Russia as we know it today would not exist without the much-needed early Swedish viking rule. If that didn't happen, their society would've developed very differently, and thus all of history would be different.
In 862, the Slavs were exhausted by uninterrupted inter-tribal wars, and they made the following proposal to the Rus people (from Sweden): "Our country is rich and immense, but it is filled with disorder and chaos. Come and govern us, and reign over us".
The Swedish Rus people responded, and came. Rurik became governor of Novgorod, Sineus settled down in Beloozerg, and Truvor in Izborsk. Two years later Sineus and Truvor both died and Rurik extended his rule over the whole country.
Later, two of his lieutenants went to Kiev, nearly six hundred miles away, and conquered it.
In 882 Oleg, Rurik's successor, came to Kiev to continue the rule of the lands.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleg_of_Novgorod
Successfully establishing his own leadership over numerous towns and tribes, Oleg strengthened considerably the new foundations for the Russian State and became its master. The new capital, Kiev, became one of the richest towns in Europe. This became a ruling dynasty in Russia for more than 700 years.
---
a quick explanation of the "Rus" name:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roslagen
"Swedes from the Roslagen area, that is "the people of Ros", gave name to the Rus' people, and through that to the state of Russia."