Gennady Zyuganov was the Premier of the Soviet Union starting from 2010, upon the death of the previous Premier, Gennady Yanayev. Under Zyuganov's administration, the Soviet Union was reeling from the destruction of the Fourth World War, wrought upon by the strains of relations with the west after the Soviet Invasion of the Middle East . Zyuganov's policies were ones of reconciliation with the West, offering humanitarian aid, and assisted in reconstruction efforts in Europe and the former United States.