Russia’s natural-resource sphere and trends in its development

A brief geoecological characterization of Russia’s natural-resource complex is given. The role of industries based on mineral resources has increased over the post-Soviet years. Imbalances are growing in the system of “extraction–processing–internal consumption–export” of mineral resources. The use of renewable natural resources is increasingly shrinking into compact areas near “central sites” and main transportation routes. The article states that topical changes in the natural-resource sphere do not match the criteria of sustainable development.