Final answer:
Boris Yeltsin took over Russia as a critic of Gorbachev and the communist government, leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and becoming the first president of the Russian Federation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who took over Russia and was a critic of Gorbachev's and the communist government was Boris Yeltsin. He became a prominent figure during the decline of the Soviet Union, especially after thwarting a coup that aimed to maintain hard-line Communist control. Yeltsin supported the reforms instigated by Gorbachev, known as perestroika and glasnost, but ultimately pushed for even more dramatic changes, leading to the dissolution of the USSR. In December 1991, Yeltsin, as the president of the Russian republic, collaborated with other leaders to end the Soviet Union and emerged as the first democratically elected president of the newly established Russian Federation. The disintegration of the Soviet Union marked the end of the Cold War and saw a shift in power dynamics within and beyond the former superpower territory.