Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, died aged 91 this week. In March 2022, Tom and Dominic recorded a mini-series on Gorbachev, the fall of the Soviet Union and the subsequent rise of Putin. We’ve stitched together the first two episodes from the series into a longer special, which charts Gorbachev’s early life, his vision for the USSR, its subsequent collapse, his relationship with Yeltsin, and how this all gave rise to Putin’s Russia of the present day. So, if you've liked what you've heard and would like to listen to the third and fourth episodes in the series, click on the links below: 161. Yeltsin, Economic Chaos and President Putin - apple.co/3q9ha0s 162. Putin's Russia - apple.co/3cM3mpE Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Email: restishistorypod@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices