Russia (Russian: Россия, romanized: Rossiya, [rɐˈsʲijə]), or the Russian Federation

Post-Soviet Russia (1991–present)

Main article: History of Russia (1991–present)
Further information: Presidency of Boris Yeltsin, Russia under Vladimir Putin, and Presidency of Dmitry Medvedev

Vladimir Putin takes the oath of office as president on his first inauguration, with Boris Yeltsin looking over, 2000.
The economic and political collapse of the Soviet Union led Russia into a deep and prolonged depression. During and after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, wide-ranging reforms including privatisation and market and trade liberalisation were undertaken, including radical changes along the lines of "shock therapy".^[170] The privatisation largely shifted control of enterprises from state agencies to individuals with inside connections in the government, which led to the rise of the infamous Russian oligarchs.^[171] Many of the newly rich moved billions in cash and assets outside of the country in an enormous capital flight.^[172] The depression of the economy led to the collapse of social services—the birth rate plummeted while the death rate skyrocketed,^[173][174] and millions plunged into poverty;^[175] while extreme corruption,^[176] as well as criminal gangs and organised crime rose significantly.^[177]
In late 1993, tensions between Yeltsin and the Russian parliament culminated in a constitutional crisis which ended violently through military force. During the crisis, Yeltsin was backed by Western governments, and over 100 people were killed.^[178] In December, a referendum was held and approved, which introduced a new constitution, giving the president enormous powers.^[179] The 1990s were plagued by armed conflicts in the North Caucasus, both local ethnic skirmishes and separatist Islamist insurrections.^[180] From the time Chechen separatists declared independence in the early 1990s, an intermittent guerrilla war was fought between the rebel groups and Russian forces.^[181] Terrorist attacks against civilians were carried out by Chechen separatists, claiming the lives of thousands of Russian civilians.^[e][182]
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia assumed responsibility for settling the latter's external debts.^[183] In 1992, most consumer price controls were eliminated, causing extreme inflation and significantly devaluing the rouble.^[184] High budget deficits coupled with increasing capital flight and inability to pay back debts, caused the 1998 Russian financial crisis, which resulted in a further GDP decline.^[185]
On 31 December 1999, president Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned,^[186] handing the post to the recently appointed prime minister and his chosen successor, Vladimir Putin.^[187] Putin then won the 2000 presidential election,^[188] and defeated the Chechen insurgency in the Second Chechen War.^[189] Putin won a second presidential term in 2004.^[190] High oil prices and a rise in foreign investment saw the Russian economy and living standards improve significantly.^[191] Putin's rule increased stability, while transforming Russia into an authoritarian state.^[192] In 2008, Putin took the post of prime minister, while Dmitry Medvedev was elected president for one term, to hold onto power despite legal term limits;^[193] this period has been described as a "tandemocracy."^[194]

Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine as of 30 September 2022 at the time their annexation was declared
Following a diplomatic crisis with neighbouring Georgia, the Russo-Georgian War took place during 1–12 August 2008, resulting in Russia recognising two separatist states in the territories that it occupies in Georgia.^[195] It was the first European war of the 21st century.^[196]
In early 2014, following a revolution in Ukraine, Russia occupied and annexed Crimea from neighbouring Ukraine following a disputed referendum,^[197] with Russian troops later participating in a war in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops.^[198] In a major escalation of the conflict, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.^[199] The invasion marked the largest conventional war in Europe since World War II,^[200] and was met with international condemnation,^[201] as well as expanded sanctions against Russia.^[202] As a result, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe in March,^[203] and was suspended from the United Nations Human Rights Council in April.^[204] In September, following successful Ukrainian counteroffensives,^[205] Putin announced a "partial mobilisation", Russia's first mobilisation since World War II.^[206] By the end of September, Putin proclaimed the annexation of four Ukrainian regions, the largest annexation in Europe since World War II.^[207] Putin and Russian-installed leaders signed treaties of accession, internationally unrecognized and widely denounced as illegal, despite the fact that Russian forces have been unable to fully occupy any of the four regions.^[207] A number of supranational and national parliaments passed resolutions declaring Russia to be a state sponsor of terrorism.^[208] Tens of thousands are estimated to have been killed as a result of the invasion.^[209][210]