When you think of the Soviet Union, the usual images are of oppression, shortages, and Cold War tension. But hidden beneath that grim façade are a handful of genuinely uplifting initiatives. Below are 10 positive things the Soviet Union did that often get eclipsed by the darker chapters of its history. These examples show that even the most controversial regimes can produce progressive policies, cultural breakthroughs, and practical benefits for ordinary citizens.

10 Active Women In Politics

The Soviet Union was ahead of the West in women’s rights. Although many of their rights were given out of necessity, Soviet women had more opportunity in employment and politics than Western women for most of the 20th century.

By law, women in the Soviet Union had the same employment opportunities as men and tended to work in jobs that Western women couldn’t. However, that was a double‑edged sword because Soviet culture also demanded that women take care of housekeeping after their day jobs. As a result, women spent more time working than men.

Soviet women were also better represented in politics than Western women, especially in the early 20th century. In the 1920s, 600 Soviet women were chairmen (similar to mayors) of their towns and villages and almost 6.5 million were politically active.

Soviet women also served in military combat roles long before their Western counterparts, with many women gaining notoriety as snipers and fighter pilots during World War II.

The perceived rights of women in the USSR influenced suffrage movements in the West. In 1917, the Soviet Union granted women the right to vote. It’s debatable how much of a right this actually was, but Soviet suffrage was attractive to some Western feminists. The fear of having women become Soviet sympathizers was one of the many reasons that women were granted the right to vote in the US and other Western countries.

9 Effective Public Transit

Most people in the Soviet Union did not own cars, which meant that the government had to offer public transit for its citizens out of necessity. Public transit was extremely cheap and even free in some cases. Generally, it got people where they needed to go.

Although the Soviet public transit system was slow and uncomfortable at times, it became a huge part of Soviet life. Major cities such as Moscow also had easy‑to‑use metro systems, which had some of the most beautiful stops in the world.

The Soviet rail system was also excellent. It transported far more material than the US railway system of the same era. Since the Soviets tended to have more rail lines than the US, it was easier for Soviet citizens to travel from city to city but not out of the country.

8 Free Vacations

Shockingly, the Soviet Union encouraged tourism within its borders. By law, workers got two weeks off from work every year and were given vouchers to travel to certain tourist destinations, including Sochi. Vouchers to Sochi were given either in the winter or the summer.

Unfortunately, corruption crept into the system, with high‑ranking officials consistently getting prime vacation times during the summer. But overall, the Soviet Union emphasized vacations as a part of communist life.

The use of free vacations played a practical role for Soviet leaders. First, it was an attempt to ensure loyalty by giving people some positive impressions about the government. Second, it gave the Soviet people a feeling of independence and empowerment, which was sorely missing from other aspects of their lives. Third, it allowed workers to rest and recover from their jobs, which was meant to ensure peak production when they returned to work.

New mothers also received free maternity leave as part of the Soviet health insurance system. This allowed mothers to take time off with their babies while having access to necessary medical care.

7 Montage Theory In Film

Soviet films were one of the high points of the regime, but it is impossible to overstate how important those films were to modern filmmaking. One of their biggest impacts was the montage theory of editing, which was propelled by Sergei Eisenstein through his various movies.

The montage theory simply states that movies are actually made in the editing process. It is the juxtaposition of shots that drives emotion and makes a movie unique.

This theory spawned the film art of editing, which is still influential today. Older movies generally had long shots that did not use different editing styles. But Eisenstein’s films used different shot lengths and the juxtaposition of different images to drive the narrative in his movies, making them interesting and exciting for audiences.

The impact of his work is seen all through the film industry today. Action movies use quick cuts while more serious movies use somber techniques. Almost every film today owes something to Eisenstein’s montage theories.

Montage theory also influenced Soviet filmmakers to try other experiments with film. For example, experimental filmmaker Lev Kuleshov showed that editing can elicit different emotions in the audience even when using the same shots. In one of his films, he placed a shot of a man with a blank face between various images, such as bowls of soup and dead babies.

Audiences praised the actor’s subtle performance in demonstrating different emotions like sadness or hunger, even though his face never changed. In 1964, Alfred Hitchcock praised this technique, calling it the essence of filmmaking.

The Kuleshov effect shows up in many different films, including the final scene of Star Wars: The Force Awakens where the editing of the shots drives the emotions of the scene. In a way, the Soviet filmmakers invented modern cinema.

6 First Country In Europe To Support Reproductive Rights

In 1920, the Soviet Union became the first country in Europe to completely legalize abortions for women. It was not until 1936 that another European country caught up to the Soviet Union. That was the year that Iceland legalized abortions.

At that time, abortions were considered the main form of contraception, which is different from modern trends. But it did place the Soviet Union at the forefront of reproductive rights at the time.

Like many things in the Soviet Union, reproductive rights suffered during the Stalin era. Concerned with low population growth, Stalin outlawed abortions in 1936, just as Iceland was legalizing them.

In 1955, Soviet women were permitted to have abortions again. At the time, this was a limited right, only applying in cases where the mother’s life was in jeopardy. Later, universal reproductive rights were reestablished.

Soviet abortion policy was seen as following Leninist ideologies, which promoted the idea that a woman should not be forced to have an unwanted baby. Over time, abortions became increasingly commonplace in the Soviet Union, with most women having at least one during their lifetimes. Still, the Soviet Union was at the forefront of reproductive rights legislation in Europe.

5 Effective Recycling Program

For a country that had huge issues with environmental contamination, the Soviet Union and its puppet states had a large‑scale recycling program for their citizens. In the 1970s, Soviet leaders began to set up recycling services that were extensive for the time, even if most people took a while to use them.

Twenty Soviet cities had major recycling plants for paper, with almost 30 percent of all paper recycled in the Soviet Union during the 1980s. Compared to the 270 kilograms (600 lb) of paper used by Americans per capita in 1989, people in the former Soviet Union only used about 10 kilograms (25 lb) per capita that year.

This was partly due to the Soviet culture of reusing material. Soviet citizens also had access to glass recycling centers that sometimes paid them to return glass bottles.

During the Soviet regime, plastic was rarely used in consumer goods. Plastic bags did not appear until the 1980s. For most of the Soviet years, people reused their bags or used their own containers when shopping for food. Plastic bottles were also uncommon, with most bottles made of glass and easily recyclable. This reduced the amount of waste produced by the average citizen and compared favorably to other industrial countries.

4 Ostensible Support For Anticolonialism

Part of the Soviet strategy was a strict rejection of Western colonialism. To this end, they spent money and time aiding third‑world countries in their battles for independence against colonial forces.

The Soviet Union provided most of this aid to countries in Africa, which worked to gain freedom from colonial forces through most of the Cold War. Aid often took the form of weaponry and technical help for warring nations.

One of the most profound examples of help occurred when the Soviets provided support for India’s independence. The two countries forged an alliance that continued throughout the Cold War and allowed India to stay independent.

Some politicians and historians disagree on whether Soviet anticolonial aid was a good thing or a bad thing. But it generally allowed these countries to gain independence that they otherwise would not have achieved.

The dark side of this aid was that Soviet foreign policies were just as colonial as Western policies. They often treated countries in their Central European zones of control as Soviet colonies.

In hindsight, the colonial aspects of Soviet foreign policy are clear. But it is also clear that the Soviet Union helped many countries to gain their independence from other colonial masters.

3 Effective Industrialization

Before the rise of the Soviet Union, Russia was mostly an agrarian country that did not have an effective industrial economy. In this way, it lagged far behind other countries in Europe. However, one of the most important things that the Soviet regime did for its country was to bring it into the modern world.

During the Stalin era, the Soviet Union underwent a massive industrialization process. The minor economy of the tsarist era was transformed into an industrial powerhouse that rivaled other first‑world countries.

All of this happened in the 10‑year period from 1928 to 1938. Overall, the Soviet Union industrialized at a faster rate than any other country previously had, which improved the lifestyles of its citizens.

Between 1929 and 1934, the Soviet Union achieved a 50 percent increase in industrial growth and an average annual growth rate of 18 percent, which was an unprecedented leap in output.

Of course, the news wasn’t all good. Many products manufactured in the Soviet Union were of low quality. But industrialization helped the USSR to become a first‑world country. Former Soviet states like Russia and Ukraine became effective world economies.

2 Free Education

The Soviet Union emphasized education, especially in science and engineering. Soviet law guaranteed all citizens a free education regardless of their social standing or income.

Unlike other countries at the time, this education extended to college and postgraduate work. Some people received their doctorates without paying tuition. The education plan covered all costs of attending school, including textbooks and school supplies.

The Soviets also built universities and extended the possibility of education to developing republics in the USSR where education had previously been unavailable. For example, Belarus had no universities before the Soviet Union existed. By the time the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Belarus had 22 universities.

The effectiveness of the Soviet education system is clear from the number of great scientists and mathematicians that came out of the country.

1 Drug‑Free Neighborhoods

Throughout its history, the Soviet Union had strict drug control, which became more repressive over time. This was the opposite of the trends in the West. Soviet policies focused on criminalization of drug use and did not do much with drug rehabilitation or addiction recovery. But it did result in essentially drug‑free neighborhoods.

Soviet politicians and writers considered drug use to be a decadence caused by capitalism. As a result, the Soviets went to great lengths to stop any drugs, including the full list of drugs cataloged by the UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. This included strict bans on opiates.

Of course, there were still drug users in the Soviet Union. But their number was incredibly small, mainly confined to elitists and people in prison. Both groups got their drugs from gypsies who smuggled them into the country.

In the 1980s, the Soviet government had much more difficulty controlling the influx of drugs, which caused a surge in the drug culture. Most of these new users were young people who saw drugs as a way to imitate Western culture.

Increased drug use also came from Soviet soldiers returning from Afghanistan, where they first took illegal narcotics. When the Soviet Union fell, the drug control laws did as well, leaving Russia with the narcotics problem that it has today.

Zachery Brasier is a physics student who likes to write on the side. Check out his personal blog at zacherybrasier.com.

These ten examples illustrate that even a regime as notorious as the Soviet Union could produce policies and cultural achievements that benefited its people and left a lasting global legacy.

When you search for the top 10 images that showcase the brighter side of the coronavirus pandemic, you’ll discover a gallery of moments that remind us humanity can shine even in the darkest of times. From crystal‑clear Venetian canals to spontaneous applause from balconies, each picture tells a story of resilience, creativity, and solidarity.

11 Spanish Soldiers Helping An Old Lady

Spain pic.twitter.com/Ks9UsDuk59

— R?MIN N?SIBOV (@RaminNasibov) March 20, 2020

In a heart‑warming clip that spread across social media, Spanish soldiers were seen lending a hand to an elderly woman, helping her navigate the challenges posed by the lockdown. Their willingness to step out of uniform duties and provide personal assistance underscores the broader theme of public servants putting themselves on the front line of compassion during the crisis. The soldiers’ gentle gestures—opening doors, carrying groceries, offering a steady arm—showed that even in a pandemic, the spirit of service thrives.

Commentators have highlighted that these men and women, accustomed to protecting the nation in more conventional ways, are now protecting its most vulnerable citizens in a visibly humane fashion. Their actions remind us that behind every badge lies a person eager to help, and that the pandemic has revealed a new arena for heroism—one where a simple act of kindness can make a world of difference.

10 Clear Canals In Venice

While Italy wrestles with the surge of COVID‑19 cases, a surprising natural spectacle emerged in Venice: the city’s iconic canals turned a startlingly clear shade of blue as sediment settled to the bottom during the lockdown. Swans and even a few dolphins were spotted gliding through the newly pristine waters, offering a serene counterpoint to the anxiety gripping the nation.

Normally, the bustling traffic of gondolas and vaporettos churns up the silt, keeping the water perpetually murky. Yet, with the streets eerily quiet and boat traffic halted, the water’s clarity improved dramatically. Although city officials cautioned that clearer water does not automatically equal higher quality, the sight of shimmering canals provided a visual sigh of relief for residents and visitors scrolling through their feeds.

9 Penguin Field Trip

When Shedd Aquarium in Chicago shut its doors to the public, the staff didn’t let the creatures get bored. Instead, they organized an impromptu “field trip” for their resident penguins, allowing the tuxedoed birds to wander through other exhibition spaces and mingle with marine friends they’d never seen before.

Wellington the penguin was especially enthusiastic, darting toward the fish tanks, while Monte made a beeline for the dolphin exhibit. The aquarium promises to keep fans updated on these playful adventures via social media, turning a period of closure into a delightful behind‑the‑scenes series that lifts spirits worldwide.

8 Singing From Balconies

When Italy’s death toll climbed to its highest point, its citizens refused to let fear silence them. Across cities from Milan to Naples, people took to their balconies, belting out songs, clapping, and playing instruments in a spontaneous, city‑wide concert that echoed through the streets.

The movement quickly spread to Spain, where neighbors gathered at windows, offering standing ovations to exhausted healthcare workers. Social media challenges encouraged everyone to join the chorus, turning isolated homes into a massive, uplifting choir that reminded the world that music can bridge distance and heal hearts.

7 SA Supermarket Chain Accommodates Pensioners

In South Africa, panic‑buying threatened to overwhelm supermarkets as the virus reached the nation’s borders. To calm the frenzy, the Pick n Pay chain introduced a dedicated hour each Wednesday, opening its doors an hour earlier exclusively for shoppers aged 65 and over.

This initiative gave seniors a quieter, safer window to stock up on essentials, reducing their exposure to crowded aisles. The move was praised as a thoughtful response to a vulnerable demographic, showcasing how businesses can adapt quickly to protect the most at‑risk members of society.

6 Mega Stars Offering Free Streaming Concerts

With homes becoming the new front‑line, musicians turned their living rooms into stages. On March 16, Coldplay’s Chris Martin streamed an intimate mini‑concert from his kitchen, sparking a wave of virtual performances from artists like John Legend, Pink, and Shawn Mendes.

These free, online shows gave fans a much‑needed escape, proving that creativity can thrive even when venues are shut. The collective effort of these mega‑stars transformed lockdown boredom into a global concert series, uniting listeners across time zones with shared melodies.

5 Pollution Lifts As Quarantines Are Implemented

Within a month of China’s strict lockdowns, satellite data revealed a dramatic drop in air pollution over major cities. NASA researcher Fei Liu described the phenomenon as the first time he’d witnessed such a rapid, large‑scale improvement in air quality linked to a single event.

Carbon‑dioxide emissions fell by roughly 25 % between early February and early March as coal consumption plummeted. While experts expect pollution to climb again post‑pandemic, the temporary return of clear blue skies offered a hopeful glimpse of what a cleaner future could look like.

4 Christmas In March

When social distancing hit in March 2020, Briton Lane Grindle sparked a whimsical trend: reviving Christmas lights to brighten neighborhoods while families stayed safely inside their cars. The idea caught fire, and countless households flicked their festive bulbs back on, turning streets into glittering wonderlands.

The Hallmark Channel jumped on board, airing a marathon of holiday movies titled “We Need A Little Christmas” from March 20‑22. The unexpected yuletide cheer reminded everyone that tradition can be reshaped to fit new realities, spreading joy when it was needed most.

3 Support Signs

In Cornwall, Becky Wass invented a simple yet powerful postcard template that reads, “Hello! If you are self‑isolating, I can help,” leaving space for phone numbers and requests. The design spread rapidly across social platforms, encouraging neighbors to offer assistance with groceries, medication, or a friendly chat.

Across the UK, many households began hanging large banners proclaiming their willingness to support nearby residents. These grassroots gestures turned isolated living into a community‑wide safety net, proving that a few kind words can spark a cascade of collective care.

2 Jennifer Haller Takes One For The World

On March 18, Jennifer Haller became the first human worldwide to receive a potential COVID‑19 vaccine candidate. Volunteering for the trial, she expressed excitement and pride, viewing her participation as a tangible way to combat the global sense of helplessness.

The trial involves 45 volunteers receiving two injections spaced 28 days apart, with 35 research institutions collaborating to evaluate safety and efficacy. Haller’s bravery highlights the essential role ordinary citizens play in accelerating scientific breakthroughs during a crisis.

1 Christ The Redeemer Statue Lights Up In Solidarity

On March 18, Brazil’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue illuminated its towering figure with the flags of nations battling COVID‑19, projecting messages of hope and prayers in multiple languages. The light show served as a global beacon of solidarity, urging people worldwide to unite in prayer and support.

Below the statue, a solemn Mass was celebrated, and the hashtag #praytogether rippled across social feeds. The dazzling display reminded viewers that, even when separated by distance, shared faith and compassion can shine brighter than any pandemic.

Why These Top 10 Images Matter

Each snapshot in this collection captures a unique facet of humanity’s response to an unprecedented crisis. By spotlighting moments of kindness, creativity, and collective action, the top 10 images not only document history but also inspire hope for a brighter post‑pandemic world.

Nero is one of the most controversial emperors in Roman history. His rule was marked by violence, extravagance, and tyranny. He was definitely a cruel, heartless emperor, and very few would question this claim.

However, many people don’t know that he also had some positive qualities as a person and ruler that have been overshadowed by his violence and enraged nature. Nero did many positive things for Rome during his early reign. He was quite a good leader and won the love of the Roman people. Later, he became a really cruel man… but that’s another story.

10 Nero Helped Rebuild Rome After the Fire

Believe it or not, during the fire in Rome, Nero was a very generous leader and helped rebuild Rome after the devastation.

In AD 64, a great fire destroyed much of Rome, leaving hundreds of thousands of people living on the streets and countless Roman citizens dead. Nero was no stranger to this tragedy. He was outside Rome and returned immediately to take charge of the situation.

Despite his reputation as a tyrant, Nero was quite kind to the Romans, who lost everything. He often went out of his way to help those in need, even providing food to the people. And after the fire, he improved the infrastructure of Rome and made many reforms that enhanced the urban design of the “eternal city.”^[1]

9 Nero Set New Urban Rules for Rome

Nero is one of the most infamous rulers in history, thanks in part to the legend that he “fiddled while Rome burned.” But, it later turned out that he was not even in the city—and that it was probably an attempt of the Senate to discredit him.

One thing that has never been in question is that after the fire that devastated Rome, Nero took the opportunity to set some new urban rules for Rome. He decreed that all buildings must be constructed of brick or stone, with tiled roofs to prevent future fires.

He also created wide streets and open spaces to help improve circulation and prevent congestion. Thanks to Nero’s urban planning, Rome emerged from the ashes as a safer and more efficient city that has never experienced a fire of the same proportions in its history.^[2]

8 He Significantly Lowered Taxes

Nero completed a significant tax reform during his reign. He inherited a government that was deeply in debt. He realized that the best way to raise revenue was to encourage economic growth and also please the people who would love him even more by having a significant reduction in their taxes—although this would earn him the hatred of the Senate.

To this end, he lowered taxes on businesses and individuals, making it easier for people to earn a living. He also implemented a series of public works projects that created jobs and boosted the economy.

However, after the fire, he changed the Roman economic policies to rebuild the city, increasing taxes again to deal with the disaster Rome had to face.^[3]

7 He Built the Biggest Roman Palace at the Time: The Golden House or Domus Aurea

After the fire, Nero built many new public buildings and monuments. But the most impressive was the Golden House, a lavish palace that was one of the most luxurious buildings ever built in Rome.

In fact, he was an ambitious builder who left a lasting legacy in Rome. The palace, or Domus Aurea, was a massive complex constructed in what would have been the remains of a neighborhood consumed by fire and burned to ashes.

However, the construction of this palace was seen as a bad joke as he took advantage of such a huge tragedy to build the palace. It quickly became one of the most talked-about buildings in Rome. Some contemporaries praised Nero for his vision and engineering prowess. In contrast, others denounced him as a megalomaniac who had squandered public resources on an extravagant personal project that was far from being the priority.^[4]

6 Nero Relentlestly Promoted Artistic Expression

Nero was also a great patron of the arts. He encouraged artistic expression and supported many artists during his reign. He even composed music and poetry himself and, shockingly, performed in front of the people and senators! Although he forced his audience to listen to him, some recognized that he had some musical and poetic talent.

During his reign, he commissioned artworks by some of the most famous artists of the day, including a statue of himself, the Colossus of Nero.

Nero may have been a cruel ruler, but he was also an artist… And even at the time of his death, his last words were: “What an artist perishes in me!”^[5]

5 Nero Backed and Encouraged Athletic Events

Nero was a big fan of athletics and did everything he could to support and encourage athletic events. He even was a charioteer himself and once won a chariot race at the Olympic Games… Of course, he cheated, and nobody dared to beat him.

In any case, he was a good athlete, and very few rulers can claim to have won the Olympic Games. In addition to participating, he enjoyed watching sports. So he promoted sports and their role in Roman society, resulting in the people filling the arenas to see the chariot races that flourished during the time of Nero.^[6]

4 Nero Allowed Slaves to Complain Against Their Master

In ancient Rome, slavery was a fact of life. Slaves were used for everything from manual labor to providing entertainment, and they had few rights. However, under the rule of Emperor Nero, slaves were allowed to file complaints against their masters when it was normal for slaves to be treated like animals.

This may seem small, but it was a significant step forward for the rights of slaves. Before Nero, slaves had no legal recourse if they were severely mistreated by their owners. By allowing them to lodge complaints, Nero helped to protect them from abuse and gave them a voice in Roman society.

This helped to elevate the status of slaves in Roman society and sowed the seeds for future reform.^[7]

3 Millions of People Loved Him… Even After His Death!

Nero was a popular ruler of Rome despite the fact that he was not liked by the Senate. Millions of people loved him because he was very generous to the Roman people and a great entertainer.

Nero was indeed known for his generosity. He would often give money to the poor and help those in need. However, the Senate hated him, and they believed that he was too wasteful—and they were right.

Nero constantly demanded more money from the Senate, forcing them to kowtow to his every whim. As a result, the Senate saw Nero as a danger to their power and position and a threat to the stability of Rome itself, while in public eyes, he was a hero.^[8]

2 Nero Enhanced the Greek Culture

As an artist, Nero had a great appreciation for Greek culture. He enhanced the culture by inviting Greek scholars to Rome and commissioning copies of Greek statues. Nero also built his Domus Aurea, incorporating several aspects of both Roman and Greek architecture.

By mixing the best of both cultures, Nero created a truly unique and spectacular setting.

There is no doubt that Greek culture had a profound influence on Nero’s life and reign. As emperor, Nero made sure that Greece remained an important part of the Roman Empire and the influence of Greek art and culture in Rome grew even further.^[9]

1 His Diplomatic Abilities Ended the War Against the Parthian Empire

Nero also had a keen political mind, and he was often able to broker peace agreements with Rome’s enemies. One of his most famous peace deals was with the Parthians over the control of Armenia.

Nero oversaw a period of great peace and prosperity, in part due to his successful negotiations with the Parthian Empire (located in Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey today). The Parthians were a major threat to Roman territory in the East, and Nero realized that it was in Rome’s best interest to reach a peaceful resolution.

He dispatched envoys to the Parthian court, where they successfully negotiated a peace treaty. This treaty allowed Rome to focus its resources on other areas, such as expanding its territories in Britannia.

As a result, Nero’s reign was a crucial period in Roman history, during which the empire achieved new heights of power and stability.^[10]