@RedStarRogue
I traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2005 when I was only 17. My history teacher who organized it was 60 by then and had been visiting every year since 1991. He told us stories of the crazy economic situation the country was in back then.
@Doo_Doo_Patrol
The money didn't "disappear"; it has become oligarch yachts.
@yespls6260
I have to say-- Kazakhstan has one of the coolest flags in my eyes. Unique colors and design. Not just boring red, white, and blue like every other boring flag..
@jaker3151
With Russia's vast natural resources and an educated/skilled population there was no reason why Russia could not have become an economic superpower like China. But Putin and the old men in charge simply cannot let go of the old ways and are more focused on maintaining the image of a military superpower. Keeping the wealth amongst the few rather than sharing it and using it to help develop the country. Had Russia become an economic super power, the economy would be more diversified and less dependant on income from oil and gas. In turn the stronger economy would of helped make the military stronger too. I hope one day the Russian people get the government they deserve.
@dnguyen787
Being a big country doesn't always good for people. They should concentrate on how to raise standards of living for people live in it whether big or small.
@thedudeabides2531
20:28: "My generation are told that we don't know what freedom is because we never lived in a country without freedom.... we can't appreciate what freedom means." This is a problem in America, as well.
@HistoryonYouTube
I think this is a very fair and balanced documentary. I was in communist Poland and East Germany in the 1980s and saw Russia in 1992. I have been to Russia several times but if one goes into the countryside then it certainly does not look like a 'super power' rather somewhat behind everyone else, particularly if one compares it to its former country of occupation, Poland.
@captainconcord3473
Provided some interesting insights into developments in the region since the 90's. One thing that always hits me with these types of documentaries is how much I can relate to the people I see living in countries I knew very little about. I see people and families going to work and school, engaged in various projects, trying to improve their communities and just living their lives. It all seems so normal and familiar. Makes me feel connected to all the people on this planet. It's a powerful insight.
@clairehachey2189
Journalism at its absolute best. DW has set the standard for excellence and showing the way it should be done. Much respect to the incredible people behind these amazing documents!
@tajabdullah.malaysia
Ukraine may be thousands of kilometres away from Malaysia but to Malaysians, it is much closer emotionally. A routine Malaysian Airline Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down there on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 on board. That scar is still raw. The World has forgotten about the killings of civilian flight MH17
@ryanfranz6715
52:16 invisible man wearing a suit and top hat just casually walks by 😂
@georgehollingsworth2428
It is worth noting that this documentary was written long before the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it should probably be watched with that in mind.
@patriciapalmer4215
I'm 76 and it feels like I've heard Armenia my whole life from the Turkish genocide of millions to this. Poor Armenia ! It's heartbreaking.
@ciprianp495
They talk about the Russian people in those ex-soviet satellites, but they don't talk about how those Russian people ended up there in the first place. It is a shame that the Russians don't talk about the deportations in Siberia of Romanians/Moldavians, Georgians, Ukrainians etc. History gave you a slap in the face, comrades!
@TheParot161
Excellent documentary. But, what is that walking across the square at 52:16? I genuinely have no idea.
@Alasdair-Morrison
I am certainly not one to watch doc's as often they're boring, and narrated badly. Probably because of the Ukrainian war I watched this right through and found it facinating to learn about Russia and former USSR. Most pleasing aspect of this doc was how well narrated and laid out it is. Brilliant!
@nunyabidness117
My Ukranian friends told me before the end of the fall of the USSR everyone had plenty of money but there was nothing to buy. After the fall everyone's Soviet money was worthless but soon small businesses popped up meaning there was plenty of things to buy but no one had any money.
@CraftyShawn
Insightful documentary
@reorioOrion
51:00 It is not true. The overwhelming majority of citizens of the USSR opposed the collapse of the USSR. On March 17, 1991, on the eve of the collapse, an all-Union referendum on the preservation of the USSR was held in the USSR. The question was: "Do you consider it necessary to preserve the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" 77% of the citizens of the republic answered "YES". This referendum did not suit the traitors - Yeltsin, Kuchma, Kravchuk and others who wanted to divide the legacy of the USSR into their own pockets. The results of the all-Union referendum were ignored. The Constitution of the USSR has been violated. After that, each of the republics held its own referendum. And then, the votes were counted "properly" and the USSR collapsed. There were huge rallies for the defense of the USSR. There was also an attempt to remove Yeltsin - the putsch of the State Emergency Committee and much more. The people did not want collapse, but the "brothers" and "oligarchs" - the bandits (or the elite) who divided the wealth of the USSR among themselves - wanted the collapse
@ak4good