Russia’s history is so brutal... it literally reshaped the world From Vikings founding ancient Russia, to powerful Tsars like Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great, Russia rose to dominate. Then came the Russian Revolution, where the royal family was executed, and the Soviet Union was born. Under Stalin, Russia became a superpower, crushing Hitler in World War II and leading the Cold War against the U.S. And today? Russia remains one of the most influential countries on Earth.