The final leader of the Soviet Union was Mikhail Gorbachev. He served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Gorbachev introduced a series of reforms known as perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness), aimed at revitalizing the Soviet system. However, these reforms ultimately led to the loosening of control and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev's leadership marked a significant period of transformation in Soviet history, and he is widely recognized for his role in bringing about the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.