BREAKING: Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev dead at 91

Gorbachev's death marks the end of an era, as he was the last president of the former Soviet Union.

According to Reuters, officials at the Central Clinical Hospital stated that Gorbachev died fighting a "serious and protracted disease."

He is scheduled to be buried next to his wife in Moscow's Novodevichy Cemetery.

As news of Gorbachev's passing spread, condolences poured in from around the world, with many highlighting the enormous impact he had on the course of European history.

"Mikhail Gorbachev was a trusted and respected leader," wrote president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Lyon. "He played a crucial role to end the Cold War and bring down the Iron Curtain. It opened the way for a free Europe. This legacy is one we will not forget."

"Some leaders rise, others falter," journalist Dan Rather said. "Mikhail Gorbachev ... rose to make our world safer. He was imperfect, as we all are. But he had a vision for stability over chaos and ultimately freedom over repression. We need more of that."

Gorbachev is perhaps best known for bringing the Soviet Union closer to the west, and choosing not to use force to deter protests that swept across the bloc in the 1980's, culminating in its eventual collapse.

He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.

In the decades since, much of his legacy has been undone by current Russian leader Vladimir Putin.