Russia is divided into several types of administrative divisions, which include federal subjects, republics, territories, regions, cities of federal significance, and autonomous areas. Each division has its own level of governance and administrative structure, allowing for local management of resources and policies. The republics are designed to provide a degree of autonomy to specific ethnic groups, while territories and regions are more general administrative units. Cities of federal significance, like Moscow and Saint Petersburg, operate independently of other divisions, directly governed by the federal government.