Is Kaliningrad still part of Russia? Why is Kaliningrad still part of Russia?

Kaliningrad, formerly known as Königsberg, was a part of Germany until the Red Army liberated it from the Nazis in 1945.

Kaliningrad is now part of Russia thanks to Joseph Stalin’s ruthlessness, who saw a chance to punish Germany for its misdeeds during WWII while also gaining a valuable port.

The city and ports are now a Russian Federation exclave, separated from the rest of Russia by terrain.

When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, the Kaliningrad Oblast lost its overland connections to Russia, as Lithuania gained its independence and Poland broke free from the Soviet orbit. As Konigsberg was once a German exclave, Kaliningrad became a Russian one.

However, some of the original Konigsberg has remained. The Konigsberg Cathedral has been restored to its pre-World War II appearance and now accommodates Orthodox and Lutheran services as well as concerts.

Although the Kaliningrad oblast is bordered by Poland and Lithuania, and the area was historically German, none of the three states has attempted to claim the territory.