Actually, it was Blessed Mary appearing as Our Lady of Fatima (May 13, 1917) who saved Russia (USSR). In 1917 Blessed Mary warned Russia would be a menace to the world until the Pope, in union with the bishops, "consecrated" Russia to her.

Pope John Paul II was shot on May 13, 1981 (yes the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima) , by the KGB using the Bulgarian secret agencies. (under direct orders from Gorbachev). On May 13, 1992, he consecrated Russia to Blessed Mary but did not include the bishops and so it was not accepted (according to Sr. Lucia of Fatima fame). On March 25, 1984, he "consecrated" Russia to Blessed Mary, as requested in 1917. Sr. Lucia said it had been accepted, and that God would keep His promise made at Fatima.

So Blessed Mary saved Russia, not Gorbachev. Gorbachev was merely an instrument in the process.

Other interesting points to be checked by readers via google:

In 2001, the Pope released the Third Secret of Fatima given in 1917, and it revealed the shooting of the Pope.

What happened after the Consecration on March 25th

Well, two months later, on the Feast of Fatima, May 13, an explosion in Sever-o-mor-ski
destroyed 80% of Russia’s missals making them no longer a superpower. America did not
know the extent of this explosion.

Again there was another strange happening on Dec 13. An explosion in Siberia destroyed
Russia’s largest ammunition base

On Dec 19 Marshal Ustinov, the Minister of Defense died or was killed

Three days later Marshal Sodolov, the 2ed Minister of Defense died

All in 9 months

In March of 1985 (one Year after consecration)
President Chernenko died and Mikhial Gorbachev was made President. He
was the First Baptized Christian President
although still a communist. He instituted glassnoss and perestroika
(freedom of the press
and freedom of religion) This was the downfall of communism. 15
republics were freed from
communism, and the Warsaw pact ended

In 1989 Lucia said publicly that the Consecration was completed and that "God
will keep His Word". That year on Nov 9th the Berlin Wall came down and Gorbachev meet Pope at the Vatican and promised religious freedom

The following year on the Feast of Fatima, May 13th, freedom of religion was
made the law of Russia. And on the feast of the miracle of Fatima, Oct 13, Gorbachev
received the Nobel Peace Prize

Two months later Gorbachev meet Pope in Vatican for 2ed time. In this meeting the Pope
told him that he knew it was he that ordered the hit on the Pope. Gorbachev asked his
forgiveness. (It is this story that Lucia was asked to keep silent about and nothing
else.)

In 1991 (March 15) diplomatic relations with the Vatican and Russia were opened and so
were Latin-rite churches for the first time.

May 1, 1991 was the 100 anniversary of Rerum Novarum, the encyclical "On the
Condition of Human Labor by Pope Leo XII, and the Feast of St. Joseph, the Worker, and the
end of May Day as a communist holiday.

On May 13, 1991 Pope John Paul II went to Fatima to thank Our Lady for all the
countries that were freed, for saving his life, and for the end of the communist threat to
the world.

But on Aug 19, 1991 the communists attempted to overthrow Gorbachev. They picked the
wrong day for it was the 74th anniversary of the Aug appearance at Fatima. On
Aug 22 the attempt failed and the communists were defeated. This was the feast of the
Queenship of Mary.

Two months later, on Oct 13 (another feast of Fatima) the first pilgrims of Russia went
to Fatima. It was Televised in 150 stations in Russia and 350 Radio stations in Russia,
and again on Nov 7th it was televised again.

Dec 8th was the start of the Commonwealth of republics, The end of the USSR

12 days later Yeltsin met with the Pope in Rome

And 13 days after that (on Dec 25th, 1991) the Communist Flag came down for
last time over Russia

Gorbachev resigned and sent a letter to Pope John Paul II

15 republics were freed from communism.

On Dec 30th, 1991 Lucia wrote that the world will recognize that the defeat
of Communism was by Mary

In 1992 another attempt was made to overthrow the government and Yelson stood against
the entire communist army and no one died.

On March 14, 1992 Pravda ended

Then on Christmas day, 1992 Communism was declared illegal in Russia