← People
Boris Yeltsin
He stood on a tank to face down a coup — then spent the next decade watching the country he'd saved slowly come apart.
1931–2007
Life Journey
A rise from party insider to architect of a new Russia
Follow the story in a more continuous narrative, with a reading mode that matches how much depth you want.
1931–1955
Rural beginnings
Born into a rural family in the Urals, Yeltsin grew up in a strict environment that shaped his toughness and drive to succeed.
