On August 22, 1991, a coup detat attempt was launched in the Soviet Union by hardline members of the Communist Party. The coup sought to prevent the dissolution of the Soviet Union and preserve the old regime. While the coup failed, it led to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of its constituent republics. The event marked the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new geopolitical era. The coup is considered a key turning point in world history.