The dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 21, 1991, marked the end of a superpower that had dominated global politics for much of the 20th century. Eleven former Soviet republics signed the Alma-Ata Protocol, which confirmed the USSR’s disbanding and acknowledged its member states’ independence. This agreement followed years of political and economic turmoil that had weakened the Soviet regime.

Fun Facts:

• Representatives of 11 Soviet republics signed the Alma-Ata Protocol, which formally ended the Soviet Union and established the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
• The last Soviet leader, Gorbachev, introduced reforms like glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), which inadvertently accelerated the USSR’s collapse.
• Gorbachev’s Resignation: Mikhail Gorbachev officially resigned as President of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991, just days after the Alma-Ata Protocol was signed.
• The dissolution led to the emergence of 15 independent countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
• The fall of the Soviet Union officially ended decades of tension and rivalry between the USSR and the United States.
• On Christmas Day, the Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin for the last time, replaced by the Russian tricolor.
• A Nuclear Legacy: The newly independent states inherited thousands of nuclear weapons, raising global security concerns.
• The Baltic States Led the Way: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were among the first to declare independence, inspiring other republics to do the same.
• Name Change for Russia: After the dissolution, Russia was officially renamed the Russian Federation.