The Soviet Union officially dissolved on December 26, 1991. This marked the end of a significant chapter in world history, culminating from several factors, including economic issues, political reform movements, and nationalist sentiments within Soviet republics. The dissolution resulted in the emergence of 15 independent republics, including Russia, Ukraine, and the Baltic states. This transformation also contributed to the end of the Cold War, changing the geopolitical landscape as former Soviet states sought to establish their own identities and governance outside the Cold War paradigm.