What was the first animal that russia sent into space?

The first animal that Russia (then the Soviet Union) sent into space was a dog named Laika.

Laika was launched aboard the Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957, just a month after the launch of Sputnik 1. Sadly, Laika did not survive the mission, as the spacecraft was not designed for re-entry. While the mission was a significant step in space exploration, it also sparked controversy due to the lack of provisions for Laika's survival.