However, in the list of continents, we had to place Russia in one continent or the other, so we placed it in Europe, following the United Nations classification. About 75% of the Russian population lives in the European continent. On the other hand, 75% of Russian territory is located in Asia.

Russia is a transcontinental country that spans both Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, making it the largest nation in the world by landmass. Geographically, the dividing line between the European and Asian portions of Russia is traditionally defined by the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, and the Caspian and Black Seas. About 75% of Russia's total territory lies in Asia (Siberia and the Far East), but approximately 77% of its population lives in the European part. This makes Russia culturally and politically oriented toward Europe, with its capital, Moscow, and its second-largest city, St. Petersburg, both located west of the Urals. In 2026, this dual identity remains a central theme in Russian geopolitics, as the vast resources of the Asian "East" fuel the industrial and administrative hubs of the "West." While you can travel thousands of miles through the Asian taiga and steppes, the historical heart and the majority of the urban infrastructure are firmly rooted in the European continent, giving Russia a unique status as a bridge between two worlds.