<P> With the rise of strong nationalist and separatist movements inside the union republics , Gorbachev tried to avert a dissolution of the Soviet Union in the post-Cold War era . A March 1991 referendum , boycotted by some republics , resulted in a majority of participating citizens voting in favor of preserving the union as a renewed federation . Gorbachev 's power was greatly diminished after Russian President Boris Yeltsin played a high - profile role in facing down an abortive August 1991 coup d'état attempted by Communist Party hardliners . On 25 December 1991 , Gorbachev resigned and the remaining twelve constituent republics emerged as independent post-Soviet states . The Russian Federation -- formerly the Russian SFSR -- assumed the Soviet Union 's rights and obligations and is recognized as the successor state of the Soviet Union . In summing up the international ramifications of these events , Vladislav Zubok stated : `` The collapse of the Soviet empire was an event of epochal geopolitical , military , ideological and economic significance . '' </P>
<P> With the rise of strong nationalist and separatist movements inside the union republics , Gorbachev tried to avert a dissolution of the Soviet Union in the post-Cold War era . A March 1991 referendum , boycotted by some republics , resulted in a majority of participating citizens voting in favor of preserving the union as a renewed federation . Gorbachev 's power was greatly diminished after Russian President Boris Yeltsin played a high - profile role in facing down an abortive August 1991 coup d'état attempted by Communist Party hardliners . On 25 December 1991 , Gorbachev resigned and the remaining twelve constituent republics emerged as independent post-Soviet states . The Russian Federation -- formerly the Russian SFSR -- assumed the Soviet Union 's rights and obligations and is recognized as the successor state of the Soviet Union . In summing up the international ramifications of these events , Vladislav Zubok stated : `` The collapse of the Soviet empire was an event of epochal geopolitical , military , ideological and economic significance . '' </P>
when did they stop calling russia the soviet union
when did they stop calling russia the soviet union
1991
1991