Balashikha is the most populous city in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. It is situated on the Pekhorka River, located approximately 1 kilometer east of the Moscow Ring Road.
The city has experienced significant population growth over recent decades. According to census data, the population was 135,841 in 1989, rising to 147,909 in 2002, 215,494 in 2010, and reaching 520,962 by the 2021 census.