{i} official name of the former Soviet Union (union of 15 republics in eastern Europe and northern Asia which was formed in 1922 and dissolved in 1991)
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used for information dated before 25 December 1991
former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics restructured to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia an others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991