Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Canadian companies have been playing a leading role in developing mining projects in Russia and other former Soviet republics. This paper by Anna Palframan offers an introduction to some of the issues surrounding the Russian mining industry in general, the participation of Canadian companies, and the activities of the Canadian government in regard to Canadian mining interests. The report discusses the environmental and social conditions prevailing in mines in the Russian Federation, the treatment of native peoples, general economic changes, the activities of social pressure groups, and the regulatory environment in Russia pertaining to mining and exploration.