As part of an update to the one-volume Soviet Union: A Country Study (1991), this is the fifth of six books describing the 15 former Soviet republics in their past and present circumstances. Topics highlighted include pre- and post-revolution history, the physical environment, population, ethnic composition, religion, health, education and welfare. A large section on the economy covers the labor force, manufacturing, banking and finance, agriculture, transportation and telecommunication. The Russian Armed Forces and internal security are also examined. Most of the text reflects information available as of July 31, 1996, though some portions are more current. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.