"it was a step forward" that is no way to move forward. Setting aside political ideology it was one of the most murderous regiemes the planet has ever seen. For the tens of millions who it intentionally starved to death, worked to death in the gulag, or just summarily murdered it was certainly not better than living in an undeveloped shithole. For them its forward movement was only toward the grave.

Imagine all the good that might have been done by these millions if their human dignity were upheld and they were allowed to live. Perhaps one of them would have developed a great medical breakthrough. Imagine the inumerable works of art and music, theater that might have been made. Imagine the things they could have built and done to make the world a better place. If they had children and grand-children what of their potential contributions? Russia might actually have become the greatest world power.