ulan-ude (russian:ула́н-удэ́; buryat: улаан-үдэ), formerly verkhneudinsk (), the capital city of the buryat republic, russia. the city is located about 100 km south-east of lake baikal. it sits at the foot of the khamar-daban and khrebet ulan-burgasy mountain ranges, next to the confluence of the selenga river and its tributary, the uda. the city is divided into two parts by the uda. population 359,391 (2002 census); 352,530 (1989 census). it is the third largest city in east siberia. it is served by ulan-ude airport (mukhino) as well as the smaller ulan-ude vostochny airport.