List of heads of government of Russia facts for kids

Dates before the calendar reform of 26 January 1918 in Russia are according to the Julian calendar.

Top left: In 1905, Sergei Witte became the first prime minister of the Russian Empire.
Top right: In 1917, Vladimir Lenin became the first prime minister of the Soviet Russia and later the Soviet Union (1922).
Bottom left: In 1992, Viktor Chernomyrdin became the first prime minister of post-soviet Russia.
Bottom right: Mikhail Mishustin is the current prime minister.

Since 1905, about 38 people have led the government in Russia. These leaders are often called "prime ministers." Their role has changed a lot over the years.

Long ago, Russia had different groups of advisors helping the ruler. The first important group was the Supreme Privy Council, started in 1726 by Empress Catherine I. This council helped run the Russian Empire. Later, other groups like the Cabinet of Her Imperial Majesty and the Imperial Council also advised the monarch.

In 1802, the Committee of Ministers was created. This group helped manage different government departments. The oldest minister often led the meetings. Over time, leading this committee became an honorary job for respected officials.

The Council of Ministers was officially formed in 1905. This happened after the First Russian Revolution. All government departments became part of one big administration. Sergei Witte was the first person to lead this new Council of Ministers.

After the February Revolution in 1917, a new government called the Russian Provisional Government was formed. Georgy Lvov became its leader, followed by Alexander Kerensky.

In November 1917, Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks took over. They created the Council of People's Commissars. Lenin led this new government from 1917 to 1924. This group was later renamed the Council of Ministers in 1946.

After the Soviet Union ended, Boris Yeltsin became the President of Russia. He was also the head of the government for a short time. Then, Viktor Chernomyrdin became the chairman of the Council of Ministers. In 1993, Russia got a new constitution. Since then, the leader of the government is officially called the "Chairman of the Government," or more commonly, the "Prime Minister."

The current Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, started his job on January 16, 2020. The youngest person to become head of government was Sergey Kiriyenko in 1998, at age 35. The oldest was Ivan Goremykin in 1914, at age 74.

Leaders of the Russian Government
Acting Prime Ministers
Timeline of Russian Government Leaders
See also

Leaders of the Russian Government

Early Advisory Groups (1726–1905)

For a long time, Russia didn't have a single "prime minister" like we do today. Instead, different groups of important people advised the ruler, the Emperor or Empress. These groups had powers similar to a modern government. Even though there wasn't an official title for a government leader, some chief ministers acted as the main leaders.

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Time in Office		Ruler
Members of the Supreme Privy Council (1726–1730)
	Count and Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov (1673–1729)	February 8 1726	September 8 1727	Catherine I (1725–1727) Peter II (1727–1730) Anna (1730–1740)
	Count Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin (1661–1728)	February 8 1726	November 10 1728
	Count Gavriil Ivanovich Golovkin (1660–1734)	February 8 1726	May 6 1727
	Count Andrey Ivanovich Osterman (1686–1747)	February 8 1726	May 6 1727
	Prince Dmitry Mikhaylovich Golitsyn (1665–1737)	February 8 1726	May 6 1727
	Count Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy (1645–1729)	February 8 1726	May 6 1727
	Count Karl-Fridrikh Golshteyn-Gottorpsky (1700–1739)	February 8 1726 (or March 1726)	July 25 1727
	Prince Alexey Grigoryevich Dolgorukov (?–1734)	February 3 1728	March 4 1730
	Prince Vasily Lukich Dolgorukov (1670–1739)	April 6 1729	March 4 1730
	Prince Vasily Vladimirovich Dolgorukov (1667–1746)	January 19 1730	March 4 1730
	Prince Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn (1675–1730)	January 19 1730	March 4 1730
Cabinet Ministers (1731–1741)
	Count Gavriil Ivanovich Golovkin (1660–1734)	November 10 1731	January 20 1734	Anna (1730–1740)
	Count Andrey Ivanovich Osterman (1686–1747)	January 20 1734	November 10 1740	Anna (1730–1740)
	Count Khristofor Antonovich Minikh (1683–1767)	November 10 1740	March 3 1741	Ivan VI (1740–1741)
	Count Andrey Ivanovich Osterman (1686–1747) (2nd time)	March 3 1741	November 25 1741	Ivan VI (1740–1741)
Conferency Ministers at the Highest Court (1756–1762)
	Stepan Fyodorovich Apraksin (1702–1758)	March 14 1756	October 1 1757	Elizabeth (1741–1762) Peter III (1762)
	Count Mikhail Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin (1688–1760)	March 14 1756	October 2 1757
	Prince Mikhail Mikhaylovich Golitsyn (1684–1764)	March 14 1756	December 17 1757
	Count Alexey Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin (1693–1768)	March 14 1756	February 14 1758
	Count Alexander Borisovich Buturlin (1694–1767)	March 14 1756	October 17 1760
	Count Peter Ivanovich Shuvalov (1711–1762)	March 14 1756	January 4 1762
	Count Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov (1714–1767)	March 14 1756	January 20 1762
	Prince Nikita Yuryevich Trubetskoy (1699–1767)	March 14 1756	January 20 1762
	Count Alexander Ivanovich Shuvalov (1710–1771)	March 14 1756	January 20 1762
	Grand Duke Peter Fyodorovich Romanov (later Emperor Peter III) (1728–1762)	March 14 1756	January 28 1762
	Prince Yakov Petrovich Shakhovskoy (1705–1777)	September 16 1760	December 25 1761
	Ivan Ivanovich Neplyuev (1693–1773)	September 16 1760	January 20 1762
	Count Roman Illarionovich Vorontsov (1707–1783)	December 28 1761	January 20 1762
Members of the Imperial Council (1762)
	Prince Georg-Ludwig Golshteyn-Gottorpsky (1719–1763)	January 28 1762	June 28 1762	Peter III (1762)
	Count Pyotr August Friedrich Golshteyn-Beksky (1696–1775)	January 28 1762	June 28 1762
	Count Khristofor Antonovich Minikh (1683–1767)	January 28 1762	June 28 1762
	Prince Nikita Yuryevich Trubetskoy (1699–1767)	January 28 1762	June 28 1762
	Count Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov (1714–1767)	January 28 1762	June 28 1762
	Aleksandr Nikitich Vilbua (1713–1788)	January 28 1762	June 28 1762
	Prince Mikhail Nikitich Volkonsky (1713–1788)	January 28 1762	June 28 1762
	Aleksey Petrovich Melgunov (1722–1788)	January 28 1762	June 28 1762
Heads of Council Affairs at the Highest Court (1768–1801)
	Stepan Fyodorovich Strekalov (1728–1805)	November 17 1768	1776	Catherine II (1762–1796)
	Count Alexander Nikolayevich Samoylov (1744–1814)	1776	1787
	Ivan Andreyevich Weydemeyer (1752–1820)	1787	November 18 1796
	Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin (1743–1816)	November 18 1796	November 22 1796	Paul I (1796–1801)
	Ivan Andreyevich Weydemeyer (1752–1820) (2nd time)	November 18 1796	March 26 1801	Paul I (1796–1801)

Chairmen of the Committee of Ministers (1802–1905)

The Committee of Ministers was set up in 1802. Each minister was in charge of their own department. The Emperor usually led the meetings. Later, the chairman of the State Council, Count N.P. Rumyantsev, took over this role.

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Time in Office		Ruler
Chairmen of the Committee of Ministers of the Russian Empire (1802–1905)
	Count Nikolay Petrovich Rumyantsev (1754–1826)	1810	1812	Alexander I (1801–1825)
	Count and Prince Nikolay Ivanovich Saltykov (1736–1816)	March 29 1812	September 9 1812 (disputed) May 16 1816
	Count Sergey Kuzmich Vyazmitinov (disputed) (1744–1819)	September 9 1812	October 15 1816
	Prince Pyotr Vasilyevich Lopukhin (1753–1827)	May 25 1816	April 6 1827
	Prince Viktor Pavlovich Kochubey (1768–1834)	April 29 1827	June 3 1834	Nicholas I (1825–1855)
	Count Nikolay Nikolayevich Novosiltsev (1761–1838)	July 11 1834	April 8 1838
	Prince Illarion Vasilyevich Vasilchikov (1776–1847)	April 9 1838	February 21 1847
	Count Vasily Vasilyevich Levashov (1783–1848)	December 31 1847	September 23 1848
	Prince Alexander Ivanovich Chernyshyov (1785–1857)	December 1 1848	April 5 1856
	Prince Alexey Fyodorovich Orlov (1787–1862)	May 1857	January 1861	Alexander II (1855–1881)
	Count Dmitry Nikolayevich Bludov (1785–1864)	November 12 1861	February 19 1864
	Prince Pavel Pavlovich Gagarin (1789–1872)	February 24 1864	February 21 1872
	Count Pavel Nikolayevich Ignatyev (1797–1879)	February 21 1872	December 20 1879
	Count Pyotr Aleksandrovich Valuyev (1815–1890)	December 25 1879	October 4 1881
	Count Mikhail Khristoforovich Reytern (1820–1890)	October 4 1881	December 30 1886	Alexander III (1881–1894)
	Nikolay Khristianovich Bunge (1823–1895)	January 1 1887	June 3 1895	Alexander III (1881–1894)
	Ivan Nikolayevich Durnovo (1834–1903)	October 15 1895	May 29 1903	Nicholas II (1894–1917)
	Count Sergei Yulyevich Witte (1849–1915)	August 16 1903	November 6 1905	Nicholas II (1894–1917)

Prime Ministers of the Russian Empire (1905–1917)

The role of Prime Minister in Russia began in 1905 with the creation of the Council of Ministers. This new system was similar to governments in other countries. Count Sergei Witte was the first Prime Minister.

Independent

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Time in Office			Ruler
1	Count Sergei Yulyevich Witte (1849–1915)	•	November 6, 1905	May 5, 1906	Nicholas II (1894–1917)
2	Ivan Logginovich Goremykin (1839–1917)	1	May 5, 1906	July 21, 1906
3	Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin (1862–1911)	•	July 21, 1906	September 18, 1911 (Died in office)
4	Count Vladimir Nikolayevich Kokovtsov (1853–1943)	•	September 22, 1911	February 12, 1914
(2)	Ivan Logginovich Goremykin (1839–1917)	2	February 12, 1914	February 2, 1916
5	Baron Boris Vladimirovich Shtyurmer (1848–1917)	•	February 2, 1916	November 23, 1916
6	Alexander Fyodorovich Trepov (1862–1928)	•	November 23, 1916	January 20, 1917
7	Prince Nikolai Dmitriyevich Golitsyn (1850–1925)	•	January 20, 1917	March 12, 1917

Provisional Government (1917)

After Emperor Nicholas II left the throne, a temporary government was set up. The Prime Minister of this government was also the head of state.

Constitutional Democratic Party Socialist Revolutionary Party

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Time in Office			Political Party
8	Prince Georgy Yevgenyevich Lvov (1861–1925)	•	March 15, 1917	July 21, 1917	Constitutional Democratic Party
9	Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky (1881–1970)	1	July 21, 1917	September 14, 1917	Socialist Revolutionary Party
9	Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky (1881–1970)	2	September 14, 1917	November 7, 1917	Socialist Revolutionary Party

Russian State (1918–1920)

During the Russian Civil War, there was a group called the Russian State. Their government leaders were like Prime Ministers, but they were in exile (living outside the country).

Independent Socialist Revolutionary Party

Name (birth–death)	Time in Office			Political Party	Head of State
Pyotr Vasilyevich Vologodsky (1863–1925)	I	November 4, 1918	November 18, 1918	Socialist Revolutionary Party		Nikolai Avksentiev (1918)
II	November 18, 1918	November 22, 1919		Socialist Revolutionary Party	Alexander Kolchak (1918–1920)
II	Viktor Nikolayevich Pepelyayev (1885–1920)	November 22, 1919		January 4, 1920	Alexander Kolchak (1918–1920)	Independent

Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (1917–1991)

After the Russian Soviet Republic was created, its government was called the Council of People's Commissars. This group was later renamed the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR in 1946.

Communist Party Independent

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Time in Office			Political Party	Legislature (election)
10	Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) (1870–1924)	•	November 8, 1917	January 21, 1924 (Died in office)	Communist Party	ARCEC	Lev Kamenev (1917)
							Yakov Sverdlov (1917–1919)
							Mikhail Kalinin (1919–1938)
11	Alexey Ivanovich Rykov (1881–1938)	•	February 2, 1924	May 18, 1929	Communist Party
12	Sergey Ivanovich Syrtsov (1883–1937)	•	May 18, 1929	November 3, 1930	Communist Party
13	Daniil Yegorovich Sulimov (1890–1937)	•	November 3, 1930	July 22, 1937	Communist Party
14	Nikolay Alexandrovich Bulganin (1895–1975)	1	July 22, 1937	July 19, 1938	Communist Party
14	Nikolay Alexandrovich Bulganin (1895–1975)	2	July 20, 1938	September 17, 1938	Communist Party	I (1938)	Aleksei Badayev (1938–1944)
15	Vasily Vasilyevich Vakhrushev (1902–1947)	•	September 17, 1938	June 2, 1940	Communist Party
16	Ivan Sergeyevich Khokhlov (1895–1973)	•	June 2, 1940	June 23, 1943	Communist Party
17	Alexey Nikolayevich Kosygin (1904–1980)	•	June 23, 1943	March 23, 1946	Communist Party
17	Alexey Nikolayevich Kosygin (1904–1980)	•	June 23, 1943	March 23, 1946	Communist Party		Nikolay Shvernik (1944–1946)
18	Mikhail Ivanovich Rodionov (1907–1950)	1	March 23, 1946	June 25, 1947	Communist Party		Nikolay Shvernik (1944–1946)
18	Mikhail Ivanovich Rodionov (1907–1950)	2	June 26, 1947	March 9, 1949	Communist Party	II (1947)	Ivan Vlasov (1946–1950)
19	Boris Nikolayevich Chernousov (1908–1978)	1	March 9, 1949	April 17, 1951	Communist Party	II (1947)	Ivan Vlasov (1946–1950)
19	Boris Nikolayevich Chernousov (1908–1978)	2	April 17, 1951	October 20, 1952	Communist Party	III (1951)	Mikhail Tarasov (1950–1959)
20	Alexander Mikhailovich Puzanov (1906–1998)	1	October 20, 1952	March 26, 1955	Communist Party	III (1951)
20	Alexander Mikhailovich Puzanov (1906–1998)	2	March 26, 1955	January 24, 1956	Communist Party	IV (1955)
21	Mikhail Alexeyevich Yasnov (1906–1991)	•	January 24, 1956	December 19, 1957	Communist Party
22	Frol Romanovich Kozlov (1908–1965)	•	December 19, 1957	March 31, 1958	Communist Party
23	Dmitry Stepanovich Polyansky (1917–2001)	1	March 31, 1958	April 15, 1959	Communist Party
		1	March 31, 1958	April 15, 1959			Nikolay Ignatov (1959)
		2	April 16, 1959	November 23, 1962		V (1959)	Nikolay Organov (1959–1962)
24	Gennady Ivanovich Voronov (1910–1994)	1	November 23, 1962	April 5, 1963	Communist Party		Nikolay Organov (1959–1962)
		1	November 23, 1962	April 5, 1963			Nikolay Ignatov (1962–1966)
		2	April 5, 1963	April 12, 1967		VI (1963)	Nikolay Ignatov (1962–1966)
		2	April 5, 1963	April 12, 1967		VI (1963)	Mikhail Yasnov (1966–1985)
		3	April 12, 1967	July 23, 1971		VII (1967)
25	Mikhail Sergeyevich Solomentsev (1913–2008)	1	July 28, 1971	July 15, 1975	Communist Party	VIII (1971)
		2	July 15, 1975	March 26, 1980		IX (1975)
		3	March 26, 1980	June 24, 1983		X (1980)
26	Vitaly Ivanovich Vorotnikov (1926–2012)	1	June 24, 1983	March 26, 1985	Communist Party	X (1980)
26	Vitaly Ivanovich Vorotnikov (1926–2012)	2	March 26, 1985	October 3, 1988	Communist Party	XI (1985)	Vladimir Orlov (1985–1988)
27	Alexander Vladimirovich Vlasov (1932–2002)	•	October 3, 1988	June 15, 1990	Communist Party		Vitaly Vorotnikov (1988–1990)
27	Alexander Vladimirovich Vlasov (1932–2002)	•	October 3, 1988	June 15, 1990	Communist Party		Boris Yeltsin (1990–1991)
28	Ivan Stepanovich Silayev (1930–2023)	1	June 15, 1990	July 10, 1991	Communist Party	XII (1990)
28	Ivan Stepanovich Silayev (1930–2023)	2	July 12, 1991	September 26, 1991	Communist Party
P	Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin (1931–2007)	•	November 6, 1991	December 25, 1991	Independent

Russian Federation (1991–present)

After the Soviet Union broke up, Russia became the Russian Federation. The leader of the government is now called the "Chairman of the Government" or "Prime Minister."

Independent Our Home – Russia United Russia

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Time in Office			Political Party
P	Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin (1931–2007)	•	December 25, 1991	June 15, 1992	Independent	Boris Yeltsin (1991–1999)
29	Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin (1938–2010)	1	December 14, 1992	August 9, 1996	Our Home – Russia
29	Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin (1938–2010)	2	August 10, 1996	March 23, 1998	Our Home – Russia
30	Sergey Vladilenovich Kiriyenko (1962–)	•	April 24, 1998	August 23, 1998	Independent
31	Yevgeny Maximovich Primakov (1929–2015)	•	September 11, 1998	May 12, 1999	Independent
32	Sergey Vadimovich Stepashin (1952–)	•	May 19, 1999	August 9, 1999	Independent
33	Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (1952–)	1	August 16, 1999	May 7, 2000	Independent
34	Mikhail Mikhaylovich Kasyanov (1957–)	•	May 17, 2000	February 24, 2004	Independent	Vladimir Putin (2000–2008)
35	Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov (1950–)	1	March 5, 2004	May 7, 2004	Independent
35	Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov (1950–)	2	May 12, 2004	September 12, 2007	Independent
36	Viktor Alexeyevich Zubkov (1941–)	•	September 14, 2007	May 7, 2008	United Russia
(33)	Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (1952–)	2	May 8, 2008	May 7, 2012	United Russia	Dmitry Medvedev (2008–2012)
37	Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev (1965–)	1	May 8, 2012	May 7, 2018	United Russia	Vladimir Putin (2012–)
37	Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev (1965–)	2	May 8, 2018	January 15, 2020	United Russia
38	Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin (1966–)	1	January 16, 2020	May 7, 2024	Independent
38	Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin (1966–)	2	May 10, 2024	Incumbent	Independent

Acting Prime Ministers

Sometimes, a person might serve as an "acting" prime minister for a short time. This happens when the main prime minister is not available or a new one is being chosen. Here are some people who have served as acting prime ministers:

Vladimir Kokovtsov: September 18–22, 1911
Konstantin Pamfilov: May 5, 1942 – May 2, 1943
Oleg Lobov: September 26 – November 6, 1991
Yegor Gaidar: June 15 – December 14, 1992
Sergey Kiriyenko: March 23 – April 24, 1998
Viktor Chernomyrdin: August 9–10, 1996 and August 23 – September 11, 1998
Sergey Stepashin: May 12–19, 1999
Vladimir Putin: August 9–16, 1999
Mikhail Kasyanov: May 7–17, 2000
Viktor Khristenko: February 24 – March 5, 2004
Mikhail Fradkov: May 7–12, 2004 and September 12–14, 2007
Viktor Zubkov: May 7–8, 2008 and May 7–8, 2012
Dmitry Medvedev: May 7–8, 2018 and January 15–16, 2020
Andrey Belousov: April 30 – May 19, 2020
Mikhail Mishustin: May 7–10, 2024