great tsar and reformer
- Pyotr Tchaikovsky composer
- Yuri Gagarin first human in space
- Dmitri Mendeleev creator of the periodic table
A short, well-known selection rather than a ranking. People pinned on the map appear in the cards below.
Etiquette tips for Russia
- Greeting A firm handshake for men; do not shake hands across a threshold. Use first name and patronymic for older people.
- Home Take your shoes off at the door. Bring a small gift and an odd number of flowers (even numbers are for funerals).
- Dining Toasts are important and followed by drinking; it is fine to decline politely.
People in Russia
People
Leo Tolstoy
Yasnaya Polyana, Tula, Russia
Born on the family estate at Yasnaya Polyana, he wrote War and Peace and Anna Karenina and later became a moral and religious thinker.
Lived: 1828–1910 · Known for: Novelist
People
Yuri Gagarin
Klushino, Smolensk Oblast, Russia
On 12 April 1961 he orbited the Earth once aboard Vostok 1, becoming the first person to travel into space.
Lived: 1934–1968 · Known for: First human in space
Architecture in Russia
Architecture
Saint Basil's Cathedral
Moscow, Russia
Colourful onion-shaped domes crown this cathedral on Red Square, built on the order of Ivan the Terrible.
Built: 1555–1561 · Style: Russian
Language in Russia
Language
Russian
Moscow, Russia
Cyrillic, the script used for Russian, is named after Saint Cyril and was developed in the early medieval Slavic world.
Say hello: Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) · Script: Cyrillic
Culture in Russia
Culture
Russian banya
Saint Petersburg, Russia
A steam bath tradition where visitors sit in a hot room, sometimes tapping their skin with bundles of birch twigs, then cool off and drink tea.
Tradition: Steam bath with birch twigs
Folklore in Russia
Folklore
Baba Yaga
Northern Russian forests (approximate), Russia
A fearsome witch who lives in a hut on chicken legs in Slavic folk tales, sometimes helping heroes and sometimes harming them.
Kind: Folk tale
Folklore
Tuvan throat singing
Kyzyl, Tuva, Russia
Singers in Tuva produce two or more notes at once, imitating the sounds of wind and water on the steppe. The tradition is also known in nearby Mongolia.
Kind: Overtone singing
Crafts in Russia
Crafts
Matryoshka dolls
Sergiev Posad, Russia
Painted wooden dolls that open to reveal smaller ones inside. Sergiev Posad is a historic toy-making centre.
Craft: Nesting wooden dolls
How to use this page
This page brings together the people who lead Russia today, a short selection of well-known people from Russia, and the 9 places pinned for Russia on the atlas. Use the buttons at the top to see Russia on the map, where you can filter by theme, read a short summary of each pin and follow the link to Wikipedia for the full article. To browse the same themes across the whole world, see the people page, architecture page, language page, culture page, folklore page and crafts page.
Questions about Russia
Who is the leader of Russia?
As of July 2026: President: Vladimir Putin; Prime Minister: Mikhail Mishustin. Office-holders change, so check the official government site for the latest.
Who are some famous people from Russia?
Well-known people connected with Russia include Leo Tolstoy (novelist), Fyodor Dostoevsky (novelist), Alexander Pushkin (national poet), Peter the Great (tsar and reformer) and Pyotr Tchaikovsky (composer).
Which famous people from Russia are pinned on the atlas?
People pinned for Russia include Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Leo Tolstoy and Yuri Gagarin. Open the map to read a short summary of each.
What are famous landmarks and buildings in Russia?
Notable buildings and sites in Russia on the atlas include Saint Basil's Cathedral. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What languages and scripts is Russia known for?
Language entries for Russia on the atlas include Russian. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What traditional crafts is Russia known for?
Traditional crafts from Russia on the atlas include Matryoshka dolls. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What food and customs is Russia known for?
Food and customs from Russia on the atlas include Russian banya. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What folklore and music does Russia have?
Folklore and music from Russia on the atlas include Baba Yaga and Tuvan throat singing. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
How can I explore Russia on the map?
Choose See Russia on the map above, or search for Russia on the atlas. You can filter by theme, drag the Time travel slider to see who was alive and what was standing in different centuries, and open any pin for a short summary and a link to the full Wikipedia article.
What etiquette should visitors know in Russia?
Greeting: A firm handshake for men; do not shake hands across a threshold. Use first name and patronymic for older people. Home: Take your shoes off at the door. Bring a small gift and an odd number of flowers (even numbers are for funerals). These are general customs, not legal advice.