1989 in the Soviet Union

none 1989 The following lists events that happened during 1989 in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Incumbents General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union — Mikhail Gorbachev Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union — Mikhail Gorbachev Premier of the Soviet Union — Nikolai Ryzhkov Events Whole Year: Revolutions of 1989 January to February 15 — Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.2023-10-18 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Summary & Facts Britannica https://www.britannica.com/event/Soviet-invasion-of-Afghanistan 2023-11-04 www.britannica.com en February 6 — Negotiations between the Polish government and the union ‘Solidarity’ opened. February 24 — Singing Revolution: After 44 years, the Estonian flag is raised at Pikk Hermann tower in Tallinn.1989-02-25 ESTONIAN FLAG FLIES ON INDEPENDENCE DAY https://www.deseret.com/1989/2/25/18796357/estonian-flag-flies-on-independence-day/ 2025-07-18 Deseret News en March 9 — Revolutions of 1989: The Soviet Union submits to the jurisdiction of the World Court.Lewis Paul 1989-03-09 SOVIETS TO ACCEPT WORLD COURT ROLE IN HUMAN RIGHTS https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/09/world/soviets-to-accept-world-court-role-in-human-rights.html 2025-07-18 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 March 16 — The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union approves agricultural reforms allowing farmers the right to lease state-owned farms for life.Keller Bill 1989-03-17 Soviets to Allow Private Farmers To Lease State Land for a Lifetime https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/17/world/soviets-to-allow-private-farmers-to-lease-state-land-for-a-lifetime.html 2025-07-18 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 March 26 — 1989 Soviet Union legislative election: first contested elections in Soviet History.1989-03-27 1989: Millions of Russians go to the polls en-GB https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/27/newsid_4243000/4243313.stm BBC News 2023-11-04 April 7 — The Soviet submarine K-278 Komsomolets sinks in the Barents Sea, killing 41.Nilsen Thomas 2019-04-06 Two nuclear warheads still on Arctic seabed 30 years after Komsomolets disaster https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/two-nuclear-warheads-still-on-arctic-seabed-30-years-after-komsomolets-disaster/156970 2025-07-18 www.thebarentsobserver.com en-GB April 9 — April 9 tragedy; a pro-independence demonstration in Tbilisi was put down by Soviet authorities, resulting in the deaths of 21 people.The April 9 tragedy (Tbilisi Massacre) – Global History Lab 2021 https://onlineprinceton.princeton.edu/gallerytool/ghl2021/the-april-9-tragedy-tbilisi-massacre/ 2023-11-04 en-US May 3 — The first McDonald's restaurant in the Soviet Union begins construction in Moscow. May 14 — Mikhail Gorbachev visits China, ending the Sino-Soviet split.Soviet leader Gorbachev visited China https://www.ourchinastory.com/en/14768/Soviet%20leader%20Gorbachev%20visited%20China 2025-07-18 www.ourchinastory.com May 18 — Lithuania declares sovereignty over all of its territory. May 25 — Gorbachev becomes Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. June 4 — Ufa train disaster, a gas pipe explosion kills hundreds.Times The Moscow 2019-06-04 On This Day: Ufa Train Disaster https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/06/04/on-this-day-ufa-train-disaster-a65865 2025-07-18 The Moscow Times en July 10 — 300,000 Siberian coal miners go on strike, demanding better living conditions and less bureaucracy.Clines Francis X. 1989-07-20 Some of Siberia's Miners Return; Gorbachev Calls Strike a Crisis https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/20/world/some-of-siberia-s-miners-return-gorbachev-calls-strike-a-crisis.html 2025-07-18 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 July 17 — 1989 Soviet miners' strike: The strike spreads to Ukraine.Parks Michael 1989-07-18 Soviet Miners' Strike Spreads to Ukraine https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-18-mn-4078-story.html 2025-07-18 Los Angeles Times en-US August 8 — The Ministry of Gas Industry changes Gazprom, an energy production and sales organization to a state-run enterprise. August 23 — Two million people in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania join hands to form the Baltic Way in the Singing Revolution. September 14 — An agreement of co-operation between Leningrad Oblast of the Soviet Union and Nordland County of Norway was signed in Leningrad. September 24 — Lithuania declares 1940 annexation by the Soviet Union to be null and void.29. Soviet Union/Lithuania (1940-1991) https://uca.edu/politicalscience/home/research-projects/dadm-project/europerussiacentral-asia-region/soviet-unionlithuania-1940-1991/ 2023-11-04 uca.edu en-US October 9 — Voronezh UFO incidentFein Esther B. 1989-10-11 U.F.O. Landing Is Fact, Not Fantasy, the Russians Insist https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/11/world/ufo-landing-is-fact-not-fantasy-the-russians-insist.html 2025-07-18 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 November 9 — Soviet power in Eastern Europe collapses with the Fall of the Berlin Wall.2019-11-05 Fall of Berlin Wall: How 1989 reshaped the modern world en-GB BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50013048 2023-11-07 November 28 — Communist Party of Czechoslovakia announces the end of its monopoly of power, in the Velvet Revolution. December 1 — In a meeting with Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev pledges greater religious freedom for Soviet citizens.Ostling Richard N. 1989-12-04 Religion: Cross Meets Kremlin: Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II https://time.com/archive/6703996/religion-cross-meets-kremlin-gorbachev-and-pope-john-paul-ii/ 2025-07-18 TIME en December 7 — The Lithuanian parliament announces the end of the political monopoly of the Communist Party of Lithuania, in the Singing Revolution. December 25 — Romanian leader Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife are captured and executed in the Romanian revolution. Births January 14 — Inna Afinogenova, journalist January 23 — Arzu Aliyeva, Azerbaijani public figure who is the younger daughter of Ilham Aliyev January 31 — Rafael Akhmetov, Russian ice hockey player February 12 — Rauf Aliyev, Azerbaijani international footballer February 14 — Bobirjon Akbarov, Uzbekistani footballer February 17 — Azat Bayryev, football player February 28 — Tigean Avinyan, 60th Mayor of Yerevan April 6 — Ulugbek Alimov, Uzbekistani weightlifter May 13 — Roman Amirkhanov, Russian professional footballer May 26 — Tulabek Akramov, Uzbekistani sports administrator July 3 — Ilya Antonovsky, Russian professional ice hockey defenceman July 4 — Vyacheslav Andryushchenko, Belarusian ice hockey player June 12 — Kirill Akilov, Russian football player July 13 — Shamil Alimagomayev, Russian football midfielder July 18 — Semyon Antonov, Russian professional basketball player July 19 — Sergei Andronov, Russian professional ice hockey player July 21 — Sana Anarkulova, Kazakhstani volleyball player September 1 — Rahid Amirguliyev, Azerbaijani footballer September 5 — Kachorovska Alina, Ukrainian designer of shoes and accessories September 21 — Astemir Apanasov, Circassian singer October 1 — Stanislav Aseyev, Ukrainian writer and journalist October 9 — Georgy Alburov, Russian political and social activist, journalist and blogger October 17 — Vyacheslav Akimov, Ukrainian football midfielder October 21 — Oleg Akkuratov, Russian pianist, jazz improviser and singer October 28 — Alan Alborov, Russian professional football player November 5 — Zhannat Aitenova, Kazakhstani handball player November 14 — Hasan Aliyev, Azerbaijani World and European champion Greco-Roman wrestler November 29 — Natalya Asanova, Uzbekistani athlete December 3 — Vladislavs Agurjanovs, Latvian professional table tennis player Deaths January January 3 — Sergei Sobolev, mathematician (b. 1908) January 10 — Valentin Glushko, engineer, program manager of the Soviet space program (b. 1908) January 24 — Sasha Putrya, Ukrainian artist (b. 1977) January 27 — Vasily Konovalenko, artist (b. 1929) February February 2 — Yuri Bogatyryov, actor (b. 1947) February 7 — Simon Virsaladze, ballet, film and opera designer (b. 1909) February 20 — Aleksandr Medvedkin, film director (b. 1900) February 21 — Otar Taktakishvili, Georgian composer and conductor (b. 1924) March March 3 — Vytautas Viciulis, Lithuanian painter (b. 1951) March 4 — Victor Nikiforov, ice hockey player and Olympic gold medalist (b. 1931) March 8 — Elisaveta Bykova, chess player and dual Women's World Chess Champion (b. 1913) March 26 — Maris Liepa, Latvian ballet dancer (b. 1936) March 29 — Aleksandr Prokopenko, football player (b. 1953) April April 10 — Nikolai Grinko, actor (b. 1920) April 20 — Johan Eichfeld, biologist and politician (b. 1893) April 22 — Dmitry Selivanov, rock singer (b. 1964) May May 2 — Veniamin Kaverin, writer and dramatist (b. 1902) May 4 — Lydia Pasternak Slater, research chemist and poet (b. 1902) May 8 — Hendrik Allik, Estonian politician (b. 1901) May 14 — Nikifor Kalchenko, politician (b. 1906) May 23 — Georgy Tovstonogov, theatre director (b. 1915) May 27 — Arseny Tarkovsky, poet and translator (b. 1907) June June 9 Rashid Behbudov, singer and actor (b. 1915) Vladimir Kasatonov, military leader and fleet admiral (b. 1910) Piotr Vasiliev, realist painter (b. 1909) June 10 — Suleyman Rustam, poet, playwright and translator (b. 1906) June 13 — Eduard Päll, politician, linguist and writer (b. 1903) June 19 Betti Alver, Estonian poet (b. 1906) Yevgeny Kabanov, Naval Aviation major general (b. 1918) Andrey Prokofyev, sprinter and Olympic gold medalist (b. 1959) June 21 — Aleksandr Safronov, speed skater and Olympian (b. 1952) June 22 — Glenn Michael Souther, American sailor who turned Soviet intelligence officer (b. 1957) June 30 — Rostislav Plyatt, stage and film actor (b. 1908) July July 1 — Victor Nekipelov, poet and writer (b. 1928) July 2 — Andrei Gromyko, politician and diplomat, 9th Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union (b. 1909) July 4 — Leyla Mammadbeyova, first Azerbaijani female aviator (b. 1909) August August 25 — Yan Frankel, composer and performer (b. 1920) September September 7 — Valery Goborov, basketball player and Olympic gold medalist (b. 1966) October October 13 — Merab Kostava, Georgian dissident, musician and poet (b. 1939) October 14 — Klavdiya Mayuchaya, javelin thrower and European champion (b. 1918) October 15 — Tadevos Hakobyan, Armenian historian and geographer (b. 1917) October 17 — Mark Krein, mathematician (b. 1907) October 28 — Yuliya Solntseva, actress and film director (b. 1901) November November 1 — Nurtas Undasynov, 3rd Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (b. 1904) November 7 — Andrey Borovykh, World War II flying ace and twice Hero of the Soviet Union (b. 1921) November 14 — Samand Siabandov, writer, soldier and politician (b. 1909) November 22 — Shamil Serikov, wrestler and Olympic gold medalist (b. 1956) November 28 — Georgy Ilivitsky, chess master (b. 1921) November 29 — Natan Eidelman, author and historian (b. 1930) December December 1 — Nikolai Patolichev, 11th Minister of Foreign Trade of the Soviet Union (b. 1908) December 3 — Alexander Obukhov, physicist and applied mathematician (b. 1918) December 5 — Sofiya Kalistratova, lawyer and human rights activist (b. 1907) December 7 — Vadim Spiridonov, film actor and director (b. 1944) December 8 — Mykola Livytskyi, Ukrainian politician, prime minister and president of the Ukrainian People's Republic in-exile (b. 1907) December 14 Ants Eskola, actor (b. 1908) Andrei Sakharov, nuclear physicist, dissident, human rights activist and Nobel laureate in Physics, dilated cardiomyopathy (b. 1921) December 19 — Kirill Mazurov, 14th First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union (b. 1914) December 28 — Pavel Kurochkin, army general (b. 1900) References See also 1989 in fine arts of the Soviet Union List of Soviet films of 1980-91 1989 in 1989 Category:1980s in the Soviet Union Category:Years in the Soviet Union Soviet Union Soviet Union Soviet Union