The Collapse of the Soviet Union: End of an Empire

On December 25, 1991, Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union, resigned as president of the Communist empire, turning power over to the new commonwealth that replaced it. This event marked the official end of the Cold War which had imperiled the world for over four decades. AP was there to provide a unique look at the story through the eyes of Associated Press reporters and photographers.