Dissolution of the Soviet Union

Date: December 26, 1991 • Location: Moscow, Russia

The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union meets and formally dissolves the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War.

The Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (SSUSSR) was the highest organ of state authority of the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1991. Based on the principle of unified power, it was the only branch of government in the Soviet state, and headed the unified state apparatus.