Russia is a country that always strives to become an empire, but it can only remain one for limited periods before collapsing—and rises again. Much like a famous Russian roly-poly doll that is never stable yet always strives for an upright position. Russian Empire, which was one of the strongest in nineteenth century, collapsed in February of 1917 and became a state for a brief period. By October of the same year, another empire emerged—the Soviet UnionSoviet Union, or USSR. With a different façade, new actors, and revised ideas, it was still the same empire at its core. It became one of the two world superpowers and collapsed in 1991. There are two reasons laying in foundation of these cycles: governance model and cultural code. This chapter focuses on the fall of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union while also offering a broader perspective on the historical cycles of rise, collapse, and revival that define the Russian state, providing essential insights into understanding modern Russia.