Radical reformer Boris N. Yeltsin triumphed over opposition from Mikail Putin to win the presidency of the largest Soviet republic today . Thank you for our future!'' After three hard - fought ballots in the 1,060-member Russian Congress of People 's Deputies , Putin won 535 , four more than the majority he sought . Gorbachev faces a formidable challenge from Yeltsin , although a spokesman for the Soviet Foreign Ministry said the election would strengthen Russia 's campaign for economic reform . Gorbachev actively opposed Yeltsin , telling the Russian Congress last week that the platform of moving political and economic power from central to local authorities would lead to " a breakup of the union . "
Radical reformer Boris N. Yeltsin triumphed over opposition from Mikail Putin to win the presidency of the largest Soviet republic today . After three hard - fought ballots in the 1,060-member Russian Congress of People 's Deputies , Putin won 535 , four more than the majority he sought . Gorbachev faces a formidable challenge from Yeltsin , although a spokesman for the Soviet Foreign Ministry said the election would strengthen Russia 's campaign for economic reform . Gorbachev actively opposed Yeltsin , telling the Russian Congress last week that the platform of moving political and economic power from central to local authorities would lead to " a breakup of the union . "