The Soviet Union dissolved in December 1991 after a failed hardline coup that August against Mikhail Gorbachev accelerated the independence movements of its constituent republics. Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus founded the Commonwealth of Independent States earlier that December, and Gorbachev resigned as Soviet president on 25 December 1991, with the Supreme Soviet formally dissolving the union the next day, ending 74 years of Communist Party rule that had begun with the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
Facts
Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
1. Dissolution of the Soviet Union (U.S. Department of State)
U.S. Department of State, Office of the HistorianCollapse of the Soviet Union milestone summaryQuote, Collapse of the Soviet Union milestone summary
On December 25, 1991, the Soviet hammer and sickle flag lowered for the last time over the Kremlin, thereafter replaced by the Russian tricolor.
1. Dissolution of the Soviet Union (U.S. Department of State)
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historianclosing sectionQuote, closing section
On December 25, 1991, the Soviet hammer and sickle flag lowered for the last time over the Kremlin, thereafter replaced by the Russian tricolor.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.