A new historical account, "The August Coup" by Robert Service, details the events surrounding the 1991 coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev, which ultimately contributed to the rapid collapse of the Soviet Union. Marxist-Leninist rule in Russia, which had endured for 74 years, effectively ended in just three days in August 1991.
The coup was a response from a bureaucracy that recognised systemic issues but lacked solutions. Led by Vladimir Kryuchkov, the head of the KGB, the plot aimed to restore Soviet power. However, the coup leaders reportedly lost faith quickly, with many showing initial hesitation. A press conference given by acting president Gennady Yanayev, who had been drinking, was broadcast live and reportedly made failure certain.
A critical factor in the coup's failure was the plotters' inability to apprehend Boris Yeltsin, the president of the Russian Republic. Yeltsin remained free at the Russian Republic's Moscow headquarters and was able to communicate with allies globally. He delivered a televised speech from a tank, condemning the coup and pledging support for democracy.
Although the coup failed and Gorbachev returned to his desk, the event fatally weakened his position. Four months later, at the end of 1991, Boris Yeltsin reportedly removed him from power.