How large could Russian colonialism be?

The entirety of the former USSR area, plus Mongolia, western China, much of the Balkans, Alaska, maybe a bit more of the west coast of North America, possibly Constantinople. Maybe Manchuria as well?
I would avoid any direct takeover of Balkan lands besides Constantinople. A number of puppets like the Eastern Bloc is probably a better way to handle the Balkans for a Russia power. Or creating and propping up a large Yugoslavia that includes Albania, Bulgaria(including most of European Thrace and Greek coast Bulgaria use to hold), and the Romanian coast. In America they could keep Alaska then expand into Yukon, British Columbia, Washington State, Idaho, and Oregon. In Asia they could gain Afghanstan, Persia, Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, Ma, Manchuria, Korea, Japan most north island. Maybe Hawaii and Northern Scandinavia.
 
It isn’t overseas
He has a valid point . And no it isn't . But think about it your nation is uhm large, but 7/9ths useless, filled with nomadic tribes, porous borders etc. Siberia was a project.

Siberia was also why many didn't go east, that and Alaska during the 18th and 19th centuries was pretty much a nasty cold place to live.

Fort Ross wasn't around long enough to really grab attention, hearts or minds.

Russia is and has been a Slavic continental power, with out a real maritime fleet as already mentioned its pretty much worthless and impossible to defend colonies
 

Vuu

Banned
Until recently, it was cheaper to travel by boat, than by land. It's why the brits had a huge empire that was a disjointed mess of territories scattered around the globe. The fact that Russia has no reliable sea access to areas that can be easily colonized means they had to force their way by land into Siberia, which is still not fully settled today, though America and Canada are also pretty empty with low population densities
 
Because everyone else is doing it would be the only reason really required: most colonial ventures weren't profitable either. But yes, Russia never had that kind of thing as a focus.



Nothing of that compares to the epic attempts to get the White Sea squadron into the Baltic to reinforce the Baltic fleet for the Hat's War. It didn't manage to get out into the open ocean until the war was basically over.

Russian navy often did the impossible in making the Swedish navy look competent:p

As some evil person remarked about the Russian fleet of the late XVIII, they found an enemy who was even in the worst shape, the Ottomans. :)
 
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