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He agreed to the [[START II treaty]], which reduced the number of [[U.S.]] and Russian [[nuclear weapons]] by approximately 20,000 warheads.  Congruent with this treaty and the spirit of European unification promoted by Gorbachev, the great powers persuaded [[Ukraine]], [[Belarus]] and [[Kazakhstan]] to hand over their nuclear arsenals to Russia, which also succeeded to the Soviet Union's permanent seat on the [[United Nations Security Council]].

He agreed to the [[START II treaty]], which reduced the number of [[U.S.]] and Russian [[nuclear weapons]] by approximately 20,000 warheads.  Congruent with this treaty and the spirit of European unification promoted by Gorbachev, the great powers persuaded [[Ukraine]], [[Belarus]] and [[Kazakhstan]] to hand over their nuclear arsenals to Russia, which also succeeded to the Soviet Union's permanent seat on the [[United Nations Security Council]].

Along with Gorbachev, Yeltsin became one of the most hated rulers in the recent history of Russia, both having approval ratings around 2%.  Average [[life expectancy]] for Russians, especially men, dropped significantly during Yeltsin's first term.  This is partly due to increased abuse of [[alcohol]] (a vice shared by Yeltsin himself - it is reported that his daily intake of vodka was two liters) and other substances, and partly due to the collapse of Russia's system of [[socialized medicine]]. Indeed, Russian [[infrastructure]] across the board was in a state of collapse for several years after Yeltsin took power, complicating the [[privatization]] of the Russian [[economy]] and discouraging much-needed [[investment]].  The average Russian's living standard accordingly did not rise as his life expectancy fell, and he also had to deal with [[unemployment]], unknown in Soviet times.  These factors help explain the increased rate of alcoholism{{fact}}.

Along with Gorbachev, Yeltsin became one of the most hated rulers in the recent history of Russia, both having approval ratings around 2%.  Average [[life expectancy]] for Russians, especially men, dropped significantly during Yeltsin's first term.  This is partly due to increased abuse of [[alcohol]] (a vice shared by Yeltsin himself - it is reported that his daily intake of vodka was two liters) and other substances, and partly due to the collapse of Russia's system of [[socialized medicine]]. Indeed, Russian [[infrastructure]] across the board was in a state of collapse for several years after Yeltsin took power, complicating the [[privatization]] of the Russian [[economy]] and discouraging much-needed [[investment]].  The average Russian's living standard accordingly did not rise as his life expectancy fell, and he also had to deal with [[unemployment]], unknown in Soviet times.  These factors help explain the increased rate of alcoholism{{fact}}. In 1993, he was impeached at two separate times on March 28 and September 22, both for constitutional violations, but impeachment was not adopted either time. 

Due to [[disarmament]] was sharply reduced Russian influence in [[geopolitics]].  The Russian defense budget reached its nadir of $17 billion in 1994.  Consequently, [[corruption]] spread throughout the [[Russian armed forces]].  It is widely believed that some Russian nuclear weapons may have fallen into the hands of [[terrorists]] during this period{{fact}}, although if this is the case, the terrorists' failure to use any since is somewhat inexplicable.  The armed forces had been withdrawn from most [[Warsaw Pact]] countries under Gorbachev, but were compelled to remain in several of the newly independent Soviet republics to protect Russians and other ethnic [[minorities]].  Indeed, Russians were in the minority in some parts of Russia itself, notably [[Chechnya]]{{fact}}, which had declared its independence around the same time as the Baltic states.

Due to [[disarmament]] was sharply reduced Russian influence in [[geopolitics]].  The Russian defense budget reached its nadir of $17 billion in 1994.  Consequently, [[corruption]] spread throughout the [[Russian armed forces]].  It is widely believed that some Russian nuclear weapons may have fallen into the hands of [[terrorists]] during this period{{fact}}, although if this is the case, the terrorists' failure to use any since is somewhat inexplicable.  The armed forces had been withdrawn from most [[Warsaw Pact]] countries under Gorbachev, but were compelled to remain in several of the newly independent Soviet republics to protect Russians and other ethnic [[minorities]].  Indeed, Russians were in the minority in some parts of Russia itself, notably [[Chechnya]]{{fact}}, which had declared its independence around the same time as the Baltic states.

Yeltsin's second term was marked by increasing reliance on his [[prime ministers]] and more troubles with Chechnya.  In the three years following the end of the first war, the government of Chechnya had been unable to establish a monopoly on the use of force, and the region was increasingly dominated by [[jihadists]].  In the summer of 1999, armed groups staged attacks from its territory against neighboring parts of Russia, notably [[Dagestan]].  Any remaining doubts about how to deal with this menace were settled approximately a month after the defeat of the jihadists in Dagestan when apartment buildings in both [[Moscow]] and other parts of Russia were destroyed in early-morning bomb attacks, with heavy civilian loss of life.  Yeltsin was compelled to order a second invasion.

Yeltsin's second term was marked by increasing reliance on his [[prime ministers]] and more troubles with Chechnya.  In the three years following the end of the first war, the government of Chechnya had been unable to establish a monopoly on the use of force, and the region was increasingly dominated by [[jihadists]].  In the summer of 1999, armed groups staged attacks from its territory against neighboring parts of Russia, notably [[Dagestan]].  Any remaining doubts about how to deal with this menace were settled approximately a month after the defeat of the jihadists in Dagestan when apartment buildings in both [[Moscow]] and other parts of Russia were destroyed in early-morning bomb attacks, with heavy civilian loss of life.  Yeltsin was compelled to order a second invasion.

This operation was supervised by Prime Minister [[Vladimir Putin]], who impressed Yeltsin as none of his predecessors had.  Yeltsin's popularity was in free fall by this time as a result of the bombings and of his government's perceived foreign policy failures, particularly the inability to stop [[Bill Clinton]]'s war against [[Yugoslavia]] or get sanctions lifted against [[Iraq]], both countries having come since the end of Communism to be seen as [[allies]] of Russia.  One day, Yeltsin allegedly said to Putin, "Something very important has happened:  People trust you."  Rather than risk a victory by Communists or other [[totalitarians]] in the 2000 election, Yeltsin chose to resign eight years to the day after Gorbachev had, resulting in the elevation of Putin, who had less baggage, to the presidency.  In his farewell speech, Yeltsin apologized to the Russian people "for the dreams you had which never came true."

This operation was supervised by Prime Minister [[Vladimir Putin]], who impressed Yeltsin as none of his predecessors had.  Yeltsin's popularity was in free fall by this time as a result of the bombings and of his government's perceived foreign policy failures, particularly the inability to stop [[Bill Clinton]]'s war against [[Yugoslavia]] or get sanctions lifted against [[Iraq]], both countries having come since the end of Communism to be seen as [[allies]] of Russia.  One day, Yeltsin allegedly said to Putin, "Something very important has happened:  People trust you."  Rather than risk a victory by Communists or other [[totalitarians]] in the 2000 election, Yeltsin chose to resign eight years to the day after Gorbachev had, resulting in the elevation of Putin, who had less baggage, to the presidency.  In his farewell speech, Yeltsin apologized to the Russian people "for the dreams you had which never came true."