Is travel insurance a requirement to travel to russia?

No, but many experts recommend it. Here are the State Department’s recommendations for traveling abroad.

(Please don’t give the insurance lobby any more ideas for things to require we buy insurance for! ;-) )

I don’t know what the current requirements are, but i’d definitely do it.

Travel insurance is not a necessity but it is better to buy one so as to cover the risks involved while traveling. Basic coverage offers emergency travel medical insurance. There are various other coverages including lost baggage protection, trip cancellation, trip delay, pre-existing condition etc.