Kaliningrad Region is the westernmost subject of the Russian Federation, situated on the Baltic Sea.

The Teutonic Order conquered the region in the 13th century. In 1454, following a request by Prussians, the territory was incorporated to the Kingdom of Poland by King Casimir IV. In 1525, Grand Master Albert of Brandenburg established himself as ruler of the Duchy of Prussia and Königsberg was the residence of the Duke of Prussia from 1525 until 1701. From 1701 to 1871 the territory belonged to the Kingdom of Prussia and then became part of Germany.

With the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, under the Potsdam Agreement of 1 August 1945, the territory was annexed by the Soviet Union and the southern part was transferred to Poland.
The region is semi-exclave and is surrounded by two European Union and NATO members: Poland to the south and Lithuania to the north and east. The southern part of the province is today part of Poland.

Region population is about 1 Million and roughly half of it lives in its capital Kaliningrad (before 1946 - Königsberg).

All photos have been taken by our cousin Elena Yarosh, who explored the region during the trip from July 4 to July 16, 2024.