What unknown territories has Russia lost . Territories that Russia has lost (6 photos)

If we do not take into account the collapse of the Russian Empire and the collapse of the USSR, then the most famous (and largest) territorial loss of Russia is Alaska. But our country lost other territories as well. These losses are rarely remembered today.

1 Southern coast of the Caspian (1723-1732)

Having cut through the "window to Europe" as a result of the victory over the Swedes, Peter I began to cut a window to India. For this purpose, he undertook in 1722-1723. campaigns in strife-torn Persia. As a result of these campaigns, the entire western and southern coast of the Caspian Sea came under Russian rule. But Transcaucasia is not the Baltics. It turned out to be much easier to conquer these territories than the Baltic possessions of Sweden, but it was more difficult to keep. Due to epidemics and constant attacks by the highlanders, the Russian troops were reduced by half. Russia, exhausted by Peter's wars and reforms, could not keep such a costly acquisition, and in 1732 these lands were returned to Persia.

2 East Prussia (1758-1762)

As a result of the Second World War, part of East Prussia with Koenigsberg went to the USSR - now it is Kaliningrad with the same name region. But once these lands were already under the citizenship of Russia. During the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), in 1758 Russian troops occupied Koenigsberg and all of East Prussia. By decree of Empress Elizabeth, the region was turned into a Russian governor-general, and the Prussian population was sworn into Russian citizenship. The famous German philosopher Kant also became a Russian subject. A letter has been preserved in which Immanuel Kant, a loyal subject of the Russian crown, asks the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna for the position of an ordinary professor. The sudden death of Elizabeth Petrovna (1761) changed everything. The Russian throne was occupied by Peter III, known for his sympathy for Prussia and King Frederick. He returned to Prussia all the Russian gains in this war and turned his weapons against his former allies. Catherine II, who overthrew Peter III, also sympathized with Frederick, confirmed peace and, in particular, the return of East Prussia.

3 Mediterranean: Malta (1798-1800) and the Ionian Islands (1800-1807)

4 Romania (1807-1812, 1828-1834)

The first time Romania, or rather then two separate principalities - Moldavia and Wallachia - came under Russian rule in 1807, during the next Russian-Turkish war (1806-1812). The population of the principalities was sworn allegiance to the Russian emperor, and direct Russian rule was introduced throughout the territory. But the invasion of Napoleon in 1812 forced Russia to conclude an early peace with Turkey, instead of two principalities, contenting itself with only the eastern part of the principality of Moldavia (Bessarabia, modern Moldova). The second time Russia established its power in the principalities during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. At the end of the war, the Russian troops did not leave, the Russian administration continued to control the principalities. Moreover, Nicholas I, who suppressed any sprouts of freedom inside Russia, gives his new territories a Constitution! True, it was called "organic regulations", since for Nicholas I the word "constitution" was too seditious. Russia would willingly turn Moldavia and Wallachia, which it actually owned, into its de jure possessions, but England, France and Austria intervened in the matter. As a result, in 1834 the Russian army was withdrawn from the principalities. Russia finally lost its influence in the principalities after the defeat in the Crimean War.

5 Kars (1877-1918)

In 1877, during the Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878), Kars was taken by Russian troops. According to the peace treaty, Kars, together with Batumi, went to Russia. The Kars region began to be actively populated by Russian settlers. Kars was built according to the plan developed by Russian architects. Even now Kars with its strictly parallel and perpendicular streets, typical Russian houses, erected in the con. XIX - beginning. XX centuries., in sharp contrast with the chaotic buildings of other Turkish cities. But it is very reminiscent of the old Russian cities. After the revolution, the Bolsheviks gave the Kars region to Turkey.

6 Manchuria (1896-1920)

In 1896, Russia received from China the right to build a railway through Manchuria to connect Siberia with Vladivostok - the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). The Russians had the right to lease a narrow territory on both sides of the CER line. However, in fact, the construction of the road led to the transformation of Manchuria into a territory dependent on Russia, with a Russian administration, army, police and courts. Russian settlers poured in there. The Russian government began to consider the project of incorporating Manchuria into the empire under the name "Zheltorossiya". As a result of Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the southern part of Manchuria fell into the sphere of influence of Japan. After the revolution, Russian influence in Manchuria began to wane. Finally, in 1920, Chinese troops occupied Russian installations, including Harbin and the CER, finally closing the Zheltorossiya project.

7 Soviet Port Arthur (1945-1955)

Thanks to the heroic defense of Port Arthur, many people know that this city belonged to the Russian Empire before the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. But less well known is the fact that at one time Port Arthur was part of the USSR. After the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in 1945, Port Arthur, under an agreement with China, was transferred to the Soviet Union for a period of 30 years as a naval base. Later, the USSR and the PRC agreed to return the city in 1952. At the request of the Chinese side, due to the difficult international situation (Korean War), the Soviet armed forces were delayed in Port Arthur until 1955.

What territories did Russia lose

If we do not take into account the collapse of the Russian Empire and the collapse of the USSR, then the most famous (and largest) territorial loss of Russia is Alaska. But our country was losing other territories as well. These losses are rarely remembered today.

Southern coast of the Caspian (1723-1732)

Having cut through, as a result of the victory over the Swedes, "a window to Europe", Peter I began to cut a window to India. For this purpose, he undertook in 1722-1723. campaigns in strife-torn Persia. As a result of these campaigns, the entire western and southern coast of the Caspian Sea came under Russian rule.

But Transcaucasia is not the Baltics. It turned out to be much easier to conquer these territories than the Baltic possessions of Sweden, but it was more difficult to keep. Due to epidemics and constant attacks by the highlanders, the Russian troops were reduced by half.

Russia, exhausted by Peter's wars and reforms, could not keep such a costly acquisition, and in 1732 these lands were returned to Persia.

Mediterranean: Malta (1798-1800) and the Ionian Islands (1800-1807)

In 1798, Napoleon, on his way to Egypt, defeated Malta, which was owned by the knights of the Order of the Hospitallers, founded back in the days of the Crusades. Having come to their senses after the pogrom, the knights elected the Russian Emperor Paul I as the Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The emblem of the Order was included in the State Emblem of Russia. This, perhaps, limited the visible signs that the island is under Russian rule. In 1800, the British captured Malta.

Unlike the formal possession of Malta, Russian control over the Ionian Islands off the coast of Greece was more real.

In 1800, the Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of the famous naval commander Ushakov captured the island of Corfu, which was heavily fortified by the French. The Republic of the Seven Islands was established, formally, as a Turkish protectorate, but in fact, under Russian rule. According to the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), Emperor Alexander I secretly ceded the islands to Napoleon.

Romania (1807-1812, 1828-1834)

The first time Romania (more precisely, two separate principalities - Moldavia and Wallachia) was under the rule of Russia in 1807 - during the next Russian-Turkish war (1806-1812). The population of the principalities was sworn allegiance to the Russian emperor; direct Russian rule was introduced throughout the territory. But the invasion of Napoleon in 1812 forced Russia to conclude an early peace with Turkey, according to which only the eastern part of the Principality of Moldavia (Bessarabia, modern Moldova) departed to the Russians.

The second time Russia established its power in the principalities during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. At the end of the war, the Russian troops did not leave, the Russian administration continued to manage the principalities. Moreover, Nicholas I, who suppressed any sprouts of freedom inside Russia, gives his new territories a Constitution! True, it was called "organic regulations", since for Nicholas I the word "constitution" was too seditious.

Russia would willingly turn Moldavia and Wallachia, which it actually owned, into its de jure possessions, but England, France and Austria intervened in the matter. As a result, in 1834 the Russian army was withdrawn from the principalities. Russia finally lost its influence in the principalities after the defeat in the Crimean War.

Kars (1877-1918)

In 1877, during the Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878), Kars was taken by Russian troops. According to the peace treaty, Kars, together with Batum, went to Russia.

The Kars region began to be actively populated by Russian settlers. Kars was built according to the plan developed by Russian architects. Even now Kars with its strictly parallel and perpendicular streets, typical Russian houses, erected in the con. XIX - beginning. XX centuries., in sharp contrast with the chaotic buildings of other Turkish cities. But it is very reminiscent of the old Russian cities.

After the revolution, the Bolsheviks gave the Kars region to Turkey.

If we do not take into account the collapse of the Russian Empire and the collapse of the USSR, then the most famous (and largest) territorial loss of Russia is Alaska. But our country lost other territories as well. These losses are rarely remembered today.

1. Southern coast of the Caspian (1723-1732)

Ships of the Azov Fleet of Peter.

Having cut through, as a result of the victory over the Swedes, "a window to Europe", Peter I began to cut a window to India. For this purpose, he undertook in 1722-1723. campaigns in strife-torn Persia. As a result of these campaigns, the entire western and southern coast of the Caspian Sea came under Russian rule.

But Transcaucasia is not the Baltics. It turned out to be much easier to conquer these territories than the Baltic possessions of Sweden, but to keep it was more difficult. Due to epidemics and constant attacks by the highlanders, the Russian troops were reduced by half.

Russia, exhausted by Peter's wars and reforms, could not keep such a costly acquisition, and in 1732 these lands were returned to Persia.

2. East Prussia (1758-1762)

As a result of the Second World War, part of East Prussia with Koenigsberg went to the USSR - now it is Kaliningrad with the same name region. But once these lands were already under the citizenship of Russia.

During the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), in 1758 Russian troops occupied Koenigsberg and all of East Prussia. By decree of Empress Elizabeth, the region was turned into a Russian governor-general, and the Prussian population was sworn into Russian citizenship. The famous German philosopher Kant also became a Russian subject. A letter has been preserved in which Immanuel Kant, a loyal subject of the Russian crown, asks the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna for the position of an ordinary professor.

The sudden death of Elizabeth Petrovna (1761) changed everything. The Russian throne was occupied by Peter III, known for his sympathy for Prussia and King Frederick. He returned to Prussia all the Russian gains in this war and turned his weapons against his former allies. Catherine II, who overthrew Peter III, also sympathized with Frederick, confirmed peace and, in particular, the return of East Prussia.

3. Mediterranean: Malta (1798-1800) and the Ionian Islands (1800-1807)

In 1798, Napoleon, on his way to Egypt, defeated Malta, which was owned by the knights of the Order of the Hospitallers, founded back in the time of the Crusades. Having come to their senses after the pogrom, the knights elected the Russian Emperor Paul I as the Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The emblem of the Order was included in the State Emblem of Russia. This, perhaps, limited the visible signs that the island is under Russian rule. In 1800, the British captured Malta.

Unlike the formal possession of Malta, Russian control over the Ionian Islands off the coast of Greece was more real.

In 1800, the Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of the famous naval commander Ushakov captured the island of Corfu, which was heavily fortified by the French. The Republic of the Seven Islands was established, formally, as a Turkish protectorate, but in fact, under Russian rule. According to the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), Emperor Alexander I secretly ceded the islands to Napoleon.

4. Romania (1807-1812, 1828-1834)

Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, Romania

The first time Romania, or rather then two separate principalities - Moldavia and Wallachia - came under Russian rule in 1807, during the next Russian-Turkish war (1806-1812). The population of the principalities was sworn allegiance to the Russian emperor, and direct Russian rule was introduced throughout the territory. But the invasion of Napoleon in 1812 forced Russia to conclude an early peace with Turkey, instead of two principalities, contenting itself with only the eastern part of the principality of Moldavia (Bessarabia, modern Moldova).

The second time Russia established its power in the principalities during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. At the end of the war, the Russian troops did not leave, the Russian administration continued to manage the principalities. Moreover, Nicholas I, who suppressed any sprouts of freedom inside Russia, gives his new territories a Constitution! True, it was called "organic regulations", since for Nicholas I the word "constitution" was too seditious.

Russia would willingly turn Moldavia and Wallachia, which it actually owned, into its de jure possessions, but England, France and Austria intervened in the matter. As a result, in 1834 the Russian army was withdrawn from the principalities. Russia finally lost its influence in the principalities after the defeat in the Crimean War.

5. Kars (1877-1918)

The assault on the Kars fortress on June 23, 1828

In 1877, during the Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878), Kars was taken by Russian troops. According to the peace treaty, Kars, together with Batumi, went to Russia.

The Kars region began to be actively populated by Russian settlers. Kars was built according to the plan developed by Russian architects. Even now Kars with its strictly parallel and perpendicular streets, typical Russian houses, erected in the con. XIX - early. XX centuries., in sharp contrast with the chaotic buildings of other Turkish cities. But it is very reminiscent of the old Russian cities.

After the revolution, the Bolsheviks gave the Kars region to Turkey.

6. Manchuria (1896-1920)

Russians in Manchuria

In 1896, Russia received from China the right to build a railway through Manchuria to connect Siberia with Vladivostok - the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). The Russians had the right to lease a narrow territory on both sides of the CER line. However, in fact, the construction of the road led to the transformation of Manchuria into a territory dependent on Russia, with a Russian administration, army, police and courts. Russian settlers poured in there. The Russian government began to consider the project of incorporating Manchuria into the empire under the name "Zheltorossiya".

As a result of Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the southern part of Manchuria fell into the sphere of influence of Japan. After the revolution, Russian influence in Manchuria began to wane. Finally, in 1920, Chinese troops occupied Russian facilities, including Harbin and the Chinese Eastern Railway, finally closing the Zheltorossiya project.

Thanks to the heroic defense of Port Arthur, many people know that this city belonged to the Russian Empire before the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. But less well known is the fact that at one time Port Arthur was part of the USSR.

After the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in 1945, Port Arthur, under an agreement with China, was transferred to the Soviet Union for a period of 30 years as a naval base. Later, the USSR and the PRC agreed to return the city in 1952. At the request of the Chinese side, due to the difficult international situation (Korean War), the Soviet armed forces were delayed in Port Arthur until 1955.

After the large-scale loss of land in 1991, it seemed - everything, but no, the outlines of the territory of Russia continue to change. On the one hand, Russia has grown Crimea, correcting the voluntaristic decision taken once. But on the other hand, its territory is decreasing - sometimes explicitly, and sometimes hidden. Of course, the country is “limitless”, but it is worth remembering 1917 and the loss of the western territories, it is worth remembering 1991, when the territory decreased by a quarter. And it is worth remembering, perhaps, the 2000s, when the prerequisites for the fragmentation of the Russian state were laid.

The reduction of Russian lands is carried out both through the direct transfer of lands within the framework of interstate agreements, and through the provision of territories for economic management. And if the first is on a small scale and already affects the present, then the second brings investments to the country in the short term, and creates threats to territorial integrity in the long term.

LATENT "SALE" OF LAND

The most dangerous was the process of latent surrender of Russian lands, which acquired a large-scale character. Territories transferred to temporary economic management by foreigners, especially in border areas, are actually lost lands with a delayed transition lag under foreign jurisdiction. And if the transfer of land is isolated cases, then economic management is already a widespread practice in the East of the country. In 2004, three islands were transferred to China - Tarabarov, parts of the Big Ussuri Island in the Khabarovsk Territory and Bolshoy Island in the Chita Region, which were objects of strategic importance, despite their small size. A large fortified area and a frontier post were located on Bolshoi Ussuriysky, over Tarabarov - the trajectory of take-offs of military aircraft of the 11th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense, as well as farmland of local residents - dachas, hayfields. There was a frontier post on Bolshoi Island and drinking water was taken for part of the region. But the islands were given away as part of the resolution of the so-called territorial dispute.

In 2010, Russia gave part of the Barents Sea to Norway. In 2011, the Federation Council ratified the agreement between the Russian Federation and Norway on the delimitation of spaces in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. It was on this land that 2 billion barrels of hydrocarbons, estimated at $30 billion, were found. According to some estimates, Russia produced 60% of the catch in the Barents Sea in this area. The concession to Norway is not only the loss of Russian territory, but also a threat to the advancement of NATO, which received the opportunity to track the submarines of the Russian Northern Fleet.

However, the largest losses occur in that part of the country, the development of which traditionally lacked budgetary funds. These are the territories of the Far East, which formally belong to Russia, but in fact, through the procedures of economic management, are gradually transferred in parts to China and Japan. In 2015, the authorities of Transbaikalia leased 150,000 hectares to China for 49 years. Interestingly, in 49 years, will anyone remember that this is Russian land? Does anyone recognize Russian land in it? China was supposed to invest 24 billion rubles in this piece of land. in the development of poultry and animal husbandry, the cultivation of grain and fodder crops. But after the "Chinese technologies" of land cultivation, as Russia's experience has shown, only scorched earth remains. The agreement was signed, on the one hand, by the Chinese company Zoje Resources Investment, and on the other hand, by the government of the Trans-Baikal Territory. That is, the issue of "transfer" of Russian lands is decided at the level of regional authorities, and not the federal center.

If we add to this the fact that the Chinese work in logging and sawing Russian timber, and also work in other territories of the Far East, then the figure of 150 hectares will seem insignificant against the background of what is really happening. In 2015, the government of Buryatia signed an agreement with a Chinese company under which water from Lake Baikal will be exported to China. By 2020, the design capacity of the plant should be 2 million tons of water per year. Such a project can lead to a decrease in the water level in the lake. And this is not only the destruction of the Baikal ecosystem, but also, as shown by the decrease in the water level in 2015, a factor in creating a fire hazard. Then the shallowing of the lake led to the fact that water disappeared in the wells of coastal villages and peat bogs dried up, which caused numerous fires in the region in spring and summer. But the authorities of Buryatia, having no substantiated studies, said that this project would not harm the ecology of the lake. According to the latest reports, the launch of the enterprise was postponed by the investor to 2018. Local residents oppose this initiative of the authorities. On the website change.org, a petition to cancel the decision to build the plant has already gained over 365,000 votes. But the most interesting thing is that there should be several such factories. One of them in Severobaikalsk will be designed to supply water to South Korea.

The factor of Chinese managers on Russian soil is dangerous because, firstly, the land will work for the needs of the Chinese economy. Secondly, long-term economic development is essentially a hidden expansion, when Chinese workers will settle in the region with their families, building houses and forming their settlements. Before the expiration of the lease, China will present territorial claims to these lands, declaring them disputed territories, and liberal Russia, in the same scenario, will agree to their surrender, stating that the lands are Chinese, since they are inhabited by the Chinese. Considering that even now in the Russian Railways of the Baikal direction and in the Irkutsk region Russian inscriptions are duplicated in Chinese, it is not necessary to deny the fact of the still mild Chinese expansion. The scenario for the formation of such disputed territories has already been tested by China, which for several years covered the Kazakevich channel in the Khabarovsk Territory with soil and flooded a barge with stones in it. As a result, the Kazakevich channel became unnavigable, and the construction of 600 kilometers of dams gradually led to a change in the fairway of the river, as a result of which a “territorial dispute” arose - a claim to Russia from China. Thirdly, Chinese expansion will harm the Russian ecology, leaving behind burnt lands, cut down forests and, in fact, a shallow Baikal.

The situation is similar with the Kuriles. The parties came up with a formula for the joint economic development of the Kuriles, which involves Japan's investment in the infrastructure and economy of the islands. By the way, the status is unconstitutional. Since 2011, Russia has been offering Japan joint development of oil and gas fields located in the Kuril Islands. An invitation to develop territories by a country that previously declared its sovereignty over them, in fact, means that Putin is quietly giving away Russian lands without making too much noise. Economically prosperous Japan in a matter of years will create colonies of its settlers on the islands, as China does in the Far East.

The latest initiative of the authorities - the transfer of a hectare of land in the Far East into ownership after economic development is more and more reminiscent of the voucher privatization of the 90s, when free distribution will be based on schemes for concentrating land in the ownership of individual latifundists. It is not difficult to understand which country they will be from. In the context of the joy of the authorities for collective applications, there are more and more fears that a number of wealthy individuals have already started the concentration of the lands of the Far East in their hands. Well, then the land will become a marketable commodity. Entire regions of the Far East could become under the control of individuals who would certainly create successful land transfer schemes for economic development by the Chinese. For example, it is possible to register land plots for nominees as part of collective applications. To master them, and after that, each figurehead who will receive the land as property will allegedly sell their plots to the one who stands behind these names.

The facts cited above indicate that, through someone else's efforts, Russia is beginning to trade not only its subsoil, but also its lands, thereby violating clause 3. article 4 of the Russian constitution that "the Russian Federation ensures the integrity and inviolability of its territory." In Putin's liberal Russia, neither the voice of the people nor the letter of the law counts.

WHY IS THAT?

The transfer of territories is carried out by the federal authorities, the decision is approved by the parliament by a majority vote, regardless of the minority that votes against. As a rule, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation opposes the transfer of land, while the Liberal Democratic Party and United Russia vote synchronously. If we are talking about the economic development of land, then the decision is made by local authorities in accordance with Article 72, paragraph 1. of the Constitution that the joint jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation is "coordination of international and foreign economic relations of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the implementation of international treaties of the Russian Federation." In other words, the decision on the fate of the Russian territories is determined by the will of temporary hired managers, and in no way reflects the opinion of the people. This system of transferring territories is due to several reasons. First, the simplicity of the land transfer procedure.

The opinion of the majority of legislators is enough for the issue to be resolved. However, it would be more fair for such a practice to make a decision through a popular referendum. But the Russian authorities consider such issues to be technical procedures and do not bother to coordinate the decision with the people. That is why people often come out with protests in the hope of being heard. For example, local residents opposed the plant pumping water from Lake Baikal for export to China. All this could have been avoided if this decision had been made taking into account the opinion of the people. Nobody asked the Russians when they transferred the lands to Norway, having lost their positions on Svalbard. They did not ask when the three islands were given to China. One of them is only half. Apparently, it was saved by the fact that the regional authorities took care of this in advance. By that time, the Governor of the Khabarovsk Territory, V. Ishaev, had built a pontoon bridge connecting Khabarovsk with about. Bolshoi Ussuriysky, where he erected the chapel of the martyr-warrior Victor in memory of those who died defending the Far Eastern borders of Russia. This half remained part of Russia, while Putin voluntarily handed over the other half to China.

Secondly, the transfer of territories is essentially a deal, when Russia exchanges territories for the inflow of investments. The investment problem is especially acute for the regions, which, in the face of a shortage of subsidies and an increase in the social burden on the regional budget, are trying to attract investment at any cost. In the context of the suffocating subversive policy of the Central Bank, a tight monetary policy and an increase in the burden on business, one cannot count on domestic investment. Under Putin, there is no way out of Putinism. Therefore, bet on foreign investment. The federal center made mistakes twice. When he created unfavorable economic conditions in the country. And when he refused to analyze the transactions concluded by the regions related to the economic management of land, natural resources and subsoil.

Thirdly, although the year of ecology in Russia is now underway, this issue has traditionally been given the least attention. It is enough to look at the forest fires of Transbaikalia, where even in protected natural reserves, forests are extinguished only if they threaten the settlement. Or look at the massive deforestation, which in many ways provokes fires. Russian timber is being sacrificed for the Chinese woodworking industry. Instead of following the example of China to impose a ban on commercial logging, the Kremlin only increases the supply of timber to China. Yes, and the admission of the Chinese to Russian farmland with their technology of cultivating the land suggests that environmental issues will never be raised where there is a prospect of large investments. Or bribes, hypothetically explaining what is happening with the Russian territory. The processes taking place in this area are generated by a number of traditional Russian approaches:

The justification that there is a lot of land in Russia will not diminish from the transfer of one piece of territory;

Lack of investment and focus on a foreign investor who will come and develop territories that our hands did not reach;

Refusal to analyze the consequences of such a transaction. For example, after the transfer of the territory of the Barents Sea, Norway discovered oil reserves, while the Russian side did not conduct appropriate exploration work. Or, for example, no one assessed the state of the ecosystem of Lake Baikal when making a decision to pump out water for China;

Focusing on the effect in the current moment, when foreign investment becomes more important than national interests and issues of security and sovereignty. The desire to resolve controversial issues in favor of the opposite side has already led to the loss of the islands. To which the president replied: "We did not give anything away, these were territories that were disputed and in respect of which we have been negotiating with the People's Republic of China for 40 years." This is according to Putin-did not give? According to this logic, China has not acquired anything?

During this entire period, Russia acquired only Crimea, inhabited by Russians. It was this event that dramatically increased the president's rating. Based on this, it would be natural to assume that the loss of land and the refusal to protect the Russian ethnos should have undermined the authority of the Russian leader. That is why the facts of the transfer of the territory in the media are spoken of as an ordinary technical issue, the solution of which will lead to an increase in foreign investment. They don't speak at all. Therefore, the transfer of land for economic use is covered exclusively as the creation of jobs through foreign investment, silent about the fact that there is a hidden transfer of land to foreigners to serve the needs of the economy of a non-Russian state. In the future, these are new territorial disputes and yet another concessions to our “partners”.

MORE RELATED

Everyone knows that Alaska, Poland, and Finland were once part of Russia. In addition to these territories, there were, of course, others. Although they were not so large in size, they were still important. Malta, Kars, Manchuria, Moldavia, Wallachia, Port Arthur - all these territories were lost by Russia for various reasons. Something was given away as a result of diplomatic games, something was used as a bargaining chip.

In 1986, Russia agreed with China to build a railroad that would link Siberia with the Far East through Manchuria. This is how the epochal project of the Chinese Eastern Railway appeared.
Since Russia received the right to lease from China the territory on both sides of the CER line, Manchuria soon became a dependent territory. The Russian administration, army, police and even courts appeared there. Of course, settlers moved there. Therefore, it is not surprising that the empire began to consider Manchuria as a territory that could potentially be part of Russia. There was even a special term - "Zheltorossiya".

Manchuria wanted to be renamed Zheltorossiya


But the defeat in the war with the Japanese put an end to the ambitious plan. This territory fell into the sphere of influence of the Land of the Rising Sun. During the revolution in Russia, many of those dissatisfied with the new government settled in Manchuria. Therefore, the young Soviet Union had no levers of influence there, in fact. Well, China has put the final point. In 1920, the troops of the Celestial Empire occupied Harbin and the CER. The Zheltorossiya project was closed.

In 1877, during the war with the Ottoman Empire, Kars was captured by Russian troops. And only a year later, when the Turks admitted defeat, this city, together with Batum, became part of the Russian Empire.

Kars was returned to Turkey in 1918

A stream of Russian settlers poured into the newly formed Kars region. And the city itself began to actively build up. Moreover, this was done not in a chaotic manner, but according to a plan developed by Russian architects.
The Kars region was given to Turkey by the Bolsheviks in 1918.

Before the defeat in the war with Japan, this city belonged to the Russian Empire. And the history of its defense has become legendary thanks to the bravery of Russian soldiers.
But then, after 40 years, the city again became part of Russia, only not imperial, but communist. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, Port Arthur, under an agreement with China, was leased to the Soviet Union for a period of 30 years. A Soviet naval base was stationed there.

Port Arthur before the war with Japan was part of the Russian Empire


But the "red" Port Arthur did not stay long - until 1952. By mutual agreement, the USSR returned the city to China. But the Soviet military, nevertheless, stayed there until 1955.

The principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia came under the rule of the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 19th century during another war with the Turks. The local population took an oath and was directly subordinate to Russian rule.
But because of the war with Napoleon, Alexander I was forced to hastily "make friends" with the Turks. As a result of the peace treaty, Russia withdrew only the eastern part of Moldova - Bessarabia.

After the defeat in the Crimean War, Russia abandoned Moldavia and Wallachia

At the end of the 20s of the 19th century, the Russian Empire for the second time established its power in Moldavia and Wallachia. And again, thanks to the war with the Turks. And Nicholas I even gave the new territories “organic regulations”.
The Russian Empire finally lost its influence in those lands after the Crimean War.

Moving to Egypt, Napoleon defeated Malta along the way, where the nest of the knights of the Order of the Hospitallers was located. Moreover, the French emperor did this thanks to the cunning and weakness of the Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Boleim. The latter surrendered to Napoleon, declaring that the charter of the order forbade knights from fighting Christians.
After such a serious blow, the order was never able to recover. It significantly decreased in size and continued to exist by inertia. Of course, the knights tried to rectify the situation. They understood that they could not do without an influential patron. And Emperor Paul I approached this role best of all. He was elected Grand Master. The emblem of the Order "settled" in the state emblem of the Russian Empire. This, in fact, ended the signs that Malta had come under the rule of the Russian emperor.

Paul I was the Grand Master of the Order of the Hospitallers

Malta soon came under the rule of the British. And after the death of Paul in Russia, no one remembered the distant knights.
As for the Ionian Islands, the power of the Russian Empire over them was more obvious. In 1800, the naval commander Ushakov managed to capture the island of Corfu. And although the newly formed Republic of the Seven Islands was formally considered a Turkish protectorate, in fact, Russia took over the role of manager there. But already 7 years later, Alexander I ceded the islands to Napoleon following the results of the Treaty of Tilsit.