Russian cities are unequal in terms of their access to infrastructure and jobs, the quality of their living environment, and the media attention they receive. While some cities attract internal and international migration, others lose their population because of dramatic social and economic shifts experienced by the country in recent decades. Academic research on cities focuses on urban inequality, segregation, experiences of migrants, and urban civic engagement, among other topics. A distinct common thread in these studies is the theme of habitability in rapidly changing or shrinking cities; local identities, creative engagement with the place, and the formation of comfortable, familiar social worlds are some of the themes explored by urban scholars. In addition to academic scholarship, a cluster of applied urban research studies have emerged to advise urban power holders as they embark on various redevelopment projects.