What was life like for those who lived in the ex Soviet Union, the days following the collapse of the Soviet Union?

by NotVPD

I did a bit of research and I see lots of mixed things. Some saw it as an opportunity to get rich and start businesses (oligarchs), others lost their jobs. Some sad stories as well in which mothers had to sell hair, or sell themselves to afford food for their children. Crime skyrocketed, there was general confusion among soldiers and police.

I ask this as the Soviet Union collapses 29 years ago today

Kochevnik81

Not to discourage further answers but here are some answers I've written that tackle aspects of your question.

  • This is a look at how the Soviet economy unraveled in its last years.

  • A discussion of what happened to the Soviet military.

  • A further answer about the military with a look at what happened to the police and security forces like the KGB

  • What happened to the Communist Party and its property.

Just a final note that these are Russia-centric answers, and while they broadly hold true for all Soviet republics, the specifics in some republics could differ a lot, from Estonia restoring its interwar republic to Tajikistan erupting into civil war.