ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of Russia (1991–present)

Russia is a big country with a long history, so let's just focus on the past 30 years, from 1991 to the present. In 1991, the Soviet Union, which controlled Russia and other nearby countries, broke apart and ended. This meant that Russia was now an independent nation. For the next few years, there was a lot of political and economic turmoil in Russia, as leaders had to figure out how the new country would work. Finally, in the late 1990s, the new government started to make laws and put in place policies to make the country better.

Most people in Russia now live in cities and towns, but there are still some people living in the countryside. The economy has improved a lot over the past few decades and many people have higher incomes and more money to spend on things they want. Some of Russia's biggest exports are oil, gas and other natural resources. Education has gotten better, too, so more people are going to college and sharing their knowledge with other countries.

Russia has also continued to build relationships with other nations around the world. In the last few years, Russia has been working hard to become a stronger player in international affairs, making agreements with other countries and being part of different organizations like the United Nations.

Overall, in the past 30 years, life in Russia has come a long way - from the hard times of the 1990s to more recent times, when many people are doing better and Russia is playing a larger role in the world.