The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a momentous event, and Moscow's reaction was complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, many in the Soviet leadership were deeply unhappy about the dissolution of the USSR, which had been a superpower for decades. On the other hand, some Russian politicians and intellectuals saw the end of the Soviet Union as an opportunity to build a democratic, market-oriented state.
In the immediate aftermath of the collapse, there was significant political turmoil in Russia and the other former Soviet republics. The Russian government, led by President Boris Yeltsin, struggled to implement economic reforms and establish a new political order. There were also tensions with some of the other former Soviet republics, particularly those with large Russian-speaking populations.
Over time, Moscow's views on the collapse of the Soviet Union have evolved. Today, many Russians view the end of the USSR as a tragic event that has had negative consequences for the country's economy, political stability, and international standing. At the same time, however, there are also many Russians who believe that the collapse was necessary in order to bring about political and economic reform.