The Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen and the Soviet Union signed a friendship and cooperation treaty on November 1, 1928.

In October 1962, the Soviet Union became the first country in the World to recognize the Yemen Arab Republic.

On March 21, 1964, the Yemen Arab Republic and the Soviet Union signed a friendship in addition to strengthening economic and military relations between the two countries.

On December 3, 1967 the Soviet Union recognized the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and in 1968 the two countries established strong diplomatic and military relations.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Yemen recognized the Russian Federation on December 30, 1991.