History of Russia in Timeline

Russia, officially the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country extending across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the world's largest country by area and spans eleven time zones, sharing land borders with fourteen countries. Russia is the most populous country in Europe and the ninth-most populous globally, with a highly urbanized population. Moscow serves as its capital and largest city, while Saint Petersburg is a major cultural center and the second-largest city.

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 failure of the Russo-Japanese War, leading to major reforms.

1906: Russian Constitution of 1906

In 1906, the government conceded major reforms, including the Russian Constitution of 1906, granting freedoms and legalising political parties.

1914: Russia Enters World War I

In 1914, Russia entered World War I in response to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on 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 of 1917, Russian literature divided into Soviet and white émigré parts, marking a significant shift in the cultural landscape.

1917: End of Nicholas II Reign

Under Nicholas II, the last Russian emperor, his reign ended in 1917.

1918: Proclamation of the Russian SFSR

In 1918, after the Russian Revolution, the Russian SFSR was proclaimed, with the "Russian" in the title being Rossiyskaya.

1918: Russian Constituent Assembly Declares Russia a Democratic Republic

On 19 January [O.S. 6 January], 1918, the Russian Constituent Assembly declared Russia a democratic federal republic. The next day, the Constituent Assembly was dissolved.

1921: Russian Famine of 1921–1922

The Russian famine of 1921 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 with other republics.

1922: Russian Famine of 1921–1922

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

1924: Lenin's Death

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

1929: Trotsky Exiled

In 1929, Leon Trotsky was exiled from the Soviet Union.

1930: Flourishing of Russian Avant-Garde

Around 1930, the Russian avant-garde, which had flourished from approximately 1890, came to an end. This era saw globally influential artists such as El Lissitzky, Kazimir Malevich, Natalia Goncharova, Wassily Kandinsky, and Marc Chagall.

1932: Soviet Famine of 1932–1933

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 millions in the Russian SFSR.

1933: Soviet Famine of 1932–1933

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 millions 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.

June 1941: Germany Invades the Soviet Union

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

1941: Blockade of Leningrad

Between 1941 and 1944, the Siege of Leningrad began, and the city was blockaded, leading to starvation and many deaths.

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

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

1943: Battle of Kursk

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

1944: Soviet Forces Steamroll Through 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.

1945: Great Patriotic War

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

1946: Soviet Famine of 1946–1947

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

1947: Soviet Famine of 1946–1947

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

1953: Stalin's Death

After Stalin's death in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev launched the policy of de-Stalinization.

1954: First Nuclear Power Plant

In 1954, Russia built the world's first nuclear power plant, pioneering civilian nuclear power.

1957: Laika Orbits Earth

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 Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, starting the Space Age.

1958: The Battleship Potemkin

In 1958, the film "The Battleship Potemkin" was named the greatest film of all time at the Brussels World's Fair, solidifying its place in cinematic history.

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1960: Euro 1960 Victory

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

April 1961: First Human in Space

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's War and Peace

From 1961 to 1968, Sergey Bondarchuk directed an Oscar-winning film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic War and Peace, which was the most expensive film made in the Soviet Union.

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1961: First Human Spaceflight

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, flying 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 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: Luna 9 Moon Landing

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

1968: Zond 5 Circumnavigates 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. This film is a very popular ostern traditionally watched by cosmonauts before space trips.

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1970: Venera 7 Lands on Venus

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

1971: Lunokhod 1 and Salyut 1 Achievements

During 1971, Lunokhod 1 became the first space exploration rover, and Salyut 1 became the world's first space station.

1971: Mars 3 Lands on Mars

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

1979: Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

In 1979, Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan, starting the Soviet–Afghan War.

1980: 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow

The 1980 Summer Olympic Games were held in Moscow.

1985: Gorbachev's Reforms

From 1985 onwards, Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring).

May 1988: Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan

In May 1988, the Soviets started to withdraw from Afghanistan.

1988: Euro 1988 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 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 led to the end of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

December 1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

On 25 December 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved, and 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 and adopted a new constitution.

1991: Soviet Economic 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 in Russia, causing extreme inflation.

1993: Constitutional Crisis

In late 1993, tensions between Yeltsin and the Russian parliament culminated in a constitutional crisis which ended violently.

1993: Peak Population

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

1998: Russian Financial Crisis

The 1998 Russian financial crisis resulted in a further GDP decline.

December 1999: Yeltsin Resigns, Putin Takes Over

On 31 December 1999, President Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned, handing the post to Vladimir Putin.

2000: Putin Wins Presidential Election

In 2000, Putin won the presidential election.

2000: Establishment of federal districts of Russia

In 2000, Vladimir Putin established the federal districts of Russia to enhance central government control over the federal subjects. Initially, there were seven districts, but currently, there are eight, each led by a presidential envoy.

2002: Clay Millennium Prize Problems Award

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

2004: Putin won a second presidential term

In 2004, Vladimir Putin secured his second presidential term. High oil prices and increased foreign investment led to significant improvements in the Russian economy and living standards. While Putin's rule provided stability, it also transformed Russia into an authoritarian state.

2004: Freedom House ranking

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

2005: CSKA Moscow UEFA Cup Victory

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

2006: Fields Medal Awarded

In 2006, Grigori Perelman was awarded the Fields Medal.

2007: EuroBasket 2007 Victory

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

August 2008: Russo-Georgian War

During 1–12 August 2008, the Russo-Georgian War took place following a diplomatic crisis with Georgia, resulting in Russia recognizing two separatist states within Georgian territories. This conflict marked the first European war of the 21st century.

2008: War with Georgia

In 2008, Russia engaged in a war with Georgia as part of its aggressive foreign policy aimed at securing regional dominance and increasing domestic support for the government.

2008: Putin became prime minister; Medvedev elected President

In 2008, Vladimir Putin transitioned to the role of prime minister, while Dmitry Medvedev was elected as President for a single term. This arrangement, known as a "tandemocracy," allowed Putin to maintain power despite legal term limits.

2008: Zenit Saint Petersburg UEFA Cup Victory and Euro Semi-Finals

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

2009: Population Growth

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

2010: Russian Census of 2010

According to the Russian Census of 2010, 137.5 million people across the country spoke Russian, 4.3 million spoke Tatar, and 1.1 million spoke Ukrainian.

2010: 2010 census

In 2010 the Arena Atlas was adjunct to the 2010 census

2010: Ethnic Composition

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

2011: Economist Intelligence Unit ranking

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

2011: End of Space Shuttle Program

Since the final flight of the Space Shuttle programme in 2011, Soyuz rockets were the only launch vehicles capable of transporting astronauts to the ISS.

2012: Putin won the 2012 presidential election

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

2012: Arena Atlas Publication

In 2012, the research organization Sreda, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, published the Arena Atlas.

2014: War with Ukraine beginning

In 2014, Russia initiated a war with Ukraine as part of its aggressive foreign policy aimed at securing regional dominance and increasing domestic support for the government.

2014: 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi

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

2014: Russia annexed Crimea

In early 2014, following a pro-Western revolution in Ukraine, Russia annexed Crimea after a disputed referendum held under Russian occupation. This annexation sparked an insurgency in the Donbas region, supported by Russian military intervention in an undeclared war against Ukraine.

2014: War with Ukraine and Annexation of Crimea

Since 2014, Russia has been at war with Ukraine, including the internationally unrecognised annexation of Crimea.

2015: Joined Paris Agreement

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

2015: Social security system contribution to GDP

In 2015, Russia's social security system comprised roughly 16% of the total GDP.

2017: 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 after being 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: Education Spending

In 2018, Russia spent roughly 4.7% of its GDP on education.

2018: 2018 FIFA World Cup

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

2018: Tourism Statistics

In 2018, Russia was the sixteenth-most visited country in the world and the tenth-most visited in Europe, with over 24.6 million visits and $11.6 billion in international tourism receipts.

2018: Putin re-elected for his second consecutive term

In 2018, amidst nationwide protests against corruption, Vladimir Putin was re-elected for his second consecutive term in the presidential election.

2019: Immigrant Population

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

2019: Road network size

As of 2019, Russia has 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 and the first among major nations globally.

2019: Ratified Paris Agreement

In 2019, Russia ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change.

2019: R&D Spending

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

2019: International Students

In 2019, Russia was the world's fifth-leading destination for international students, hosting roughly 300 thousand.

2019: Tourism Contribution to GDP

In 2019, travel and tourism accounted for about 4.8% of Russia's total GDP, with 24.4 million inbound trips.

2020: Immigrant Origins

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

2020: SpaceX Crewed Mission

Before the 2020 SpaceX's first crewed mission, Soyuz rockets were the only launch vehicles capable of transporting astronauts to the ISS.

2020: Restrictions on LGBT rights

In 2020, Russia introduced a ban on same-sex marriage and designated LGBT+ organizations such as the Russian LGBT Network as "foreign agents".

2020: Scientific Publications

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

2020: Tourism Decline

In 2020, tourism declined precipitously due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with just over 6.3 million foreign visitors.

2021: Global Innovation Index Ranking in 2021

In 2021, Russia ranked 45th in the Global Innovation Index.

2021: Healthcare Expenditure

In 2021, Russia spent 7.39% of its GDP on healthcare, a lower percentage compared to other developed nations.

2021: Population in 2021

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

February 2022: Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking the largest conventional war in Europe since World War II. The invasion was met with international condemnation and expanded sanctions against Russia.

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.

2022: Life Expectancy and Sex Ratio

As of 2022, the overall life expectancy in Russia at birth is 73 years, with a notable sex ratio of 0.859 males to every female, reflecting a high male mortality rate.

2022: Abuses during the 2022 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: Sanctions and economic impact following the invasion of Ukraine

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country faced extensive sanctions, yet its economy showed resilience due to military expenditure, increased consumption, and government spending. However, inflation remained high, and sanctions are expected to have long-term negative effects.

2022: Demographic Crisis Deepens

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

2022: Annexation of Four Ukrainian Regions

In 2022, Russia annexed four other regions of Ukraine during an ongoing invasion, which was internationally unrecognised.

2022: Relations with other countries

In 2022, following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has significantly developed its relations with North Korea, while its relationships with Ukraine, the United States, the European Union, and NATO have collapsed.

2022: Termination of Formula One Russian Grand Prix

In 2022, the annual Formula One Russian Grand Prix, held at the Sochi Autodrom, was terminated following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

May 2023: Active Satellites in Space

As of May 2023, Russia had 181 active satellites in space, the third-highest number in the world.

June 2023: Wagner Group declared a rebellion

In June 2023, the Wagner Group, a private military contractor fighting for Russia in Ukraine, launched an open rebellion against the Russian Ministry of Defence, capturing Rostov-on-Don before marching on Moscow. The rebellion was called off after negotiations, and the leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, later died in a plane crash.

August 2023: Luna 25 Launch

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

2023: Natural gas and crude oil exports

As of 2023, Russia is 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: Third-Largest Electricity Producer

As of 2023, Russia is the world's third-largest electricity producer, with fossil fuels accounting for a significant portion of energy production and consumption.

2023: Military Expenditure

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

2023: Fourth-Largest Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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

2023: Agriculture Contribution to GDP

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

2024: Diplomatic network and international relations

As of 2024, Russia has the world's sixth-largest diplomatic network. It maintains diplomatic relations with numerous countries and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

2024: Fertility Rate

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

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2024, Russia ranked 60th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Democracy and press freedom rankings

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

2024: Oil and gas sector contribution to federal budget revenues

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

2024: Putin won his third consecutive term in the presidential election

In 2024, Vladimir Putin won his third consecutive term in the presidential election with 88% of the vote, the highest percentage in a presidential election in post-Soviet Russia.

2024: Religious Identification Survey

In 2024, the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) found that 61.8% of Russians identify as Orthodox Christians, 2.6% as other Christians, 9.5% as Muslims, and 21.2% as not religious.

2024: Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index

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

2025: Military personnel numbers

As of 2025, the Russian military has 1.1 million active-duty personnel, the world's fifth-largest, and about 1.5 million reserve personnel. All male citizens aged 18–27 are required to be drafted for a year of service.