Vladimir Putin's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician who has dominated Russian politics for over two decades. He served as President of Russia from 2000 to 2008 and again from 2012 to the present. He also held the position of Prime Minister from 1999 to 2000 and 2008 to 2012. Prior to his political career, Putin was a KGB intelligence officer. His tenure has been marked by a centralization of power, economic reforms (initially), and a more assertive foreign policy. He is the longest-serving Russian president since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1994: Kazakhstan President Proposed the Eurasian Union

In 1994, the president of Kazakhstan proposed the idea of a Eurasian Union. Putin endorsed the idea in 2011.

April 1997: Promoted to 1st Class Active State Councillor

In April 1997, Putin was promoted to 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation, which is the highest federal state civilian service rank.

September 1999: Rise in Popularity Due to Chechen War

Following the September 1999 Russian apartment bombings and the invasion of Dagestan by mujahideen, Putin's law-and-order image and approach to the Second Chechen War raised his popularity, allowing him to overtake his rivals.

March 2000: Won presidential election

On March 26, 2000, Vladimir Putin won the presidential elections in the first round with 53% of the vote.

2000: Reconstruction of the Country

Starting in 2000, Putin began reconstructing Russia and reached a 'grand bargain' with the Russian oligarchs.

2000: First Election as President

Vladimir Putin has been nominated and elected as President of Russia all five times since 2000, typically under an independent banner.

2001: Received civilian honors

Since 2001, Vladimir Putin has been awarded civilian honors by at least fifteen countries.

October 2002: Moscow theater hostage crisis

In October 2002, the Moscow theater hostage crisis occurred. Despite the deaths of 130 hostages, Putin's public approval ratings increased to 83%.

March 2004: Elected to second presidential term

On March 14, 2004, Vladimir Putin was elected to the presidency for a second term, receiving 71% of the vote.

2004: Completed the Reconstruction of the Country

By 2004, Putin had reconstructed Russia and reached a 'grand bargain' with the Russian oligarchs.

2005: Russia Repays Soviet Union's Debts

A fund for oil revenue allowed Russia to repay Soviet Union's debts by 2005.

June 2007: Putin's approval rating at 81%

In June 2007, Putin's approval rating was 81%, the second-highest of any leader in the world that year.

December 2007: United Russia wins State Duma elections

In December 2007, United Russia won 64.24% of the popular vote in the State Duma elections, indicating strong support for Putin's leadership and policies at the time.

2007: Sochi Wins Bid for 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

In 2007, Putin led a successful effort on behalf of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2014 Winter Paralympics, which marked the first time Russia hosted the Winter Olympic Games.

2007: Time Person of the Year

In 2007, Putin was the Time Person of the Year.

May 2008: Putin becomes Prime Minister of Russia

In May 2008, one day after handing the presidency to Dmitry Medvedev, Putin was appointed Prime Minister of Russia, maintaining his political dominance.

2008: Overcoming the world economic crisis

In 2008 Putin considered overcoming the consequences of the world economic crisis as one of his two main achievements during his second premiership.

2008: Kazan Wins Bid for 2013 Summer Universiade

In 2008, the city of Kazan won the bid for the 2013 Summer Universiade.

December 2010: Russia Wins Right to Host FIFA Confederations Cup and World Cup

On December 2, 2010, Russia won the right to host the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the first time in Russian history.

2011: Stabilization of Russia's population

Between 2008 and 2011, Putin stabilized the size of Russia's population after a long period of demographic collapse that began in the 1990s, which he considered one of the two main achievements during his second premiership.

2011: Ramzan Kadyrov states Putin saved the Chechen people and Russia

Prior to 2011, Chechen Republic head and Putin supporter, Ramzan Kadyrov, stated that Putin saved both the Chechen people and Russia.

March 2012: Putin wins the presidential election

On March 4, 2012, Putin won the Russian presidential election in the first round with 63.6% of the vote, despite widespread accusations of vote-rigging and criticism from opposition groups and international observers.

2012: Awarded eighth dan of the black belt

In 2012, Vladimir Putin was awarded eighth dan of the black belt, becoming the first Russian to achieve the status.

2013: Forbes ranks him the World's Most Powerful Individual

In 2013, Forbes ranked him the World's Most Powerful Individual.

August 2014: Putin's rating reaches 87% after sanctions

In August 2014, following EU and U.S. sanctions against Russian officials as a result of the crisis in Ukraine, Putin's approval rating reached 87%.

2014: Sochi Hosts the Winter Olympics and Paralympics

In 2014, Sochi hosted the Winter Olympics and Paralympics after a successful bid led by Putin in 2007.

2014: Awarded eighth-degree karate black belt

In 2014, Vladimir Putin was rewarded an eighth-degree karate black belt.

January 2015: Eurasian Union Established

The Eurasian Union was established on 1 January 2015.

February 2015: Putin ranked world's most popular politician

In February 2015, based on domestic polling, Putin was ranked the world's most popular politician.

June 2015: Putin's approval rating climbs to 89%

In June 2015, Putin's approval rating climbed to 89%, an all-time high.

2015: No. 1 on Time's Most Influential People List

In 2015, Putin was No. 1 on the Time's Most Influential People List.

2016: Forbes ranks him the World's Most Powerful Individual

In 2016, Forbes ranked him the World's Most Powerful Individual.

2016: Increase in Income Under Putin Administration

Under the Putin administration from 2000 to 2016, an increase in income in USD terms was 4.5 times.

2017: Putin's approval rating in Vietnam

In 2017, Putin's approval rating was 89% in Vietnam.

2017: Russia to host FIFA Confederations Cup

In 2017, Russia hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup for the first time in Russian history.

May 2018: Putin's fourth term begins

Putin won the 2018 Russian presidential election with more than 76% of the vote, with his fourth term beginning on May 7, 2018. On the same day, Putin invited Dmitry Medvedev to form a new government.

2018: Ranked second most powerful individual by Forbes

In 2018, Putin was ranked the second most powerful individual by Forbes.

2018: Russia to host FIFA World Cup

In 2018, Russia hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time in Russian history.

2022: Honorary doctorates and awards revoked

In 2022, some of the honorary doctorates and other awards that Vladimir Putin received from organizations across the world were revoked in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

March 2024: Reelected to another term

In March 2024, Vladimir Putin was reelected to another term as president of Russia.

2024: Putin Achieves 88% of the Popular Vote in Presidential Election

In the 2024 Russian presidential election, Vladimir Putin achieved 88% of the popular vote. There were reports of irregularities at this election, including ballot stuffing and coercion. Russian authorities claimed that in occupied areas of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, Putin won 88.12% and 92.83% of votes. In Chechnya, Putin won 98.99% of the vote.