Russian Civil War

With the end of Russian monarchy in 1917, a provisional government was set up in March. For earlier Russian issues, see: Russian Empire.

Provisional government

 * In March 1917, under the Socialist provisional government, previous designs were released as imperfs, again with varnish lozenges.
 * Perfed ruble values were also issued using previous designs, now with varnish lozenges.
 * After the October Revolution, by November, the government collapsed and the Bolsheviks took over.

 File:Russian prov govt15k.jpg|15 kopeck value. File:Russia prov govt ground inv.jpg|1 ruble, groundwork inverted. 

РСфСР
The Bolshevik Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (RSFSR or РСфСР) took power with opposition arising around Russia.  File:Russia chaincut.jpg|1918 Socialist Republic issue. 
 * Its first issue was released in 1918, inscribed РОССІЯ. However, with ongoing warfare, no stamps would be printed for four years. Meanwhile, old postage stamps and revenue stamps were used.
 * Byelorussia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgizstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine were left to handle their own postal systems.

Postal-fiscals
During 1918-22, revenue stamps were authorized for use as postage. With hyperinflation beginning in 1920, these were sold for ever-increasing amounts until gold currency stamps were issued.

 File:Russia postal fiscal 1k.jpg|Postal savings stamp as postage. File:Russia Postal savings.jpg|Postal savings stamp as postage. File:Russia control stamp.jpg|Control (revenue) stamp usable for postage. 

1921 РСфСР issues onward
 File:Russia Fed 5k.jpg|1922 5k 5th anniversary of the October Revolution. File:Russia fed semipostal.jpg|1922 100+100 ruble semipostal overprinted "for the hungry". File:Russia fe semi 2.jpg|1922 2k Philately for Children semipostal. File:Russia 30R star.jpg|1922-23 30r star surcharge. File:Russia semi B.jpg|1922 (20+5r) semipostal inscribed "for the hungry". File:Russia first air.jpg|The first airmail (1922). File:Russia official air.jpg|1922 Airmail official. 

Anti-Bolshevik forces
A number of armies opposed the Bolsheviks, or Reds, and are lumped together as the Whites. They were from different political persuasions and were not always cooperative. Add in armies from Austria-Hungary, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, the United States and more with varying degrees of participation.
 * Czech Legion
 * Northern Army
 * Northwestern Army
 * Siberia
 * Western Army

 . 

There are also a number of independent small regions that issued their own local stamps c.1920, typically surcharging Russian stamps in various styles.

In January 1923, the Soviet Union was formed by the РСфСР, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Transcaucasian Federated Republic and other states/regions.