The Thaw is the beginning of a new era, which aimed to change the socio-political life, domestic and foreign policy of the state. Awareness of the consequences of the Stalinist regime, the emergence of freedom of speech, and openness to the Western world coexisted with mass unrest, protests and the Cuban Missile Crisis.• Is the Thaw a new period of struggle for power or a cultural phenomenon?• What led to the beginning of the Caribbean crisis?• Was it possible to stop the collapse of the socialist camp? ?In the new book of the series “Our 20th century. How it was?" historian Armen Gasparyan, political scientist Dmitry Kulikov and Vesti FM radio host Gia Saralidze understand the achievements and missed opportunities of the Soviet Union of that period.