THE SOVIET Union was a brutal regime fronted by dangerous, power-hungry madmen who ruled with a vice-like grip. Sound familiar?

Vladimir Putin has consistently expressed his nostalgia for the Soviet era, but has recently moved from mere reminiscence to actively promoting a full-scale USSR revival agenda.

The despot is painting every part of Russia’s society in Soviet colours – from erecting Stalin statues to cosplaying the Red Army.

Most alarmingly, his stooges have been sewing doubt that the USSR ever dissolved in the first place.

This week, Anton Kobiakov, a Kremlin advisor, insisted that the Soviet Union “still legally exists”.

Another official chimed in yesterday to say the Kremlin was prepared to act on the “possible illegality” – whatever that could mean.

This narrative has festered for some time, but has been intensified since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine used to be part of the USSR, so arguing the power never ceased to exist offers another excuse for its invasion to feed the Russian people.

Putin previously called the collapse of the USSR “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century” – and is on a mission to restore its might.

Across Russia, statues of former Soviet leaders are being erected to serve as tangible symbols of the days of past glory, prior to the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991.

This week, a life-sized statue of Joseph Stalin appeared in a busy metro station in Moscow – to the horror many modern Russians.

Stalin, responsible for as many as 10 million deaths during his brutal regime from 1924 to 1952, was later condemned by Khrushchev, a subsequent prime minister, as a tyrant and mass killer.

But being a despot and mass murderer is apparently a green flag in Vlad’s book.

Earlier this month, a bronze Stalin bust also appeared in a northwestern village, as well as an incendiary monument dedicated to him in a Ukrainian city invaded by Russia.

A local Communist Party cheese unveiling the bust said: “It’s important for young people and for the older generation to recognise the people who made our country a great power.

“Stalin today is a symbol of victory that no one will ever be able to erase from history.”

There are now over 100 Stalin replicas lurking around Russia – up from only a handful when Putin took charge.

Accompanying the monument in Melitopol, Ukraine, a plaque reads: “To the organizer and inspirer of the victory of the Soviet people over the Nazi invaders, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin, from grateful descendants.”

It’s true that USSR forces played a role in defeating the Nazis in World War Two – but Putin has corrupted the history and exploited it for his own gain.

On May 9 this year, Moscow hosted a Victory Day parade to celebrate 80 years since the end of WW2, attended by sympathetic leaders from the likes of China, Brazil and Slovakia.

During his monologue, Putin harked back to the USSR and claimed it had been the most important force in defeating the Nazis.

The Kremlin has lied to its people that Nazism is rising again in Ukraine, and uses that to justify the illegal invasion of its neighbour.

Putin is trying to harvest the national spirit whipped up by the remembrance of WW2 and channel it into support for his land grabbing.

The Victory Day parade was also a chance for Russia’s soldiers to dust-off their Red Army costumes.

Thousands of troops marched around Moscow’s Red Square to a thunderous brass band, followed by a train of enormous nukes and heavy weaponry trundling through.

In the midst of the pomp, a group of young cadets unfurled a giant replica of the Soviet hammer-and-sickle flag – literally putting the ideology in the hands of the next generation.

Putin took the mic to claim that “peace and justice are on our side,” and that the whole of Russia is united behind the war in Ukraine.

He said: “The whole country, society and people support the participants of the special military operation.

“We are proud of their bravery and determination, of the fortitude that has always brought us only victory.”

Then, in a deliberate dig at Trump, he declared: “We won both wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance.”

Russia expert Stephen Hall told The Sun: “Russia is trying to highlight they’re not isolated, that it’s business as usual and that they have the capacity to show military force.

“But we have to remember that a lot of this is for show, and also that this is the 80th anniversary of a celebration that is very important to Vladimir Putin.”

BREAKING AWAY

Experts have explained that Putin feels he is losing his influence over orbital countries which used to be part of the USSR – hence he is so keen to restore it.

Dr Bininachvili, an expert on Central Asia, told The Sun about one of those – Kazakhstan.

He said: “The President has taken a stance opposite Russia, and openly challenges Moscow.

“Kazakhstan wants to stay in line with the UN, in line with international law, which is seen as a direct challenge to Moscow.

He cited a meeting between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan where both presidents opted to speak in their native tongue – despite both leaders knowing the Russian language.

This action sent a strong signal to Moscow, as two of their closest allies and ex-Soviet states put their foot down. 

Dr. Bininachvili also pointed out all other post-Soviet states, including Russian ally Belarus, refuse to recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk as well as the breakaway territories of Georgia.

He said: “It is quite evident that Putin’s disastrous war in Ukraine and his aggressive revanchist policies aimed at restoration of Moscow’s control over the former Soviet space has left him friendless, but it will take time before ex-Soviet pals turn on him.

“They are very careful not to make a faux pas and prefer to wait until some decisive points are reached on the frontline before they show their cards.”