The paper examines the theory of federalism in the political, administrative and territorial structure of the country. The collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s caused the inclusion of the principle of national unity in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The authors trace the dynamics of the division of powers between central and local authorities in Russia. The authors point out the importance of harmonizing the interests of the federal center and the regions, and the equal participation of all constituent entities of the Federation in state building as a guarantee of the unity of Russia. Building a competent balance in the distribution of powers between the federal center and the constituent entities of the Federation makes it possible to mitigate the contradictions that arise, which indicates the desire to ensure a balance of interests between the central government and the regions. The national authorities are working to increase the financial autonomy of the regions, giving them the right to exercise control over their funds. This approach, taking into account the differences in mentality, culture, and needs of the regions, allows for a flexible approach to the management of different constituent entities of the Federation. Increased attention to regional specifics is a vector of the policy of the modern Russian supreme power. The desire for a reasonable balance between the central government and the regions reflects the historical evolution of the Russian state structure towards genuine federalism.