Archive · 1 Dec 2025
Boris Yeltsin: The Man on the Tank
Boris Yeltsin was the first President of Russia.
He is famous for standing on a tank to stop a coup in 1991.
Yeltsin tried to make Russia a democracy and a market economy, but it was very hard.
Prices went up a lot, and a few people became very rich while many others struggled.
He also had fights with his own government and started a war in Chechnya.
In the end, he surprised everyone by stepping down early and giving power to Vladimir Putin.
Yeltsin is remembered for both good and bad things he did for Russia.
Boris Yeltsin served as Russia's first president from 1991 to 1999.
He famously defied a 1991 coup by standing on a tank in Moscow.
Yeltsin implemented 'shock therapy' to transition Russia to a market economy, leading to economic chaos and the rise of oligarchs.
His presidency was marked by political turmoil, including a violent confrontation with parliament and the First Chechen War.
Yeltsin resigned unexpectedly in 1999, handing power to Vladimir Putin.
- Who
- Boris Yeltsin, the first President of Russia
- What
- Yeltsin's presidency and his role in dismantling the Soviet Union
- When
- From 1991 to 1999, with significant events in 1991 and 1999
- Where
- Russia, with key events in Moscow
- Why
- To transition Russia from a communist system to a democratic, market-based economy
- Full Name
- Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin
- Role
- First President of Russia
- Term
- 1991 to 1999
- Key Event
- Defied 1991 coup by standing on a tank
- Economic Policy
- Shock therapy
- Successor
- Vladimir Putin
- Death
- 2007