In 1918, the early Soviet government issued a decree mandating the full adoption of the metric system across Russia to modernize industry, science, and administration. This aligned the new state with international standards. Metric standardization facilitated technological and economic progress while symbolizing revolutionary modernization in cultural narratives.

The Russian adoption of the metric system in 1918 aligned with revolutionary modernization, influencing Soviet poetry and literature. Poets like Anna Akhmatova and Vladimir Mayakovsky embraced these changes, reflecting the spirit of progress and transformation in their works.