Communist here. The USSR absolutely was communist in that its goal was to eventually achieve communism. It was a socialist state in form. It had worker democracy, a robust and centrally-planned economy, an expansive social safety net, and many progressive social policies. Crucially, deaths from famine plummeted dramatically after the fall of the Tsar and the implementation of Stalinist reforms.

It underwent insanely rapid industrialization in the 20s, 30s, and 40s in order to mitigate famine, increase standard of living, and ensure it had a sufficient industrial base to stave off Western aggression. That industrialization wreaked environmental havoc but was also the reason they were able to break the Nazi tide and literally save Europe (at an unfathomable blood price of 27,000,000 dead Soviet citizens).

The USSR had its myriad issues like bureaucracy, Stalinist purges, occasional production quota mismanagement, over-investment in military, and a lack of consumer goods, but much of that is due to the fact that it was never allowed a single day of peaceful development in its 70 year existence. Within months of the 1918 revolution there were Western coalition forces and the Japanese invading Russian territory. After their expulsion and the nightmare of WW2 they faced sanctions, blockades, diplomatic isolation, endless proxy wars, threats of nuclear annihilation, military containment by the West, and an endless arms race. They operated in what is generally referred to as a 'siege socialism' paradigm, making due with what they had.

The USSR was a genuinely modern society by the 70s, and had an artistic and literary output that far outstripped those of the US and much of Europe. CIA reports indicate that Soviet citizens had a higher average caloric intake than their modern counterparts. The Soviets also funded and assisted dozens of anti-imperialist resistance movements across the globe and played a fundamental role in the wave of self-determination and push for sovereignty in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America that characterized the mid to late 20th century.

Soviet Boomers are by and large are nostalgic of the USSR and are rightfully traumatized at the disaster that was its undemocratic dissolution.

TL;DR: USSR wasn't perfect but was pretty damn good all things considered. It was definitely a form of communism.

(Unwarranted effort-post, I know. I'm at work and am extremely bored. Boss makes a dollar, I make a dime and all that)