Russia signals end of Soviet Union

The dissolution of the Soviet Union was already underway when Russia passed the Declaration of State Sovereignty declaring the intention to establish a democratic constitutional state. Russia, Belarus and Ukraine signed the Belavezha Accords dissolving the Soviet Union on 8 December 1991, and on Christmas Day 1991, the Soviet hammer and sickle flag was lowered for the last time over the Kremlin, to be replaced by the Russian tricolour.

​​​​​​​