Small cities play a significant role in the country's settlement structure by performing spatial-formative functions, ensuring connections, and concentrating functions in specific locations. However, the modern era of global business development, accelerated transportation, and cost savings presents challenges to their existence. Some small towns are unable to withstand these challenges: their population is critically declining, infrastructure is deteriorating, and they risk disappearing in the near future. The experience of others is much more positive: they become tourist centers or revive their cultural heritage through the development of creative industries. The aim of this round table is to discuss strategies for the development of small Russian cities based on an analysis of specific cases and field research conducted by students from the Faculty of Economics at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia in July 2025 in small towns of Ryazan region, Russia. Event Details: Organization: Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba