History of Russia in Timeline

Russia, officially the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia and is the largest country in the world by area. Sharing land borders with fourteen countries and encompassing eleven time zones, Russia has a population exceeding 140 million, making it the most populous country in Europe and the ninth-most populous worldwide. Characterized by high urbanization, major urban centers include Moscow, the capital and most populous city in Europe, and Saint Petersburg, a significant cultural hub.

1904: First Nobel Prize

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.

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 in 1917, Russian literature split into Soviet and white émigré parts.

1917: Nicholas II

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

1918: Proclamation of the Russian SFSR

In 1918, After the Russian Revolution, the Russian SFSR was proclaimed.

1918: Russian Constituent Assembly

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

In 1921, 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

In 1922, 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: Exile of Leon Trotsky

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

1930: End of Russian Avant-Garde

Around 1930, the Russian avant-garde period, which had flourished since approximately 1890, came to an end.

1932: Soviet famine

In 1932, 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

In 1933, 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.

September 1939: Soviet Union enters World War II

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

June 1941: Germany invades the 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 happened, 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: Great Patriotic War

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

1942: Battle of Stalingrad

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

1943: Battle of Kursk

During 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

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

1947: Soviet famine

In 1947, 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 leadership, 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 built the world's first nuclear power plant.

1957: First animal in orbit

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

1957: Sputnik 1 launch

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 1960

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 Directs War and Peace

In 1961, Sergey Bondarchuk directed an Oscar-winning film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic War and Peace.

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1961: First human trip into space

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

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 leadership ensued, until Leonid Brezhnev became the leader.

1965: First 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 spacecraft landing on the Moon

In 1966, Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to achieve a survivable landing on 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 spacecraft to land on Venus

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

1971: First spacecraft to land on Mars

In 1971, Mars 3 became the first spacecraft to land on Mars, and Lunokhod 1 became the first space exploration rover, while Salyut 1 became the world's first space station.

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: 1980 Summer Olympic Games

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

1985: Gorbachev's reforms

From 1985 onwards, the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev 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: Soviets withdraw 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 1988 Finals

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

June 1991: Boris 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 against Gorbachev

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, Soviet Russia emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union as the independent 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: Constitutional Crisis

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

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

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

1993: Population peak

Russia's population peaked at over 148 million in 1993.

1998: Russian financial crisis

In 1998, 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 resigns, Putin becomes President

On 31 December 1999, President Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned, handing the post to the recently appointed prime minister and his chosen successor, Vladimir Putin.

2000: Putin wins presidential election

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

2002: Grigori Perelman was offered the first ever Clay Millennium Prize Problems Award

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

2005: CSKA Moscow Wins UEFA Cup

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

2005: Increase in Life Expectancy

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

2006: Grigori Perelman was awarded with the Fields Medal

In 2006, Grigori Perelman was awarded with the Fields Medal.

2007: Russia Wins EuroBasket 2007

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

2008: War with Georgia

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

2008: Zenit Saint Petersburg Wins UEFA Cup

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

2008: Decrease in Alcohol Consumption

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

2009: Population growth recorded

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

2010: Language statistics

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 Russians make up 81% of the population

In the 2010 census, roughly 81% of the population were ethnic Russians.

2011: End of Space Shuttle program

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

2012: Arena Atlas publication

2014: 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics 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.

2015: Joined the Paris Agreement

Russia joined the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2015.

2017: Russia Hosts 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

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

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.

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 2018 FIFA World Cup

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

2019: Third-largest immigrant population

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

2019: Fifth-largest road network

In 2019, Russia had the world's fifth-largest road network, comprising over 1.5 million kilometers of roads.

2019: Spends 1% of GDP on R&D

In 2019, Russia spent about 1% of its GDP on research and development.

2019: Ratified the Paris Agreement

Russia ratified the Paris Agreement in 2019.

2020: Immigrants from post-Soviet states

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

2020: SpaceX first crewed mission

Between the final flight of the Space Shuttle program 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: Largest peacetime decline

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

2021: Population with bachelor's degree

As of 2021, over 41% of the Russian population has a bachelor's degree or an equivalent.

2021: Healthcare Spending in Russia

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

2021: Census population

The 2021 census showed Russia's population was 147.2 million.

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: Termination of Formula One Russian Grand Prix

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

2022: Demographic crisis deepens

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

2022: Annexation of Ukrainian Regions

In 2022, during an ongoing war with Ukraine, Russia annexed and occupied four other Ukrainian regions.

August 2023: Luna 25 launch

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

2023: Second-largest natural gas producer

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

2023: Third-largest energy producer

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