One of the most viral news events in Russia was the Chelyabinsk meteor explosion on February 15, 2013. The incident captured global attention when a massive fireball streaked across the sky above the city of Chelyabinsk in the Ural Mountains.

The meteor entered Earth's atmosphere at tremendous speed, producing a brilliant flash that briefly became brighter than the Sun. Residents across the region witnessed the spectacular sight as the object raced across the morning sky.

Moments later, a powerful shockwave struck the city, shattering windows, damaging buildings, and injuring more than a thousand people, most of whom were hurt by flying glass.

What made the event especially viral was the large amount of video footage captured by dashboard cameras. Since dashcams were widely used in Russia, dozens of recordings showed the meteor from different angles, creating one of the most documented astronomical events in history.

The videos quickly spread across social media and news networks, attracting millions of views worldwide. Scientists later estimated that the meteor was approximately 20 meters (66 feet) wide before entering the atmosphere.

The Chelyabinsk meteor became the largest known object to strike Earth's atmosphere since the Tunguska event of 1908, making it a significant event for both science and public interest.

Today, the Chelyabinsk meteor remains one of Russia's most memorable viral news stories, remembered for its dramatic footage, scientific importance, and the reminder that space can still surprise humanity.