At true size, Russia is about 2.2× the size of Australia. On the old 1569 Mercator map the same two appear about 10.8× apart — the old map exaggerates their difference by a factor of 4.9×.
It is a latitude illusion: Russia sits near 66°, where Mercator multiplies area by about 6.1×, while Australia lies near 26°, inflated only about 1.2×. Equal Earth removes that latitude tax, and the pair settles at its honest 2.2×.