Russia’s natural resources are under-developed mainly because ...

While some regions of Russia may be land-locked, the country as a whole has extensive coastlines along the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. This access to maritime routes can facilitate trade and resource export, thereby diminishing the impact of being land-locked on resource development. Thus, geography alone is not the primary reason for the under-utilization of resources.

Infrastructure challenges are present in Russia, but they are not limited to the capital city. Many resource-rich regions are remote and lack adequate infrastructure, which is a broader issue rather than a specific shortcoming of capital-city infrastructure. Therefore, this option does not accurately capture the main reason for under-development.

While government policies can influence resource management, there are no widespread bans on extracting resources in Russia. Instead, the primary obstacles stem from environmental conditions and logistical challenges, making this option less relevant to the overarching issue of under-development.