Was the USSR a Union or a Russian Empire?

The USSR had characteristics of both a union and an empire. It presented itself as a nation of equal republics, but was often viewed as a Russo Centric Empire. It had a Metropole from which decisions were made, wealth flowed from the periphery to the center, and the Russian language and culture were enforced. However, infrastructure was evenly distributed, internal borders were adjusted along ethnic lines, and non-Russian governments had some freedom. The beneficiaries of this system were not just the Russian ethnicity, but those who lived in major cities across the Soviet Union.

via Was the USSR actually a union or just another Russian Empire? (Short Animated Documentary)