GAS INDUSTRY IN SOVIET UNION AND RUSSIA: A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

In order to understand the present situation of the natural gas industry in Russia and the dynamics of its relations with the CIS countries, one shall thoroughly understand the past development of the industry. This paper briefly describes the major milestones of the Soviet gas industry's development, ranging from the early stage of development in the 1940s until Vladimir Putin's rise to power in the year 2000, followed by reforms in the energy sector of the 2000s.The work includes analysis of the exploration of the main gas producing regions, such as Volga- Urals, North Caucasus, Central Asia, as well as their roles in the Uniform Supply System of the USSR and its further development. The research includes data about the main fields, pipelines and routes, contributing to the general understanding of the former Soviet Union's industry composition. The paper is intended to be a helpful overview for further research of the industry.