1991 Soviet First League

Soviet First League 1991 was the last season of the Soviet First League. With the collapse of the Soviet Union the football structure was reformed. All of its participants have entered the Top Divisions of the republics of their origin, except of Dinamo Sukhumi that because of the 1992-93 War in Abkhazia was dissolved.

Due to the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, a process of dissolution of the Soviet Union accelerated as well as a process of decommunization in former union republics. Number of cities changed their names returning to their original names.

Promoted teams

 * FC Uralmash Sverdlovsk – Winner of the 1990 Soviet Second League, Zone Center (returning after an absence of 10 seasons)
 * FC Bukovina Chernovtsy – Winner of the 1990 Soviet Second League, Zone West (debut)
 * FC Neftianik Fergona – Winner of the 1990 Soviet Second League, Zone East (debut)
 * FC Novbakhor Namangan – Runner-up of the 1990 Soviet Second League, Zone East (debut)
 * FC Textilshchik Kamyshin – Runner-up of the 1990 Soviet Second League, Zone Center (debut)
 * FC Daugava Riga – Runner-up of the 1990 Soviet Second League, Zone West (debut)

Relegated teams

 * Rotor Volgograd – (Returning after 2 seasons)

Renamed teams

 * Prior to the start of the season Tiras Tiraspol was renamed to Tiligul Tiraspol.
 * Prior to the start of the season Nistru Kishenev was renamed to Zimbrul Kishinev.

Replaced or withdrawn teams
With fall of the Soviet Union, the promoted FC Daugava Riga was dissolved and replaced with FC Pardaugava Riga that was based on the junior squad of the Latvia national U-21 football team and took part in the 1990 Baltic League placing only 15th out 17 teams.

League standings
Notes:
 * On 6 September 1991, the city of Leningrad was renamed into Saint Petersburg
 * On 4 September 1991, the city of Sverdlovsk was renamed into Yekaterinburg