This issue brief presents results from the project Capacity building regarding data inventory and air pollution modelling with the EMEP and GAINS models – applied on Oblasts of the Russian Federation, financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers (project KOL 10-11) and the Swedish Clean Air Research Programme (SCARP). The purpose with the brief is to highlight air pollution problems and policy options in the Russian Federation and to provide information on the benefits of Nordic-Russian co-operation over the last couple of years, as well as to provide suggestions for ways forward.