Russian is an East Slavic language spoken by over 150 million people primarily in Russia and neighboring countries. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and serves as a lingua franca in many parts of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Russian uses the Cyrillic script and has a rich literary tradition dating back centuries, with iconic authors. The language has undergone significant changes over time, influenced by various linguistic, cultural, and political factors.
