Lenin and Problems After the October Revolution What were the problems facing Lenin after the October Revolution and how successfully did he deal with them? The initial difficulties faced by the new Soviet Union were so severe that its survival seemed almost miraculous” . The remains of the czarist regime left Lenin to face a country wrought with war, devastated economically. Russia's involvement in World War I, followed by its Civil War, wide spread famine and a change in political and social ideology were the problems confronting Lenin after the October Revolution. Lenin did succeed in ending both the war with Germany and the Civil War for Russia.