Russia's economy is heavily driven by its vast natural resources, though it boasts diverse business sectors spanning agriculture, technology, and heavy industry.
* **Major Sectors:** Oil and natural gas extraction, mining (nickel, gold, diamonds), metallurgy, defense manufacturing, agriculture (particularly wheat), and a resilient domestic IT sector. * **Business Districts:** The **Moscow International Business Center** (informally known as Moscow-City) is the country's preeminent financial and corporate hub, characterized by modern, super-tall skyscrapers. * **Retail and Shopping:** High-end shopping is concentrated in historic department stores like **GUM** on Red Square and **TSUM** in Moscow, alongside massive modern malls like Evropeisky. In daily commerce, local grocery chains like X5 Retail Group (Pyaterochka, Perekrestok) and Magnit dominate. * **Tech & Startups:** Despite global shifts, Russia has a self-contained tech ecosystem (often dubbed the "RuNet"), anchored by domestic giants like Yandex and VK, which foster numerous startups in fintech, e-commerce, and logistics.
