Top 10 Russia facts

Bank robbery. Before the Russian Revolution, Communist paramilitaries were often raising money through robberies and ransom kidnappings. Particularly notable was the 1907 Tiflis bank robbery, in which Stalin participated (playing minor role). The robbery resulted in 40 deaths and the theft of 341,000 rubles (equivalent to around US $3.4 million today).

The soil. The permafrost prevents trees from developing a deep root system. Climate variations or forest fires can thaw the upper extents of the permafrost, creating a ground slump called thermokarst.

Proof of tax payment. In 1705, Emperor Peter I of Russia instituted a beard tax to modernize the society of Russia following European models. Those who paid the tax were required to carry a "beard token" with them all the time.

Russia, England, Portugal and several others. The dragon-slayer saint was very popular as a patron saint during the Middle Ages. Many Patronages of Saint George exist around the world, including: Malta, Georgia, England, Egypt, Bulgaria, Aragon, Catalonia, Romania, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Sardinia, Serbia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Russia and Syria, as well as numerous cities, professions and organizations.

Sea otters. Alaska was colonized by Russian fur traders. Rather than hunting by themselves, the Russians forced the Aleuts to do the work for them. Many of Aleuts had been removed from their home islands and sent as far south as California to hunt sea otter.

It was taken over from the Byzantine Empire. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Moscow claimed succession to the legacy of the Eastern Roman Empire. Ivan III married Sophia Palaiologina, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI, and made the Byzantine double-headed eagle his own, and eventually Russian, coat-of-arms. In Byzantine heraldry, the heads represent the Emperor having authority over both secular and religious matters.

In Kazakhstan. Baikonur Cosmodrome is located in the center of Kazakhstan on the right bank of the Syr Darya river. Both the space launch facility and the neighboring city of Baikonur are rented and administered by the Russian Federation.

Mostly cuts. Most of hospitalized people were injured when the windows were blown. When the shockwave came, most of them were looking out the window, surprised by a bright flash of light a moment ago.

Tatar. There are about 6 million speakers of Tatar in Russia, mostly in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, where it is the official language along with Russian. The language is used by Volga Tatars, not to be confused with the Crimean Tatar Language, to which it is related but with which it is not readily mutually intelligible.

Bulgaria. The title Tsar in Slavic languages is derived from the Latin title of the Roman emperors, Caesar. It was first used in Bulgaria from 10th to 15th century, and in Serbia (in the 14th century). Later, it was used in Russia - Ivan IV was the first to use it in 1547.