On December 26, 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), commonly referred to as the Soviet Union, officially dissolved.

The Soviet Union formed in December 1922 after emerging from the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Soviet Union quickly grew in power, land mass, and military strength during the 20th century.

By 1956, the Soviet Union grew to 15 separate Soviet Socialist Republics, called SSRs, including: (1) Armenia, (2) Azerbaijan, (3) Byelorussia, (4) Estonia, (5) Georgia, (6) Kazakh, (7) Kirghiz, (8) Latvia, (9) Lithuania, (10) Moldavia, (11) Russia, (12) Tajik, (13) Turkmen, (14) Ukrain, and (15) and Uzbek. At that time, the Soviet Union constituted the largest country in the world where its landmass encompassed eleven time zones and bordered six Asian and six European countries.

From 1945 until 1991, the United States and the Soviet Union were the world’s two main superpowers that dominated nearly all global issues, including economic development, military operations, foreign policy, space exploration, nuclear arms development, etc. During this period, commonly referred to as the Cold War, both countries opposed each other based largely on political views. The U.S. promoted an open market of capitalism and democracy, while the Soviet Union espoused a totalitarian regime based on communism. There seemed to be no end in sight for the Cold War.

Then, in 1991, the world watched in wonder as the Soviet Union began to collapse into fifteen separate countries. In particular, Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union’s leader, introduced two major policy reforms called (i) glasnost, i.e. freedom of speech and (ii) perestroika, i.e. rebuilding. These reforms, coupled with the Soviet Union’s deep economic and political problems led to a coup d'etat in August 1991 where Gorbachev was kidnapped. The Soviet Union quickly began to disintegrate as protestors lined the streets, and the military broke orders by failing to fire on its own people.

Then, on this day, December 26, 1991, the Soviet Union officially collapsed. The collapse was felt around the world and was hailed as a triumph for democracy over socialism. The Cold War also officially came to an end and the United States celebrated the victory.

To this day, the breakup of the former Soviet Union has transformed world politics, economic and military alliances, and many other issues throughout the world.