History of Russia in Timeline

Russia, officially the Russian Federation, spans Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the world's largest country by area, encompassing eleven time zones and bordering fourteen nations. With a population exceeding 140 million, it is Europe's most populous country and the ninth-most populous globally. Russia is highly urbanized, with Moscow as its capital and largest city, and Saint Petersburg serving as a major cultural center.

1904: First Nobel Prize awarded

Since 1904, Nobel Prizes were awarded to 26 Soviets and Russians in physics, chemistry, medicine, economy, literature and peace.

1905: Revolution of 1905

In 1905, the Revolution of 1905 was triggered by the humiliating failure of the Russo-Japanese War.

1906: Russian Constitution of 1906

In 1906, the government was forced to concede major reforms (Russian Constitution of 1906), including granting freedoms of speech and assembly, the legalisation of political parties, and the creation of an elected legislative body, the State Duma.

1914: Russia enters World War I

In 1914, Russia entered World War I in response to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Russia's ally Serbia, and fought across multiple fronts while isolated from its Triple Entente allies.

1916: Brusilov Offensive

In 1916, the Brusilov Offensive of the Imperial Russian Army almost completely destroyed the Austro-Hungarian Army.

1917: Russian Revolution

After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russian literature split into Soviet and white émigré parts.

1917: End of Nicholas II's reign

Under Nicholas II, the last Russian emperor (1894–1917)

1918: Proclamation of the Russian SFSR

After the Russian Revolution and the proclamation of the Russian SFSR in 1918, the "Russian" in the title of the state was Rossiyskaya, rather than Russkaya.

1918: Russia declared a democratic federal republic

On 19 January [O.S. 6 January], 1918, the Russian Constituent Assembly declared Russia a democratic federal republic (thus ratifying the Provisional Government's decision). The next day the Constituent Assembly was dissolved by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

1921: Russian Famine begins

By the end of the violent civil war, Russia's economy and infrastructure were heavily damaged, and as many as 10 million perished during the war, mostly civilians. Millions became White émigrés, and the Russian famine of 1921–1922 claimed up to five million victims.

December 1922: Formation of the Soviet Union

On 30 December 1922, Lenin and his aides formed the Soviet Union, by joining the Russian SFSR into a single state with the Byelorussian, Transcaucasian, and Ukrainian republics.

1922: Russian Famine ends

The Russian famine of 1921–1922 claimed up to five million victims.

1924: Death of Lenin

Following Lenin's death in 1924, a troika was designated to take charge.

1929: Trotsky exiled

In 1929, Leon Trotsky, the main proponent of world revolution, was exiled from the Soviet Union.

1930: End of the Russian avant-garde

Around 1930, the Russian avant-garde art movement, which began around 1890, came to an end.

1932: Soviet famine begins

The transitional disorganisation of the country's agriculture, combined with the harsh state policies and a drought, led to the Soviet famine of 1932–1933, which killed 5.7 to 8.7 million, 3.3 million of them in the Russian SFSR.

1933: Soviet famine continues

September 1939: Soviet Union enters World War II

The Soviet Union entered World War II on 17 September 1939 with its invasion of Poland, in accordance with a secret protocol within the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany.

June 1941: Germany invades Soviet Union

On 22 June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union, opening the Eastern Front, the largest theatre of World War II.

1941: Siege of Leningrad

Between 1941 and 1944, the Siege of Leningrad occurred, in which the city was fully blockaded on land by German and Finnish forces, and suffered starvation and more than a million deaths, but never surrendered.

1941: Start of the Great Patriotic War

The 1941–1945 period of World War II is known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.

1942: Battle of Stalingrad

In the winter of 1942–1943, the Germans were dealt major defeats first at the Battle of Stalingrad.

1943: Battle of Kursk

In the summer of 1943, the Germans were dealt major defeats at the Battle of Kursk.

1944: Soviet forces in Eastern and Central Europe

In 1944–1945, Soviet forces steamrolled through Eastern and Central Europe.

May 1945: Capture of Berlin

In May 1945, Soviet forces captured Berlin.

August 1945: Red Army invades Manchuria

In August 1945, the Red Army invaded Manchuria and ousted the Japanese from Northeast Asia, contributing to the Allied victory over Japan.

1945: End of the Great Patriotic War

The 1941–1945 period of World War II is known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.

1946: Soviet famine begins

The Soviet economy and infrastructure suffered massive devastation, which caused the Soviet famine of 1946–1947.

1947: Soviet famine ends

The Soviet economy and infrastructure suffered massive devastation, which caused the Soviet famine of 1946–1947.

1953: Death of Stalin

After Stalin's death in 1953 and a short period of collective rule, the new leader Nikita Khrushchev denounced Stalin and launched the policy of de-Stalinization, releasing many political prisoners from the Gulag labour camps.

1954: First nuclear power plant

In 1954, Russia was the first country to develop civilian nuclear power, building the world's first nuclear power plant.

1957: First animal to orbit the Earth

In 1957, Laika, a Soviet space dog, became the first animal to orbit the Earth, aboard Sputnik 2.

1957: First Earth-orbiting artificial satellite

In 1957, Sputnik 1, the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite, was launched.

1957: Launch of Sputnik 1

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, thus starting the Space Age.

1958: Battleship Potemkin named greatest film

In 1958, the film Battleship Potemkin was named the greatest film of all time at the Brussels World's Fair.

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1960: Soviet Union wins Euro

In 1960, the Soviet Union national football team became the first European champions by winning Euro 1960.

April 1961: Yuri Gagarin orbits Earth

On 12 April 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth, aboard the Vostok 1 crewed spacecraft.

1961: Sergey Bondarchuk directed War and Peace

In 1961, Sergey Bondarchuk began directing the film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, which was the most expensive film made in the Soviet Union; it was released in 1968.

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1961: First human trip into space

In 1961, the first human trip into space was successfully made by Yuri Gagarin.

1963: First woman in space

In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first and youngest woman in space, having flown a solo mission on Vostok 6.

1964: Ousting of Khrushchev

Following the ousting of Khrushchev in 1964, another period of collective rule ensued, until Leonid Brezhnev became the leader.

1965: First human spacewalk

In 1965, Alexei Leonov became the first human to conduct a spacewalk, exiting the space capsule during Voskhod 2.

1965: Kosygin reform

The 1965 Kosygin reform aimed for partial decentralisation of the Soviet economy.

1966: First survivable landing on the Moon

In 1966, Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to achieve a survivable landing on a celestial body, the Moon.

1968: First Earthlings to circumnavigate the Moon

In 1968, Zond 5 brought the first Earthlings (two tortoises and other life forms) to circumnavigate the Moon.

1969: Release of White Sun of the Desert

In 1969, Vladimir Motyl's White Sun of the Desert was released; the film is traditionally watched by cosmonauts before any trip into space.

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1970: First landing on Venus

In 1970, Venera 7 became the first spacecraft to land on another planet, Venus.

1971: First landing on Mars

In 1971, Mars 3 became the first spacecraft to land on Mars.

1979: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

In 1979, after a communist-led revolution in Afghanistan, Soviet forces invaded the country, ultimately starting the Soviet–Afghan War.

1980: Summer Olympic Games held in Moscow

In 1980, the Summer Olympic Games were held in Moscow.

1985: Gorbachev introduces glasnost and perestroika

From 1985 onwards, the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who sought to enact liberal reforms in the Soviet system, introduced the policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to end the period of economic stagnation and to democratise the government.

May 1988: Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan

In May 1988, the Soviets started to withdraw from Afghanistan, due to international opposition, persistent anti-Soviet guerrilla warfare, and a lack of support by Soviet citizens.

1988: Soviet Union reaches Euro finals

In 1988, the Soviet Union national football team reached the finals of Euro 1988.

June 1991: Yeltsin elected President

In June 1991, Boris Yeltsin became the first directly elected President in Russian history when he was elected President of the Russian SFSR.

August 1991: Coup attempt

In August 1991, a coup d'état attempt by members of Gorbachev's government, directed against Gorbachev and aimed at preserving the Soviet Union, instead led to the end of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

December 1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

On 25 December 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, along with contemporary Russia, fourteen other post-Soviet states emerged.

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

In 1991, the Russian SFSR emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union as the Russian Federation.

1991: Soviet economy crisis

Prior to 1991, the Soviet economy was the world's second-largest, but during its final years, it went into a crisis.

1992: Elimination of price controls

In 1992, most consumer price controls were eliminated, causing extreme inflation and significantly devaluing the rouble.

1993: Russian Constitutional Crisis

Following the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis, the Soviet government structure was abolished and a new constitution was adopted, which established a federal semi-presidential system.

1993: Population peaked at over 148 million

In 1993, Russia's population peaked at over 148 million, having subsequently declined due to its death rate exceeding its birth rate.

1993: Creation of the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (FFOMS)

In 1993, the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (FFOMS) was created in Russia to fund free, universal healthcare for all citizens through mandatory medical insurance (OMS).

1998: Russian financial crisis

High budget deficits coupled with increasing capital flight and inability to pay back debts, caused the 1998 Russian financial crisis, which resulted in a further GDP decline.

December 1999: Yeltsin's Resignation and Putin's Ascension

In December 1999, President Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned, appointing Vladimir Putin, the recently appointed prime minister, as his successor.

2000: Establishment of Federal Districts

In 2000, Putin established the federal districts of Russia to facilitate central government control of the federal subjects.

2000: Putin Wins Presidential Election

In 2000, Vladimir Putin won the presidential election and defeated the Chechen insurgency in the Second Chechen War.

2000: Decrease in Incarceration Rate

Since 2000, Russia's incarceration rate has fallen steadily, by 59%.

2002: Clay Millennium Prize offered

In 2002, Grigori Perelman was offered the first ever Clay Millennium Prize Problems Award for his final proof of the Poincaré conjecture.

2004: Putin Wins Second Presidential Term

In 2004, Putin won a second presidential term, leading to a period of economic improvement due to high oil prices and foreign investment.

2004: Freedom House Ranking

Since 2004, Freedom House has ranked Russia as "not free" in its Freedom in the World survey.

2005: CSKA Moscow wins UEFA Cup

In 2005, the Russian club CSKA Moscow won the UEFA Cup.

2005: Life Expectancy in Russia increase

Since 2005, the overall life expectancy in Russia increased by roughly 8 years.

2006: Fields Medal awarded to Grigori Perelman

Grigori Perelman was awarded the Fields Medal in 2006.

2007: Russian basketball team wins EuroBasket

In 2007, the Russian national basketball team won EuroBasket 2007.

August 2008: Invasion of Georgia

In August 2008, Russian forces invaded Georgia, occupying territories that it has since considered as independent states, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

2008: Putin Becomes Prime Minister

In 2008, Putin became Prime Minister while Dmitry Medvedev was elected President, a period described as a "tandemocracy".

2008: Zenit Saint Petersburg wins UEFA Cup and Russian national football team reaches semi-finals of Euro

In 2008, Zenit Saint Petersburg won the UEFA Cup, and the Russian national football team reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008.

2008: War with Georgia

Post-Soviet Russia was militarily involved in a war with Georgia in 2008.

2008: Decrease in alcohol consumption rate

Since 2008, Russia's alcohol consumption rate has seen a stark decrease due to restrictive government measures.

2009: First annual population growth in fifteen years

In 2009, Russia recorded annual population growth for the first time in fifteen years.

2010: Russian Census on language

According to the Russian Census of 2010, 137.5 million across the country spoke Russian, 3.1 million spoke Tatar, and 1.1 million spoke Ukrainian.

2010: Religious populations and nationalities of Russia

In 2012, the research organisation Sreda, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, published the Arena Atlas, an adjunct to the 2010 census, enumerating in detail the religious populations and nationalities of Russia, based on a large-sample country-wide survey.

2010: Ethnic Russian population at 81%

In the 2010 census, roughly 81% of the population were ethnic Russians, and the remaining 19% of the population were ethnic minorities.

2011: End of the Space Shuttle program

Between the final flight of the Space Shuttle programme in 2011 and the 2020 SpaceX's first crewed mission, Soyuz rockets were the only launch vehicles capable of transporting astronauts to the ISS.

2011: Democracy Index Ranking

Since 2011, the Economist Intelligence Unit has ranked Russia as an "authoritarian regime" in its Democracy Index.

2012: Putin Wins 2012 Presidential Election

In 2012, Putin won the presidential election, which fueled the "Snow Revolution" protests.

2012: Sreda published the Arena Atlas

2013: Anti-LGBTQ Law Passed

In 2013, an anti-LGBTQ law banning "gay propaganda" was unanimously passed by the State Duma and the Federation Council and signed into law.

2014: Expulsion from G8 and Council of Europe

In 2014, Russia was expelled from the G8 (now the G7) and part of the Council of Europe.

2014: Annexation of Crimea

In 2014, following a pro-Western revolution in Ukraine, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and supported an insurgency in the Donbas region.

2014: Winter Olympics and Paralympics hosted in Sochi

In 2014, the Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympics were hosted in Sochi.

2014: War with Ukraine and annexation of Crimea

Since 2014, Post-Soviet Russia has been militarily involved in a war with Ukraine, which has involved the internationally unrecognised annexation and occupation of Ukrainian territories, including that of Crimea in 2014.

2015: Joined the Paris Agreement

In 2015, Russia joined the Paris Agreement on climate change.

2017: Jehovah's Witnesses outlawed

In 2017 the Jehovah's Witnesses were outlawed in Russia, facing persecution ever since, after having been declared an "extremist" and "nontraditional" faith.

2017: Russia hosts FIFA Confederations Cup

In 2017, Russia was the host nation for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

2018: Sixth-largest fishing industry

In 2018, Russia maintained the world's sixth-largest fishing industry, capturing nearly 5 million tons of fish.

2018: Russia hosts FIFA World Cup

In 2018, Russia was the host nation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

2018: Size of Shadow Economy

In 2018, Russia's shadow economy was estimated to be about 44% of the total GDP.

2019: Fifth-largest road network

As of 2019, Russia had the world's fifth-largest road network, with over 1.5 million km of roads.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking

In 2019, Russia had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 9.02, ranking 10th out of 172 countries.

2019: Spent 1% of GDP on research and development

In 2019, Russia spent about 1% of its GDP on research and development, with the world's tenth-highest budget.

2019: Third-largest immigrant population

Russia has the third-largest immigrant population in the world, with over 12 million immigrants residing in the country as of 2019.

2019: Ratified the Paris Agreement

Russia ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2019.

2020: Immigrants from post-Soviet states

As of 2020, the vast majority of the Immigrants hail from post-Soviet states, with about half of them being from Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

2020: SpaceX's first crewed mission

Between the final flight of the Space Shuttle programme in 2011 and the 2020 SpaceX's first crewed mission, Soyuz rockets were the only launch vehicles capable of transporting astronauts to the ISS.

2020: Tenth worldwide in scientific publications

In 2020, Russia ranked tenth worldwide in the number of scientific publications, with roughly 1.3 million papers.

2020: Third-Largest Arms Exporter

In 2020, Russia was the third-largest arms exporter.

2020: Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Legalized

In 2020, the Russian parliament legalized a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

2020: Largest peacetime decline in history

Since 2020, excessive deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the largest peacetime decline in Russia's history.

2021: Intentional Homicide Rate

As of 2021, Russia's intentional homicide rate stood at 6.8 per 100,000 people.

2021: Over 41% has a bachelor's degree or equivalent

As of 2021, over 41% of the Russian population has a bachelor's degree or an equivalent—which is among the highest percentages of tertiary-level graduates in the world.

2021: Healthcare Spending in Russia

In 2021, Russia spent 7.39% of its GDP on healthcare.

2021: Russian LGBT Network Designated as 'Foreign Agent'

In 2021, the Ministry of Justice designated the LGBTQ rights group Russian LGBT Network as a "foreign agent".

2021: Population of 147.2 million in the census

In the 2021 census, Russia's population was 147.2 million.

February 2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking the largest conventional war in Europe since World War II.

March 2022: Expulsion from Council of Europe

In March 2022, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe due to the invasion of Ukraine.

September 2022: Annexation of Ukrainian Regions

In September 2022, Russia proclaimed the annexation of four partially-occupied Ukrainian regions, an act internationally denounced as illegal.

2022: Fifth-largest hydroelectric producer

As of 2022, Russia is the fifth-largest hydroelectric producer, with hydroelectric power contributing almost a fifth to the total energy generation (17%).

2022: Abuses in Filtration Camps During Invasion of Ukraine

During the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has set up filtration camps where many Ukrainians are subjected to abuses and forcibly sent to Russia.

2022: Increased Cooperation with North Korea, Collapsed Relations with the West

Following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia significantly developed its relations with North Korea, while its relations with Ukraine and the Western world collapsed.

2022: Termination of Formula One Russian Grand Prix

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the annual Formula One Russian Grand Prix was terminated.

2022: Sanctions and War Economy

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country has faced extensive sanctions, yet it has completed its transition into a war economy, maintaining economic stability.

2022: Deepening demographic crisis

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the demographic crisis has deepened, owing to high military fatalities and renewed emigration.

2022: Expulsion from the Council of Europe

In 2022, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe.

2022: Annexation of Ukrainian regions

In 2022, during an ongoing war, the internationally unrecognised annexation and occupation of four other regions of Ukraine occurred.

2022: Amendments Made to Anti-LGBTQ Law

In 2022, further amendments were made to the 2013 anti-LGBTQ law.

2022: Deployment of Penal Military Units

Since 2022, penal military units have been deployed as storm troops during the Russo-Ukrainian War.

August 2023: Launch of Luna 25

In August 2023, Luna 25 launched, marking the beginning of the Luna-Glob Moon exploration program.

2023: Third-largest energy producer

As of 2023, Russia is the world's third-largest energy producer. Fossil fuels account for over 64% of energy production and 87% of energy consumption.

2023: Military Expenditure in 2023

As of 2023, Russia maintained the world's third-highest military expenditure, spending $109 billion, corresponding to about 5.9% of its GDP.

2023: Second-largest natural gas producer

As of 2023, Russia was the second-largest producer and the third-largest exporter of natural gas, as well as the second-largest producer and exporter of crude oil.

2023: Fourth-largest greenhouse gas emissions

As of 2023, Russia's greenhouse gas emissions are the fourth-largest in the world.

2023: Agriculture contributes 3.3% of GDP

As of 2023, agriculture, forestry, and fishing contribute approximately 3.3% of Russia's total GDP.

2023: Life Expectancy in Russia

As of 2023, the overall life expectancy in Russia at birth is 73 years.

2023: Service Sector Contribution to GDP

As of 2023, the service sector accounts for roughly 57% of total GDP in Russia.

2023: Illegal Arms Trade Market

In 2023, Russia had the world's second-largest illegal arms trade market, after the United States.

2023: Ban on Gender Reassignment Surgery and Outlawing of LGBTQ Movement

In 2023, the Russian parliament passed a bill banning gender reassignment surgery, and the Supreme Court banned the international LGBTQ movement as "extremist".

2024: Sixth-Largest Diplomatic Network

As of 2024, Russia has the sixth-largest diplomatic network in the world.

2024: Corruption Perceptions Index Ranking

As of 2024, Russia is the lowest rated European country in Transparency International's annual Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 154th out of 180 countries.

2024: Fertility rate estimated at 1.41 children per woman

As of 2024, the total fertility rate across Russia is estimated to be 1.41 children born per woman.

2024: Third-Largest Arms Exporter

From 2020-2024, Russia was the third-largest arms exporter.

2024: Oil and gas sector accounted for 30% of the federal budget

In 2024, Russia's large oil and gas sector accounted for 30% of its federal budget revenues, down from 50% in the mid-2010s, suggesting economic diversification.

2024: Democracy and Press Freedom Ranking

In 2024, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Russia 150th out of 167 countries in its Democracy Index, and Russia was ranked 162nd out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index.