A Boy from Siberia
In a tiny village in Siberia, where snow covered the ground most of the year, lived a young boy named Boris Yeltsin. Born in 1931, little Boris grew up in a simple wooden house with his family. Times were hard, and they didn't have much money, but Boris was a strong and determined child.
Young Boris had to help his family every day. He would chop wood for the fire and carry water from the well. Even when his hands were cold and his feet were tired, he never gave up. His mom and dad taught him that hard work was important.
"Boris," his father would say, "if you want something in life, you must work hard for it."
Boris loved to play with other children in the village. They would have snowball fights in winter and swim in the river during the short summer months. But what Boris enjoyed most was building things. He would stack blocks and stones, making little houses and bridges.
School Days and Dreams
At school, Boris was a good student. He especially liked math and science. His teachers noticed that he was different from other students – he always wanted to learn more and wasn't afraid to ask questions.
"Why does this happen?"
"How does that work?"
"What if we tried something new?"
These were the kinds of questions young Boris would ask. Sometimes his curiosity got him into trouble, but mostly it helped him learn and grow.
Growing Up Strong
As Boris got older, he decided to become an engineer. He wanted to build big things – buildings that would touch the sky! He studied very hard at the Ural Polytechnic Institute, where he also became captain of the volleyball team.
His classmates remember him as someone who:
• Never gave up when things got hard
• Always helped others who needed it
• Wasn't afraid to try new things
• Stood up for what he believed was right
First Steps into Work
After finishing school, Boris began working as a construction engineer. He helped build houses, schools, and factories. He was good at his job because he cared about doing things the right way.
"Every brick matters," he would tell his workers. "We're not just building walls, we're building homes for families."
People started to notice Boris. He was different from other bosses. He would work alongside his team, not just tell them what to do. If there was heavy lifting to be done, Boris would be right there, rolling up his sleeves.
His hard work and honest ways caught the attention of important people. They thought Boris might be good at helping run the government. This was the beginning of a new chapter in his life – one that would change not just his future, but the future of his entire country.
Soon, Boris would start working with the Communist Party, but he wasn't like other party members. He had his own ideas about how things should be done. He believed that regular people deserved to have better lives, and he wasn't afraid to say so.
The little boy from Siberia was growing up to be someone very special indeed. His journey from that small wooden house to becoming an important leader was just beginning, but the lessons he learned in his early years – about hard work, honesty, and standing up for what you believe in – would stay with him forever.
Standing Up for Change
Boris Yeltsin was now working with important people in the Communist Party. But he saw things that made him sad and angry. Many leaders were selfish and didn’t care about regular people.
Speaking Truth to Power
“This is not right!” Boris would say in meetings. “Our people need food in their stores. They need better homes. They need to be free to speak their minds!”
Other leaders didn’t like hearing this. They wanted Boris to be quiet and follow their rules. But Boris remembered what his father taught him about standing up for what’s right.
Breaking Free
In 1987, something big happened. During a very important meeting, Boris stood up in front of everyone. His heart was beating fast, but his voice was strong.
“We cannot continue this way. The Communist Party is not helping our people. I quit!”
Everyone was shocked! No one had ever done anything like this before. Some people thought Boris was very brave. Others thought he was making a big mistake.
The People’s Champion
After leaving the Communist Party, Boris did something different. Instead of talking to important leaders, he started talking to regular people. He would:
• Ride public buses to hear what people needed
• Visit factories to talk with workers
• Walk through neighborhoods to see how families lived
• Listen to everyone's problems and ideas
Fighting for Freedom
Boris started giving speeches in public places. More and more people came to hear him talk. They liked how he said things should change:
“You should be able to choose your leaders!”
“Stores should have enough food for everyone!”
“People should be free to say what they think!”
The old Communist leaders tried to stop Boris. They said mean things about him on TV and in newspapers. They even tried to make him lose his job!
Growing Support
But something amazing was happening. The more the old leaders tried to stop Boris, the more people supported him. They saw him as someone who was brave enough to fight for them.
People would crowd the streets to see him. They would cheer and wave. Some would bring him flowers or try to shake his hand. Boris was becoming more than just a leader – he was becoming a symbol of hope.
Getting Ready for Change
Boris knew that big changes were coming to Russia. The old way of doing things couldn’t last much longer. People wanted freedom. They wanted better lives. And now they had someone who would fight for these things.
Every day, more people joined Boris in his fight for change. They weren’t just following a leader – they were joining a movement. Something big was about to happen in Russia, and Boris Yeltsin would be right at the center of it all.
Days of Revolution
The summer of 1991 was very hot in Moscow. Everyone could feel that something big was about to happen. Boris Yeltsin was now a very important leader. He had won an election to become the president of Russia!
The Big Emergency
One morning, tanks rolled into Moscow! Soldiers were everywhere. The bad guys from the Communist Party said they were now in charge. They put the Soviet leader under arrest in his vacation house!
People were scared. Would the soldiers hurt them? Would they lose their freedom? But Boris wasn’t afraid.
“We must stand up to these bullies! We won’t let them take away our freedom!”
The Tank Man
Boris did something very brave. He went to a big government building called the White House. Lots of people came to protect it. Then Boris did something amazing!
“We will not let them win! Russia must be free!”
People took pictures of Boris on the tank. These pictures went all around the world! Everyone could see how brave he was.
Three Days That Changed Everything
For three days, people stayed in the streets. They weren’t afraid of the tanks anymore. They:
- Brought food and water to share
- Sang songs about freedom
- Made friends with some of the soldiers
- Protected each other
- Showed they wanted a free Russia
Victory for Freedom
The soldiers didn’t want to hurt their own people. Many of them joined the crowds! The bad guys from the Communist Party saw that they couldn’t win. They gave up!
A New Beginning
Boris Yeltsin became the first president of the new, free Russia. It was a very special moment. He said:
“Today, we start building a new country. A country where people can be free. Where children can dream big dreams. Where everyone has a chance to make their lives better.”
• People could vote for their leaders
• They could say what they thought
• They could travel to other countries
• They could start their own businesses
Hard Work Ahead
Boris knew that making a new country wouldn’t be easy. There were lots of problems to fix. But now Russia had something very important – hope!
The people trusted Boris. They knew he was brave enough to stand on a tank for them. Now they would work together to build something new and wonderful.
Money Changes Everything
Boris Yeltsin had a big job to do. Russia needed to change how it worked with money. In the old Soviet days, the government controlled everything. Now, things would be different!
The Big Change
Boris and his team made a plan. They called it “shock therapy.” It wasn’t medicine – it was a way to change things very fast! Some changes were:
- Stores could set their own prices
- People could start their own companies
- Big government factories became private
- Russians could use money from other countries
- Banks could make their own choices
Hard Times for Many People
The changes were very hard for many Russians. Things in stores got very expensive. Some people lost their jobs. Old people who saved money found out it wasn’t worth much anymore.
“We knew it would be hard,” Boris said. “But we must keep going forward. We can’t go back to the old ways.”
New Rich People
Some people got very rich very fast! They bought big factories and companies that used to belong to the government. These new rich people were called “oligarchs.”
Shopping Changes
The stores changed a lot! Before, people had to wait in long lines to buy things. Now there were many new stores with lots of choices. But many things cost too much for regular people to buy.
• More things to buy
• Colorful new products
• No more long lines
• Higher prices
• Foreign foods and clothes
Problems with Money
Russia’s money, called the ruble, became worth less and less. People worried about saving money. Some teachers and workers didn’t get paid for months!
“We are building something new,” Boris told the people. “It takes time to make big changes. We must be patient and strong.”
Help from Other Countries
Other countries tried to help Russia. They sent money and experts. The United States and Europe wanted Russia’s new system to work.
Looking for Better Days
Some things were getting better. Young people started new businesses. Some cities grew bigger and nicer. But many Russians were still waiting for their lives to improve.
Fighting Personal Battles
Being the leader of Russia was very hard for Boris. He had many problems to deal with, both for himself and for his country.
Health Problems
Boris’s heart wasn’t working very well. He had to go to the hospital many times. Sometimes he couldn’t work for days or weeks!
“My body is tired, but my spirit is strong,” Boris told his doctors. “I must keep working for Russia.”
Too Much Drinking
Boris had trouble with drinking too much. Sometimes he would act silly or say strange things. His family worried about him a lot.
Making Friends Around the World
Even with his problems, Boris worked hard to make friends with other countries. He visited many places and met important people:
- Had fun times with Bill Clinton from America
- Danced at parties with other leaders
- Told jokes to make people laugh
- Signed important papers with many countries
- Helped Russia join big world meetings
Family Support
Boris’s family helped him a lot. His daughter Tatyana worked as his helper. She made sure he took his medicine and got enough rest.
• Made him eat healthy food
• Reminded him about medicine
• Helped him work less
• Kept him company
• Protected him from bad news
Fighting in the Government
Even when Boris wasn’t feeling good, he had to deal with fights in the government. Some people didn’t like his ideas and tried to stop him. ️
“We must keep making Russia better,” Boris would say. “Even when it’s hard, we can’t give up.”
Taking Breaks to Get Better
Sometimes Boris had to rest at a special hospital outside Moscow. He would stay there for weeks to get stronger.
Staying Strong
Even though Boris had many problems, he tried to stay strong. He wanted to help Russia become a better place. Many people respected him for not giving up.
A New Chapter for Russia
The time had come for Boris to think about who would lead Russia next. He knew he couldn’t be president forever. His health was getting worse, and Russia needed someone new and strong.
Finding the Next Leader
Boris looked at many people who could be the next president. He wanted someone smart and brave. Someone who could keep making Russia better.
“I found someone special,” Boris told his family. “His name is Vladimir Putin. He will be good for Russia.”
A Big Surprise
On New Year’s Eve in 1999, Boris did something that surprised everyone. He went on TV and said he was ready to stop being president.
Looking Back at Changes
Boris helped change Russia in many big ways:
- Made Russia free from the old Soviet way
- Let people vote for their leaders
- Helped start new businesses
- Made friends with other countries
- Gave people more freedom
What People Remember
Some people loved Boris. Some didn’t like him. But everyone agrees he changed Russia forever.
• Freedom is important
• People should choose their leaders
• Change can be good
• Never give up
• Be brave
The Last Years
After being president, Boris spent time with his family. He wrote books about his life. He watched Russia grow and change.
Boris died in 2007. Many people came to say goodbye. They remembered him as the man who helped make a new Russia. ️
Boris’s Story Lives On
Today, people still talk about Boris Yeltsin. His story teaches us that change is hard but important. That leaders can make mistakes but still do good things. That being brave means standing up for what you believe in.