How the Soviet Union built a global oil empire to challenge the West
This video traces the origins of the Soviet oil industry, examining how it grew from late 19th-century Russian Empire roots into a massive geopolitical tool that rivaled Middle Eastern output and fueled European dependency.
By the early 1960s, the Soviet Union had established itself as the second-largest oil producer globally, second only to the United States. Its production capacity was so immense that it nearly equaled the combined output of the entire Middle East, granting the Communist Party significant leverage over European nations reliant on their energy exports.
The video explores the historical trajectory of this industry, beginning with its foundations in the Russian Empire during the late 1880s. It follows the sector's evolution through the mid-20th century, culminating in its post-World War II ascendancy as a dominant force in international energy politics.
