37 Epic Facts about Russia

By Tayja Kuligowski, Junior Writer

Published October 14, 2017Updated May 1, 2025

In 1957, the USSR launched the first satellite, dubbed Sputnik into space. In 1961, the USSR launched Yuri Gagarin (1934-1968) into space in the Vostok spacecraft, making him the first man to orbit the Earth._[7]
Vodka may be derived from the Russian word for water, voda, as is popular belief, but some question if it is actually derived from the Polish word wódka, as the alcoholic drink may have originated from Poland rather than Russia._[1]
The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, is comprised of 6 buildings with 3 million exhibits. If you spent 2 minutes at each exhibit, it would take 6 years to see everything. The museum is also home to about 70 cats as part of a decree first instated in 1745 by Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, to protect the priceless displays from rodents._[10]
At the end of the 17th century, Peter the Great instituted a tax on facial hair in an attempt to modernize Russian society. Anyone with facial hair was required to carry a copper or bronze token to prove that they had paid the tax._[4]
Shortly after World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States entered a period of democracy versus communism called the Cold War. In addition to a nuclear arms race, the Cold War spurred the Soviet Union to use anti-Westernism propaganda, including a charge by Stalin that the United States Pentagon caused the AIDs epidemic in Russia._[1][9]

Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

- Winston Churchill

In 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill against "homosexual propaganda," making it illegal to tell a child that homosexuality is normal or not evil. Making a pro-gay statement to a minor can result in arrest or fines. Later that same year, Putin made detainment for a period of 14 days of any tourists or foreign nationals possible if they were suspected of being homosexual or pro-gay._[3]
In July of 2013, Putin banned adoption of Russian children to anyone who lives in a country where marriage equality exists in any way._[3]
Lake Baikal at 25 million years and 5,315 feet deep is the oldest and deepest lake in the world. It is also the largest body of freshwater._[9]
Oymyakon, Russia, in Siberia is the coldest recorded spot on Earth, with a record low temperature of -160 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also the coldest inhabited spot on Earth._[9]
Brown bears in Kronotsky Nature Reserve in South Kanchatka, Russia, have an addiction to kerosene and gas barrels used for aviation fuel that powers generators and helicopters of nature reserve workers. Over 700 bears live in the reserve, and several have an addiction to getting high from the fuel, with some going as far to "stalk" helicopters that will leave drops of fuel on the soil for the bear to sniff._[5]

In Kronotsky Nature Reserve, there are bears who like to get high off jet fuel

HIV and AIDS has become an epidemic in Russia, largely spurred by high levels of heroin use. In 2012, Russia had over 700,000 cases, and AIDS is the 3rd leading cause of death in the country._[1]
A 2010 census shows that a third of Russia's 153,000 villages have a population of fewer than 10 residents._[1]
A marriage tradition in Russia is for the groom to pay a ransom for his "kidnapped" bride to her friends and family before the ceremony. Ransom payments usually consist of champagne, chocolates, or money._[8]
Russia has the world's largest divorce rate, with 5 out of every 1,000 couples being divorced._[1]
On average, 14,000 Russian women die from domestic violence each year. Domestic violence is still not recognized as a crime by Russian law._[1]
Grigory Rasputin (1869-1916) was advisor to the last royal family of Russia, admired by the Empress for treating Prince Alexei Romanov for hemophilia. Distrusting Rasputin's motives, nobles killed Rasputin in 1916, and his frozen corpse was found in the river containing 3 bullet holes. Popular legend states that the nobles poisoned Rasputin with cyanide, shot him at close range, and beat him, but he would not die. Finally, they bound him and threw him in the river, finally successfully ending his life._[9]
Russian women, who have a lifespan of 74 years compared to 64 years for the average male, outnumber Russian men by 10 million._[1]
Russia is a transcontinental country, with the country taking up much of eastern and northeastern Europe and northern Asia. Russia is also home to the world's longest railway, the Trans-Siberian Railway, which almost spans the whole country from Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia. Taking a train across the railway nonstop would take about 152 hours and 27 minutes._[6]
During World War II, Russia lost as many as 30 million people, including civilians, equaling about 14% of the population. It is estimated that 40% of males between the ages of 20 and 49 lost their lives during the war._[1]
The last royal family of Russia, the Romanovs, was murdered in 1918. Their remains were missing until 1979 when they were round in the forest of Yekaterinburg. The bodies of the two children, however, were not in the forest, spurring the rumors that the daughter, Anastasia, had survived. Despite many women coming forward claiming to be the lost princess, the remains of Anastasia and Alexei were found in 2007, confirming their 1918 deaths._[9]
In 1917, the monarchy system of Russia was overthrown and a civil war between monarchists and communists under the rule of Vladimir Lenin ensued. In 1922, Lenin succeeded in winning the civil war and established the Soviet Union, the first communist country in the world._[9]
41. Under Stalin's communist rule, Russian children were taught in school that Vladimir Lenin, the founder of communism, was the grandfather of Russians, while Joseph Stalin was the father, and Russia the "Motherland."_[1]
Under the 70 years of Russian communist rule, historians estimate anywhere from 12.5 to 20 million or more Russians died from execution, famine, and imprisonment._[1]
Under communist rule, Russia was the leading and the largest country in the USSR (Union of Soviet Social Republics). After communist rule dissolved in 1991, the USSR split into the 15 independent countries of the Russian Federation, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia._[9]
In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, replacing the communist rule in Russia with a democracy. Currently, Russia calls their political system a federal presidential republic, with three seats of power given to the president and prime minister, the Federal Assembly of Russia, and Ministry of Justice. The president is the dominant ruling figure._[9]
In 2013, Moscow was rated as having the world's worst traffic, with millions of travelers stuck in congestion for hours at a time. To avoid getting stuck in traffic, many wealthy Russians have been known to hire luxury taxis that look like ambulances for an average fee of US$171, complete with a siren that is used to force a path through traffic._[1]

Moscow and Los Angeles are the two most congested cities in the world

Vladimir Putin served as the president of Russia from 1999 until 2008. After being denied the ability to run for a third term, the next president, Dmitri Mendenev, chose Putin as his Prime Minister. Putin then successfully ran for president again in 2012._[9]
Prior to 2008, a Russian president could only serve for 2 consecutive terms of 4 years. As of 2008, a president can now serve for 2 consecutive terms of 6 years._[9]
Despite being under the scrutiny of much of the Western world, a 2014 poll shows 87% of Russian citizens support President Putin and his policies, an approval rating that has never been matched or even close to being matched by a United States president. Many Russians believe that Putin is a "strong leader" that will "restore Russia to greatness."_[9]
When President Putin took office in 1999, the average Russian company paid US$23,000 in bribes per year. In 2003, after he had been in office for 4 years, the average company paid $135,000 in bribes per year._[1]
Lake Karachy in Russia is the most polluted place in the world. The lake is near the largest nuclear facility in Russia, the Mayak Production Association, which has had many nuclear meltdowns and leaks into the Techa River that flows into Lake Karachy. The lake is full of concrete that is intended to keep radioactive sediment away from the shore._[11]

Lenin's mummified body has been on display in Russia ever since his death, except for a 4-year period during WW II when it was moved to Siberia

The corpse of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of communism in Russia, is on display in a tomb in Moscow's Red Square. Embalming and injections of an unknown "balsam" keep Lenin looking amazingly well-preserved despite having died in 1924._[2]
Russian forests are second only to the Amazon Forest in carbon dioxide absorption, earning them the nickname of the "lungs of Europe."_[10]
Over 30% of Russian children are born with pollution-linked diseases or physical defects caused by air pollution and contaminated drinking water due to heavy industry, weapon development, deforestation, and traffic emissions._[9]
Russia is home to over 200 nationalities and ethnicities, including Russians, Siberians, Cossacks, Turks, Ukrainians, Osstsans, Balkars, Nenets, Komis, Yakuts, and Atays._[9]
When giving flowers, Russians always buy an odd number. An even number of flowers is only given at a funeral._[10]
New Years is the biggest celebration in Russia, including a brightly decorated Christmas tree, gift exchanges, and a large dinner. The celebrations continue all week, ending with Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7th of the Orthodox Christian calendar. Christmas celebrations tend to be a quieter affair, spent with family and by attending church services._[9]

Dates	Events
Russia Timeline
1200 BC	Cimmerians settle in present day Ukraine, forming Kievan Rus
800 BC	Slavic tribes settle throughout present day Russia
988 AD	Grand Prince Vladimir I joins the Eastern Orthodox Church, making Christianity the official religion of Kievan Rus
1240	Kievan Rus invaded by Mongols, establishing Tatar control and the fall of Kievan Rus
1380	The city of Moscow, headed by Grand Duke Dmitiri Ivanovich, wins a battle against the Tatar
1480	Tatar power comes to an end, Ivan III establishes Russia's independence
1547	Ivan IV, a.k.a.Ivan the Terrible, crowned as first czar of Russia
1613	Zemsky sobor (state council) assembles and elects czar Mikhail Romanov, beginning the Romanov Dynasty
1689	Czar Peter the Great begins modernizing Russia
1721	Great Northern War gains Russia territory on eastern coast of the Baltic Sea
1762	Catherine the Great begins rule as czarina
1772-1795	Russia expands into Ukraine, Belorussian, Crimean Peninsula, the sea of Azov, and part of Poland
1800s	Alexander I establishes policy of serfdom, military drill, and censorship
1812	Napoleon Bonaparte invades Russia and is defeated
1825	Under the rule of czar Nicholas I, the Decembrists revolt to liberate Russia from autocracy unsuccessfully
1850	Czar Alexander II loses a war with Turkey in the Balkans
1861	Serfdom abolished
1881	Czar Alexander II assassinated
1890	Trans-Siberian railway completed
1894	Nicholas II rules as czar
1903	Vladimir Lenin forms the communist party
1904-1905	Japan defeats Russian army for control of Northern China
1905	Czar Nicholas II forced to create State of Duma (legislative assembly)
1916	Advisor to the throne Grigory Rasputin murdered by Russian Nobles
1917	Czar Nicholas II abdicates the thrown, provisional government established
1918	Romanov royal family executed
1918-1922	Civil War between the Russian monarchists (Whites) and the communists (Reds)
1922	Communists win the Civil War, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) is formed
1924	Joseph Stalin takes over the Soviet Union after the death of Vladimir Lenin, atheism established as state policy
1941	Nazi Germany attacks USSR and lays siege
1944	German forces driven from Soviet Land
1945	Soviet troops enter Berlin
1948	Soviet Union cuts off contact with the Western world, Cold War begins
1953	Nikita Khrushchev takes over the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin
1957	Soviet Union launches the first artificial satellite into orbit, the Sputnik I
1961	Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space
1964	Khrushchev removed from power, replaced by Leonid Brezhnev
1982	Mikhail S. Gorbachev begins Soviet rule after the death of Brezhnev
1990	Cold War ends
1991	Gorbachev removed from power, USSR disintegrates and Boris Yelstin is elected as the new Russian Federation president, religion is restored
1996	Boris Yelstin reelected for presidency
1998	International Space Station created
2000	Vladimir Putin replaces Yelstin as president
2004	Russia invades Georgia; Putin wins second term for presidency
2008	President Dmitry Medvdev elected as president, chooses Putin as Prime Minister
2009	Time zones reduced from 11 to 9
2010	Elections abolished in favor of Kremlin appointment
2012	Vladimir Putin elected for a third term of presidency
2014	Sochi Winter Olympics, Pro-Russian rebels revolt against Ukrainian government and take over Crimea
2015	Cease-fire agreement established in Eastern Ukraine