Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as President of the Soviet Union (the union itself is dissolved the next day). Ukraine's referendum is finalized and Ukraine officially leaves the Soviet Union.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was a Soviet and Russian politician who served as the last leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to the country's dissolution in 1991. He served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 and additionally as head of…

President of the Soviet Union

Head of state of the USSR in 1990–91; only held by Mikhail Gorbachev

The president of the Soviet Union, officially the president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, abbreviated as president of the USSR, was the executive head of state of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 15 March 1990 to 25 December 1991.

Dissolution of the Soviet Union

1988–1991 breakup of sovereign state

The Soviet Union was formally dissolved as a sovereign state and subject of international law on 26 December 1991 by Declaration No. 142-N of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. It also brought an end to the Soviet Union's federal government…

1991 Ukrainian independence referendum

A referendum on the Act of Declaration of Independence was held in Ukraine on 1 December 1991. An overwhelming majority of 92% of voters approved the declaration of independence made by the Verkhovna Rada on 24 August 1991. The public vote was held in response to the failed…

December 25

Day of the year

December 25 is the 359th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; six days remain until the end of the year.