Russia
37 profiles with fame based in Russia
Russia — figures with Russian and Soviet roots
This page documents 37 notable figures based in Russia whose biographies connect to the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, or the states that succeeded them — through birth, parentage, or earlier ancestry. Each profile is sourced and records the specific origin and connection.
Alexander Grischuk
Moscow's fearless blitz king and three-time Candidates finalist
Alexei Navalny
Russia's most prominent dissident, martyred for truth.
Andrei Sakharov
The bomb's architect who became its conscience.
Anna Chapman
Russia's most glamorous Cold War ghost
Daniil Dubov
Moscow chess prodigy who became world rapid chess champion and Magnus Carlsen's second
Daniil Kvyat
Ufa-born Formula 1 driver who became Russia's most successful F1 racer of his generation
Danila Kozlovsky
Russia's most celebrated young actor and director, famous in Russia and globally for Vampire Academy
Eugene Kaspersky
The Soviet-trained mind who made cybersecurity global
George Blake
Dutch-British double agent who spied for the KGB and became one of the Cold War's most notorious moles
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Bryansk-born chess prodigy and two-time World Chess Championship Challenger
Igor Akinfeev
CSKA Moscow's legendary goalkeeper — the most capped Russian outfield player in history
Kazimir Malevich
Born in Kyiv, painted Black Square and invented abstract art
Kim Philby
Britain's most damaging spy — the Cambridge Five leader who defected to Moscow in 1963
Konstantin Khabensky
Leningrad-born actor who starred in Night Watch and became the face of modern Russian cinema internationally
Lev Landau
Born in Baku, became the greatest Soviet physicist and the only man to win the Nobel Prize while in a coma
Ludwig Faddeev
Leningrad mathematical physicist who solved the three-body problem and transformed quantum field theory
Maria Butina
Barnaul-born Russian operative who infiltrated the NRA and US Republican circles — imprisoned then deported
Nikita Mazepin
Moscow-born Formula 1 driver, son of billionaire Dmitry Mazepin — lost his F1 seat after Russia's Ukraine invasion
Peter Svidler
Leningrad-born chess grandmaster — eight-time Russian Chess Champion and Candidates stalwart
Petr Badmaev
Born a Buryat Buddhist in Siberia — became Tsar's personal physician, geopolitical adviser, and Russia's most exotic figure
Regina Todorenko
Odessa-born presenter who became one of Russia's most popular TV hosts — now in exile
Sergey Shoygu
Tuvan-Russian Defence Minister who oversaw Russia's catastrophic invasion of Ukraine
Svetlana Khodchenkova
Moscow-born actress who played Viper in The Wolverine and became Russia's most internationally recognised star
Ilya Varlamov
Russia's most popular urban blogger who fled to exile after opposing the Ukraine war
Viktor Pelevin
Born in Moscow — Russia's most mysterious and celebrated contemporary novelist
Viktor Tsoi
Leningrad rock idol with Korean roots — the voice of Soviet youth who died at 28 and became a cult god
Vladimir Mashkov
Vladimir Spivakov
Born in Ufa to a family of musicians — founded the Moscow Virtuosi and became Russia's most beloved conductor
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Sochi-born tennis pioneer — first Russian to win a Grand Slam and reach World No. 1
Yulii Borisovich Khariton
Yuliya Snigir
Yuri Denisyuk
Zurab Tsereteli
Vagit Alekperov
Born in Baku — founded LUKOIL, Russia's largest private oil company, and became one of the world's richest men
Vladimir Potanin
Born in Moscow — controls Norilsk Nickel, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium
Alexei Mordashov
Born in Cherepovets — controls Severstal, Russia's most efficient steelmaker, and was the majority shareholder of TUI travel group
Tatyana Bakalchuk
Founded Wildberries from her Moscow apartment while on maternity leave — built the largest e-commerce platform in Russia