COMPANYHISTORIES

Russia

Companies based in Russia, and the events that shaped them.

22companies1923–1999founding years17still active4no longer operating
§ 01

Russia companies over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedAEROFLOT SOVIET AIRLINESFoundedAeroflot
1923
1925
EconomyThe Grand Ole Opry begins broadcasting from Nashville.
1927
TechnologyThe Jazz Singer ushers in the era of sound films.
TechnologyLindbergh flies the Atlantic solo, and aviation captures the public.
1928
TechnologyPenicillin is discovered, opening the age of antibiotics.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1931
EconomyThe Empire State Building rises in just over a year.
FoundedIrkut Corporation
1932
1933
EconomyThe first drive-in movie theater opens in New Jersey.
FoundedA. S. Yakovlev Design BureauFoundedJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel
1935
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
FoundedSukhoi Design Bureau Aviation Scientific-Industrial Complex
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1946
TechnologyENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1955
EconomyMcDonald's franchising begins, remaking fast food.
EconomyDisneyland opens and invents the modern theme park.
1956
TechnologyThe first transatlantic telephone cable opens.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
TechnologyThe first US in-vitro fertilization baby is born.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedOAO LUKOILFoundedSberbank
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source challenge proprietary software.
FoundedAO VimpelComFoundedOJSC Wimm-Bill-Dann FoodsFoundedRAO Unified Energy System of Russia
1992
FoundedAVTOVAZ Joint Stock CompanyFoundedAlrosa Company Ltd.FoundedMobile TeleSystems OJSCFoundedOAO SurgutneftegazFoundedSeverstal Joint Stock Company
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedOAO Tatneft
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
FoundedOAO Siberian Oil Company (Sibneft)
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
1999
TechnologyNapster ignites the digital disruption of recorded music.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
TechnologyGPS opens to civilian use, turning location into a utility.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

AEROFLOT SOVIET AIRLINES →
Active · founded 1923 · Russia
Aeroflot Soviet Airlines, the airline of the former Soviet Union, is the world's largest airline.
Aeroflot →
Active · founded 1923 · Russian Federation
Once the largest airline in the world, during the days of the Soviet Empire, Aeroflot--Russian International Airlines…
Irkut Corporation →
Active · founded 1932 · Russia
Irkut Corporation is a leading developer and producer of aircraft and aviation products.
A. S. Yakovlev Design Bureau →
Active · founded 1935 · Russia
The A.
JSC MMC Norilsk Nickel →
Active · founded 1935 · Russia
With headquarters in Moscow, holding company JSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (Norilsk Nickel Mining and Metallurgical Company)…
Rostvertol plc →
Defunct · founded 1939 · Russia
Rostov, Russia-based Rostvertol plc is a major producer of helicopters, including its flagship Mi-26 heavy-lift…
Sukhoi Design Bureau Aviation Scientific-Industrial Complex →
Active · founded 1939 · Russia
Sukhoi Design Bureau Aviation Scientific-Industrial Complex has earned a reputation for quality and originality,…
OAO LUKOIL →
Active · founded 1991 · Russia
OAO LUKOIL is one of Russia's most successful efforts at capitalism following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Sberbank →
Active · founded 1991 · Russia
Sberbank is Russia's oldest and largest bank.
AO VimpelCom →
Renamed · founded 1992 · Russia
AO VimpelCom keeps people connected in Russia, providing cellular phone services under the BeeLine brand name on either…
Baltika Brewery Joint Stock Company →
Active · founded 1992 · Russia
Baltika Brewery Joint Stock Company is the largest beer brewer in Russia, with about 20 percent of the domestic market.
OJSC Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods →
Defunct · founded 1992 · Russia
Founded shortly after the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, OJSC Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods has become a market leader in the…
RAO Unified Energy System of Russia →
Defunct · founded 1992 · Russia
RAO Unified Energy System of Russia (UES) is one of the two largest companies in Russia.
AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company, or OAO AVTOVAZ (Avtovaz), manufactures nearly three-quarters of the light automobiles sold…
Alrosa Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
Based in the frigid expanses of Russia's Far East, Alrosa Company Ltd.
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS) provides cellular phone service to nearly 13 million subscribers in Russia and…
OAO NK YUKOS →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
OAO NK YUKOS is the second largest of Russia's integrated oil companies, with an estimated 11.8 billion barrels of oil…
OAO Surgutneftegaz →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
OAO Surgutneftegaz is one of the top three integrated oil companies in Russia, with an estimated 2.5 billion metric…
Severstal Joint Stock Company →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
Severstal Joint Stock Company, also known as OAO Severstal, is one of Russia's largest steel mills and the center of…
OAO Tatneft →
Active · founded 1994 · Russia
OAO Tatneft produces approximately 8 percent of all oil extracted in Russia, with an annual production of approximately…
OAO Siberian Oil Company (Sibneft) →
Active · founded 1995 · Russia
Moscow-based OAO Siberian Oil Company, known as Sibneft, is one of Russia's top vertically integrated oil concerns.
Golden Telecom, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1999 · Russia
Golden Telecom, Inc.
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