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882
Kievan Rus
Found by the Vikings. Historians from Russia later named this nation after the Vikings. Their initial territory included Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and other current Ukrainian territories. This historical fact might have contributed to Putin's intention of bringing Ukraine back to Russia. -
Period: 882 to 1241
Kievan Rus
Country founded by the Vikings. Considered as the start of the Russian History. -
1533
Ivan IV Rule
During his rule, Ivan the Terrible expanded much of Russia into the east, including Siberia. This shows how Russia wanted to expand its territory since the 16th century. Ivan's rule connects with the Russo-Ukraine relationship because Russia has historically shown its desire for expansion, and the current invasion of Ukraine also shows Putin's desire to expand. -
Period: 1533 to
Ivan IV Rule
Ivan IV ruled Russia from 1533 to 1584. During his reign, Ivan the Terrible expanded much of Russia into the east and beat the Mongols at Kazan. -
Peter the Great became the Tzar
Peter the Great ruled Russia from 1682 to 1725. His accomplishments include the founding of St. Petersburg, making Russia more like Europe, and stabilizing Russia. Putin referenced Peter the Great later in 2022 to justify his actions towards Ukraine. -
Period: to
Peter the Great Rule
Peter the Great ruled from 1682 to 1725. He changed his title from the Tsar to the Emperor of Russia during his reign in 1721. Peter stabilized and attempted to westernize Russia. He was succeeded by Empress Catherine I after his death on February 8, 1725. -
Catherine the Great became the Empress of Russia
Empress of Russia, but born in Germany. Overthrew her husband, Peter III, and became the empress of Russia. Built the Winter Palace and annexed Crimea from the Ottoman Empire. Her annexation of Crimea is cited by Putin as his justification for annexing Crimea in 2014. -
Period: to
Empress Catherine the Great
After dethroning her husband, Catherine the Great became the empress in 1762. She made significant accomplishments, such as the annexation of Crimea, which still influences Russia and Ukraine. She died on November 17, 1796, and Paul I succeeded her. -
Russia Takes Over Crimea Peninsula (1783)
Russia Annexed Crimea from the Ottoman Empire in 1783. Catherine the Great's Annexation of Crimea later motivated President Putin to invade and annex Crimea in 2014. -
March Revolution
Started with strikes by ordinary people, and soldiers later joined the ordinary people against the monarchy. Nicholas II gave up his power, and the 300-year Romanov monarchy ended. A provisional government, led by Alexander Kerensky, was established but didn't get what the ordinary people wanted. -
October Revolution
A revolution led by the Bolsheviks in November 1917. This led to the end of the provisional government, and the Bolsheviks gained power over Russia. This ultimately led to the Bolsheviks renaming themselves as the Communist Party, the creation of the USSR, as well as Ukraine joining the USSR. -
Russian Civil War
Occurred between multiple parties in Russia, but was mainly communists against their opponents. Bolsheviks killed former Emperor Nicholas II and his family, imprisoned people who opposed them without trials, and put regulations on the Russian Orthodox Church. Bolsheviks won the war, and ultimately created USSR in 1922. -
Communism Established
Russia's Bolshevik Party becomes the Communist Party. Its formation is considered the start of the USSR, which ruled Ukraine and other countries until 1991. -
Period: to
Russian Civil War
Civil War between the Bolsheviks (Communists) and the opponents. Lenin committed violence during the war, such as the assassination of Nicholas II, and created a secret police named Cheka. Bolsheviks, or the Communist Party won the War. -
Vladimir Lenin becomes the Leader of USSR
After renaming the Bolshevik Party to the Communist Party in 1918, they gathered several countries and united into the Soviet Union in 1922. Lenin, leader of the Communist Party became the leader of the Soviet Union. Lenin occurred and won the Ukraine-Soviet War, and ultimately led Ukraine to join the USSR. Lenin's actions led to 69 years of the USSR's rule of Ukraine. -
Ukraine gets admitted to USSR
Ukraine was admitted to the USSR and changed its name to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. This contributed to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict since Ukraine joined Russia, or USSR, during this period. -
Period: to
Soviet Union
Created after several independent countries, including Ukraine, and Russia unified in 1922. It was the major country in the Second World that had conflict with the United States. Collapsed in 1991 into 15 independent countries. Crimea joined Ukraine during this collapse, and this separation from Russia ultimately led to Putin's decision to annex Crimea in 2014. -
Period: to
Vladimir Lenin's Leadership
The first leader of the Soviet Union. Led the October Revolution and won the Russian Civil War. Died in January 21, 1924, and succeeded by Joseph Stalin. During his rule, Independent Ukraine joined the USSR. -
Joseph Stalin Becomes the Leader of USSR
After Lenin's death, Stalin became the USSR's new leader and a dictator. Lenin was closer to Trotsky than Stalin. So, Stalin later exiled and sent an assassin to Trotsky. Stalin's rule was significant in the Russo-Ukrainian crisis since his commitment to the genocide of Ukraine increased the anti-Russian feelings as well as the desire for independence in Ukraine. -
Period: to
Joseph Stalin's Leadership
Became the leader of the Soviet Union after Lenin died in 1924. Committed Holodomor (recognized as a Genocide in several countries) in Ukraine and ultimately led to the death of 10 million people. Tried to expand communism in Eastern Europe during his rule. This shows the historical desire of Russian leaders to expand. Died in 1953. -
Holodomor
Man-made famine in Ukraine. It killed up to 10 million people. Some suggest that this was done by Stalin. This incident increased the desire for independence in Ukraine, and increased tension in the Russo-Ukraine relations. -
Period: to
Holodomor (Genocide in Ukraine)
Man-made famine (genocide) by USSR. 10 million people died in Ukraine due to this famine. Several countries recognize Holodomor as genocide. This was one of the cases where Ukraine had suffered from Russia's actions. -
Cold War
The Cold War further created more tension between the United States and Russia as it became more of a proxy war. This would lead to the Ukraine invasion that we see today because the Cold War was one of the reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union where Ukraine was now liberated and became its own independent country after the Cold War. Once the Cold War ended, it led the United States and Russia to compete for the alliance of Ukraine. -
Period: to
Cold War
Conflict between the U.S. with NATO (First World Countries) and the Soviet Union with the Warsaw Pact (Second World Countries) started in 1947. There were large proxy wars, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War, but no wars where the two countries directly faced each other. Ended in 1991 after the USSR's collapse. -
Soviet Union Collapse
Soviet Union collapsed on December 26, 1991. Territories that were once independent countries, such as Ukraine and Poland, gained independence. Crimean Oblast later joined Ukraine, and Crimea left Russia 200 years after Russian annexation. -
Putin became President (2000)
As a former KGB officer, Putin became the Prime Minister of Russia in 1999 and became the acting President in 2000 after Yeltsin's resignation. He was elected in the Presidential election in later 2000 and became the official President after getting 53% of the votes in the election. -
Period: to
Putin's First and Second Presidency
Putin was first elected as President of Russia in 2000. He was reelected President in 2004. Since Russian law prohibited running for office for three consecutive terms, he instead became the Prime Minister of Russia after his second term. His first term showed his dictatorships, such as the assassination of Anna Politkovskaya. -
Russo-Georgian War
Russia invaded Georgia in August 2008 after NATO promised Georgia's admission. Russia won the war and gained control of Northern Georgian territories. Ethnic Georgians had to leave those territories as Russia took over them. This war shows Russia's response to NATO's decision and its opposition to the neighboring countries joining NATO. This is also shown later in 2013 Ukraine where Putin met Yanukovych to stop Ukraine from joining NATO. -
Period: to
Russo-Georgian War
Putin's Russia had a great desire to expand, and they wanted to increase supporting countries because former USSR countries, such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, joined NATO. This possibly led to the Ukraine War because the NATO countries didn't aid Georgia. -
Putin Elected as President (2012)
After Dmitry Medvedev's Presidency, Putin was reelected as the President by 63.6%. During his second presidency, Putin wanted to expand his ally countries and Russia since several former USSR countries joined NATO. His second presidency term includes several incidents related to Ukraine, such as the Crimean Annexation, Euromaidan, and the Invasion of Ukraine. -
Period: to
Putin's Third and Fourth Presidency Terms
After his Prime Minster term, Putin was elected president again. This time, he started showing his desire to expand Russia more aggressively. Putin annexed Crimea, started a war with Ukraine, and also annexed Eastern Ukrainian territories to expand Russia. His current term is expected to end in 2024, but Putin made amendments to the constitution, letting him serve again after 2024 (Russia only allowed presidents to serve two consecutive terms, 8 years). -
Maidan Uprising
Putin and Yanukovych's meeting which ultimately led to Ukraine refusing to join NATO, and Yanukovych's pro-Russian position led the citizens of Ukraine to start a movement named EuroMaidan. -
Period: to
Maidan Uprising
Increased tension between Ukraine and Russia as Ukrainian people protested against their Pro-Russian government. -
Annexation of Crimea (2014)
The Russian invasion of Crimea ultimately resulted in its annexation of Crimea. After the 2014 Crimean status referendum held on March 16th, considered controversial, Russia signed the treaty of annexation on March 18th. Only 6 countries currently recognize Crimea as a Russian Territory. -
Period: to
Russo Ukrainian War
Ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This war started after the Euromaidan and the Russian annexation of Crimea. Due to this war, Russia currently occupies the Eastern territories of Ukraine. -
Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Russia started placing forces on the Russo-Ukraine border in 2021. They have denied their plans to invade Ukraine before the invasion on February 24, 2022. The invasion is still ongoing, resulting in nearly 500,000 casualties according to the U.S. officials. -
Period: to
Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, and the battles are currently ongoing. Russia got up to Kyiv but currently occupies the Eastern territories of Ukraine and Crimea. -
Annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia
Russia announced its annexation of Ukrainian territories, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. North Korea and Syria have recognized these territories as Russian territories, but other countries are recognizing them as Ukrainian territories. President Zelensky responded by applying for NATO.