Soviet leaders were the heads of the Soviet Union, a socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. The most notable leaders include Vladimir Lenin, who led the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, and Joseph Stalin, who ruled from the late 1920s until his death in 1953. These leaders played significant roles in shaping the policies and direction of the Soviet state, influencing both domestic and international affairs. After Stalin, leaders like Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev continued to guide the Soviet Union through the Cold War era. Each leader faced unique challenges, including economic issues and political dissent, which ultimately contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.