Facts and Figures

[j.sabourn]

Russia....Between 1945 -1985 Russia’s influence extended beyond its borders .
Russia also had 3 seats in the UN , one for the Ukraine and one for Belorussia and one for Russia and the remaining Republics . Since the collapse of the Communist Empire in the 1990s , Russia has been beset by violent crime and corruption . The loss of Empire and Prestige came about in 1 decade .

Russia the 20th Century . Abbrev. times and signs of those times.
1914-17. Fights in WW1 , against Germany and Austria.
1917. Tsar overthrown.
1918-20. Bolsheviks seize power.
1922. USSR established
1930s. Collective farms set up.
1939 Stalin and Hitler agree to divide Poland.
1941 German Invasion
1945. Beats Germany on eastern front , occupy eastern Germany.
1953 Stalin dies. Krushev becomes 1st Secretary
1956. Invades Hungary to suppress anti soviet demonstrations
1958 Krushev becomes Premier
1962. Cuban Crisis
1964. Brezhnev , Kosygin replace Krushev
1968. Soviet forces invade Czechoslovakia to crush Reforms.
1979-89 Invades/Occupies Afghanistan.
1985 Gorbachev made General Secretary Glasnost ( openest) and Perestroka ( Restructuring) start
1989. Open elections
1991. USSR breaks up. Russia led by Yeltsin joins commonwealth of independent States
1994-2002 Civil unrest and military occupation of Chechnya.
2000 Putin President.

JS

[j.sabourn]

UKRAINE.
14 th. Century ....
Polish and Lithuanian Rule.
1667-1700 s Russia gains Control
1918 Ukraine declares Independence.
1920..Russia invade.
1922. Founder republic of Soviet Republics
1941-4 ..Second WW occupied by Germany. Resistance to Germany and USSR.
1945 .. Becomes founder member of the UN
1954 .. Crimea transferred from Russia to Ukraine
1986...Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
1990 sovereignty over Soviet laws declared
1991...Independaence joins commonwealth of independent States
1992 ..Dispute starts over crimean autonomy
1995. Transfers nuclear warheads to Russia for destruction
JS
Population approx 48 million
Languages ..Ukraine, Russian, Romanian, Hungarian, Polish.
Currency hryvnyas
JS

[happy daze john in oz]

In Russia in 2017, Putin then was so popular it was considered he would be president for life.

But now not so sure, word is that the people are starting to learn the truth about the war and there is a severe shortage of many goods in the shops.
Maybe president for a shorter life now!!

[j.sabourn]

Putin is a young man by many on this site John and was only born in the 50’s well after the war . So his actual experiences of such are the same as most , only by reading history and he of course his behavourial patterns which he was indoctrinated into is what he knows of hs own country. More than likely he thinks he has done the correct thing. Russia has always been considered a hard country to live in weather wise and military wise , the Cossacks are a good example of this over the years . Like Ghengis Khan they have a long back history. JS

[Keith Tindell]

The Russian people are a hard nation, and have had a hard life all round, their leaders have always had a better life though. In many ways I feel sorry for the majority of the population

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Keith
For a minute there I thought you were talking about British people and the Royals.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Having been there in 2017 and seeing how they live it would appear they live lives similar to ours.
Walking by the river in the evening, having a beer in a local bar.
But behind that charade life is very different.
Most live in large apartment blocks with six to each, but they may not know each other and all have different occupations, and maybe even two families to one appartment.

[j.sabourn]

United Kingdom as was a few years ago...
Population. 59, 648,000
Life expectancy 74 (m) 79 ( f)
Capital London
KEY NOTES.
AD 43. Roman Invasion
c. 410 Last Roman troops leave Britain
1066..Norman Invasion
1215..Magna Carta limits power of king
1337- 1453 Hundred Years’ War with France
1588. Defeat of Spanish Armada
1603. Union of English and Scottish kingdoms under James 1 and V1
1642-51. English Civil wars ; king deposed
1660. Crown restored
1688. Parliament deposes James 11 in ‘Glorious Revolution ‘
1707 Act of Union joins England and Scotland as United Kingdom of Great Britain
1801. Ireland made part of United Kingdom
1815. Battle of Waterloo ends Napoleonic Wars
1914-1918 First World War.
1939-45. Second World War
1945-51 Welfare State created
1960. Founder member of European Free Trade Association
1973. Joins. European Community
1982 Falklands War
1999. Scottish Parliament and Welsh assembly established.

A few wars here and there missed out but basically that is British history anyone wanting to change will have to wait for the advent of the time machine and go back and throw another spanner in the works . Cheers JS