Colder

 It's bad (-22C) , but there is more extreme cold elsewhere. Below, Yakutsk, Russia:

                                                                                   

Copilot:

Russia; describe to me the various 'subjects' of the Russian Federation...

Quick Answer: The Russian Federation is composed of 85 federal subjects (though some are disputed internationally). These subjects are the country’s primary administrative divisions, and they fall into several categories: republics, krais (territories), oblasts (regions), federal cities, autonomous oblast, and autonomous okrugs.

                                                                                     

🌍 Key Details

Total subjects: 85 (including Crimea and Sevastopol, disputed internationally).

Largest by area: Sakha Republic (Yakutia), over 3 million km².

Smallest by area: Sevastopol, ~864 km².

Most populous: Moscow, over 13 million people.

Least populous: Nenets Autonomous Okrug, ~41,000 people.

⚖️ Political Significance

Republics are the most autonomous, with their own constitutions and official languages.

Federal cities are directly controlled by the central government due to their strategic importance.

Autonomous okrugs often overlap administratively with oblasts or krais but retain special status for indigenous peoples.

Oblasts and krais are the backbone of Russia’s administrative system, functioning much like provinces in other countries.

🧭 Context

Russia’s federal subjects reflect its vast geography and ethnic diversity. From the tundra of Chukotka to the industrial heartland of Sverdlovsk, each subject plays a role in balancing local identity with Moscow’s centralized power. The system is complex: some regions enjoy cultural autonomy, while others are tightly controlled by the federal government.

Would you like me to map out the subjects by region (European Russia, Siberia, Far East, Caucasus, etc.) so you can see how they’re distributed geographically? That gives a clearer picture of Russia’s immense diversity.

What kind of tax arrangements are there with Republics, such as Sakha?

Quick Answer: Republics like Sakha (Yakutia) follow the general Russian Tax Code, but they enjoy greater fiscal autonomy than oblasts or krais. They can set certain regional tax rates, retain a larger share of revenues from natural resources, and negotiate special arrangements with Moscow due to their ethnic and geographic status.

🏛 Tax System in Russian Republics

1. General Framework

All federal subjects, including republics, operate under the Russian Tax Code.

Taxes are divided into:

Federal taxes (e.g., VAT, excise duties, corporate profit tax, personal income tax).

Regional taxes (e.g., property tax, transport tax, gambling tax).

Local taxes (e.g., land tax, personal property tax).

2. Republic-Level Autonomy

Republics have constitutions and can legislate within the framework of the Tax Code.

They can adjust rates of certain regional taxes (e.g., property and transport taxes).

They often negotiate special fiscal arrangements with Moscow, especially where resource extraction is central (oil). 

So they are not autonomous with respect to raising and spending, such as the US States or Canadian Provinces are...

Exactly — you’ve put your finger on one of the big differences between Russia’s federal subjects and the federal units in countries like the United States or Canada.

                                                                                      

⚖️ The Bottom Line

Russia’s federal subjects are administrative divisions with limited fiscal sovereignty. They do not enjoy the same freedom to raise and spend money as US states or Canadian provinces. Moscow maintains strong control over taxation and redistribution, which keeps regions financially dependent on the center.

This centralization is deliberate: it ensures political stability and prevents wealthy resource-rich regions (like oil-producing Khanty-Mansi or gas-rich Yamalo-Nenets) from becoming too independent. In contrast, US states and Canadian provinces are designed to be semi-sovereign fiscal entities, balancing local autonomy with federal unity.

Would you like me to break down which Russian regions are most dependent on federal subsidies versus those that are net contributors? That paints a vivid picture of how uneven Russia’s fiscal landscape really is.