The dissolution of the USSR in 1991 caused a significant shift in global power structures, marking the end of the Cold War and the unipolar moment of U.S. hegemony. The collapse led to the emergence of several independent republics, transforming the geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It also resulted in a reevaluation of international relations, as former Soviet states pursued different paths of governance, economy, and alliances. The disintegration challenged existing power dynamics and set the stage for renewed conflicts, NATO expansion, and the rise of new regional powers, signaling a pivotal transition in global politics.