00:00 The fall of the Soviet Union is discussed, including the tensions between Gorbachev and Yeltsin and Yeltsin's attempt to kill himself.

03:30 Yeltsin's humiliation by Gorbachev leads to his determination for revenge, while economic reforms and political unrest in the other republics contribute to the growing tensions in the Soviet Union.

06:53 The Soviet Union is experiencing economic and political turmoil, with food shortages, rationing, and a sense of confusion among its citizens, while the revelation of the truth about Stalin and the country's history causes offense and disturbance for many.

10:13 The Soviet Union is experiencing economic collapse and political turmoil, with the rise of nationalism and the declaration of sovereignty by various republics, including Russia under Boris Yeltsin, leading to a parallel government system and violent clashes in Vilnius.

13:49 The Soviet Union is experiencing economic collapse and political turmoil, with the rise of nationalism and the declaration of sovereignty by various republics, including Russia under Boris Yeltsin, leading to a parallel government system and violent clashes in Vilnius. There was talk of a potential intervention by the George Bush senior administration with a Marshall plan for the Soviet Union, but it was ultimately rejected, potentially leading to a different outcome for Gorbachev and the Soviet Union. Yeltsin is primarily focused on his rivalry with Gorbachev rather than strategically thinking about Russia's future. Communist hardliners also pose a threat in the background.

17:26 The hardliners in the Soviet Union cut off Gorbachev's telephones and try to force him to resign, but they fail to arrest Yeltsin or take control of communications or the Russian streets, allowing Yeltsin to seize the moment and take possession of the Russian parliament building, the White House, leading to a standoff with the coup plotters.

20:41 Yeltsin gains momentum, bans the Communist Party, and moves towards a market economy, while the various republics, including Ukraine, start to declare their own sovereignty, leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

24:15 The Soviet Union collapses, the Russian Federation is formed, and Putin views it as a geopolitical catastrophe.