“This investment will pay off in the future. It is not cheap to create this kind of a social network. You need to invest in technology and development within a business structure. DST has experience in this and will make sure Facebook makes a profit,” says Albert Popkov from social network Odnoklassniki.

This is Facebook's first big investment injection since 2007 when Microsoft paid $240 million for a stake, but the website is still not making money. So, DST will use its expertise to find out how to make money through advertising or e-commerce.

Facebook bosses say DST stood out because of its impressive history of financial growth for the internet companies it has invested in previously. Every website it has backed has made a profit.

The Russian investors will have a 2% share, but the deal doesn't allow them a seat on the board.

Naikolay Mitushin, Investment Director at ABRT Venture Fund says:

“If DST considers Facebook a strategic investment without requiring control or operational changes in the company, that would probably work well.”

Facebook has grown at a rapid rate, with its 200-millionth member recently signing up, but, unlike other internet giants, Facebook is not yet turning traffic into cash. It hopes Russia's experts will show them how.