ally with Ukraine and Turkey, sacrifice Rostov (you have 5 SCs, don't bitch about it) then attack Poland with Ukraine, but primarily England. It's a makeshift juggernaut

Whoops, didn't see it's modern. Gotta come up with different terrible advice.

Don't talk to Poland or Egypt, and declare war on Ukraine, Turkey, and Britain. Your only ally is Spain.

Get lucky and have Ukraine NMR in Autumn 1997.
http://www.webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=147343

I attribute my loss in that game to the fact that it was PPSC.

Heh. I attribute it more to a well-timed stab by someone who wasn't playing the game as if it were PPSC. ;)

If it weren't PPSC, I could have motivated the rest of the board to try and stop your solo, but France decided that wasn't in his best interest, so he let you win. That game is literally the reason I avoid PPSC games now.

This is somewhat of an opening strategy, and also somewhat of a story, of the strategy I followed to achieve a solo win as Russia in modern. http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=151936#gamePanel

I allied with Ukraine and attacked Poland. The only alternative I can see is going to war with Ukraine immediately over Central Russian Plateau and Volga, which I usually see ending very badly for both sides. I offered Ukraine effective control over my southern Rostov fleet (he sent me the moves, I executed them faithfully) and we pulled off a very successful attack on Turkey. I could kind of sense that Ukraine was a good player so I purposely let him "take the wheel" in our alliance.

Russia's northern fleet in Murmansk is a problem in relations with England (I actually think the unit starts an army in the original Modern version). In most games, Russia and England seem destined for an inevitable clash over Norway. Seeking to avoid this clash, I attempted to sweet-talk my way into Norway by offering England a similar arrangement as I offered Ukraine: I promised England that if he let me capture Norway, I would allow him to order around my northern fleet as if it were his own. Astonishingly, he went for it. I actually only stuck with my agreement with England for a turn or two; after England let me into Norway, England had no leverage remaining in Scandinavia. With my strong Scandinavian presence and German help I stabbed England, but then Germany got cold feet so I made up with England and dismantled Germany. Then I consolidated my north position (with Ukraine's help I had also blown through Poland by this point) and proceeded to dismantle England.

Despite my northern successes, Ukraine was clearly still sitting in the drivers' seat of our alliance, but at the same time Ukraine was running into powerful enemies in the south. I began making contacts with Egypt andFrance, and after a turn of unusual success against England (who was NMR'ing hard at this point) I built a ton of armies and sent them south. We had an epic clash of armies over the Eurasian plain, but Egypt's abdication and Ukriane's overextension into Egypt tipped the scales in my favor. Ukraine eventually made up with Egypt, and spent the rest of the game holding firm but steadily losing ground. Meanwhile, I was pushing fleets west and got to around Gibraltar, propping up Spain and France against the Egyptian/Ukrainian assault before I got in a position to stab Spain for the final centers.

About the only country I didn't end up stabbing in this game was France. Out of principle, I guess, because he was a most key and loyal collaborator on the way to my solo (gotta love PPSC).

Despite her initial size, Russia faces a tough start since all of her possible first-year neutral centers (Norway, Sweden, Bielorussia and Georgia) are likely to be contested. Facing no less than five neighboring powers (Britain, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Turkey) also contribute to high odds of early elimination. But the relationship with Ukraine is by far the most important; solidify the relationship with Ukraine or neutralize that threat, and you'll be well on your way to a good start.

But if you can hold on in the opening as Russia, you'll likely have good midgame to endgame chances since you have so many pathways for expansion.