On 21 August 1991, a dramatic chapter in Soviet history unfolded as a conservative coup, initiated by hardline Communists, sought to seize control of the government and roll back the reforms introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev.
However, the plotters underestimated the resolve of the Russian people and the indomitable spirit of Boris Yeltsin, who emerged as the face of resistance.
Yeltsin, then President of the Russian Federation, famously stood atop a tank in front of the Russian White House, rallying the masses and denouncing the coup as a betrayal of the nation’s future.
His defiance inspired widespread protests, leading to the collapse of the coup within just three days. The failed attempt not only marked the end of Communist dominance but also paved the way for the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union later that year.
