Vladimir Putin effectively came to power in Russia on 31 December 1999, when President Boris Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned and made him acting president.

Quick Scoop: Key Dates

  • 9 August 1999 – Appointed prime minister by Boris Yeltsin, which marked his rapid rise as Russia’s new political heavyweight.
  • 31 December 1999 – Yeltsin resigns and names Putin acting president, giving him real control over the Kremlin from that day.
  • 26 March 2000 – Putin wins the presidential election.
  • 7 May 2000 – He is formally inaugurated as president, cementing his position as Russia’s leader.

In everyday political discussion, people usually say Putin “came to power” either at the moment he became acting president (31 December 1999) or when he was first elected and inaugurated (26 March / 7 May 2000).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.