The Latest Breaking News from USSR

The former world top-10 grandmaster edged out his rivals by half a point after a tense final round at Assisi, concluding a year where England 50+ and 65+ players also won two world and one European team championships

The illustrious ballet dancer on natural insecurity, his defection from the USSR to Canada – and how his body feels these days

The Venera 4 mission sent a probe into Venus' atmosphere, but played loose with whether or not it actually survived a landing.

Earth’s first-ever artificial satellite Sputnik launched on October 4, 1957. In that moment, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union transformed into a race to dominate not only Earth but also space.

Before February 24, Putin had reached the peak of his power over the ex-USSR – but then Ukraine happened.

During the second world war there were notable exceptions to the at times slavish patriotic devotion the press showed to the government line. Weekly political titles such as New Statesman and Nation, the Spectator and the Economist challenged government policy more consistently than daily newspapers.

Mourners have gathered in Moscow for the funeral of Mikhail Gobrachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union.Mr Gorbachev, who was credited with helping to bring an end to the Cold War and opening up the former USSR, died on Tuesday at the age of 91.On Saturday, his coffin was…

"I like Mr. Gorbachev," British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said in 1984. "We can do business together."

Russian President Vladimir Putin famously described the Soviet Union’s collapse as the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.” On Wednesday, he marked Mikhail Gorbachev’s death with only muted praise for the leader who oversaw the Communist state’s demise.