The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was the first communist state in history. The decision to create it was taken on 30 December 1922.
On 12 February 1833, Aleksander Czekanowski was born in Krzemieniec in Volhynia. He trained as a geologist, but was not given the freedom to pursue his career as he was sent to Siberia at the age of 30 for taking part in the January Uprising.