WebProNews

The vast expanses of Russia may be as potentially rich in online ad revenue as they are in oil and minerals, and Google hopes to be the next firm to mine that resource.

In 2010, Google believes its operations in Russia could be tapping a billion dollar Internet advertising market. 2007 saw Russia grow to a $200 million bonanza in online ads. Two years from now may make that a fleeting, unprofitable memory.

A Google Russia executive exulted the possible future to Bloomberg; Vladmir Dolgov said online advertising as a whole has caught fire in Russia, with 75,000 companies out of three million registered firms indulging in online ads.

Whatever growth happens as Google competes with Yandex.ru and Rambler.ru will be managed from the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia. Though Google wants to add more people to their operations, they don't seem keen to expand to other cities.

Both cities are relatively close to the eastern side of the European Union, making them more accessible to existing Google operations. If you can read this link, you're a step closer to starting your day with a friendly "dóbroje óótro, Googler" than most people.