Russia
a former empire in eastern Europe and northern Asia created in the 14th century with Moscow as the capital; powerful in the 17th and 18th centuries under Peter the Great and Catherine the Great when Saint Petersburg was the capital; overthrown by revolution in 1917
Soviet Union
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
USSR
a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991
Russian Federation
a federation in northeastern Europe and northern Asia; formerly Soviet Russia; since 1991 an independent state
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Soviet Russia
Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic
formerly the largest Soviet Socialist Republic in the USSR occupying eastern Europe and northern Asia