Empire · since 1991 · Europe
Russian Federation
Also known as Russia
The Russian Federation emerged as the main successor of the Soviet Union when it dissolved in December 1991, inheriting its seat on the UN Security Council, its nuclear arsenal and about three-quarters of its territory. Under Boris Yeltsin the country moved rapidly toward a market economy, but hasty privatisation enriched a small group of oligarchs while many people lost savings and jobs; a financial crisis struck in 1998, and wars were fought against separatists in Chechnya.
Vladimir Putin, president from 2000, used high oil and gas revenues to restore central control, curbing independent media and political opposition. Russia fought Georgia in 2008, annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, provoking sweeping Western sanctions.
- Years
- since 1991
- Capital
- Moscow
- Greatest extent
- 1992, about 17.10 million km²
- Region
- Europe
The largest country on Earth; c. 17.1M km² (Taagepera 1997)
Legacy
Still the largest country on Earth, spanning eleven time zones, Russia remains a major energy exporter and nuclear power.
Rulers
- Boris Yeltsin 1991–1999
First president; led the shift to a market economy
- Vladimir Putin 2000–2008, 2012–
Recentralised power; prime minister 2008–2012
- Dmitry Medvedev 2008–2012
President while Putin served as prime minister
Realms on the map
- Russian Federation since 1992
- Russian Federation since 1992
Wars
- Russian invasion of Ukraine 24 February 2022 – ongoing (shown to 2024)