Our article focuses on the environmental security and sustainable development of large urban centres. In addition, it analyses the demographic and ecological situation in the Russian Federation in order to determine the environmental influence of the social and economic factors as well as the factors of development and growth of large urban hubs. The results demonstrate that there exists a necessity to increase the environmental security in order to foster the sustainable development in the regions and urban centres that would lead to the better satisfaction with the level of life, lower mortality, and growing economic well-being. All of these can be achieved using balanced state support and policies targeted at increasing environmental security and creation of the sustainable future for the generation to come.