How many Soviet republics were there?

Socialism is a transitional stage from capitalism to communism. Just because a regime is called communist doesn't necessarily mean that it is. Our regime is also called democratic and capitalist, but that doesn't make it any more democratic or capitalist. So, let's refer to facts rather than statements. And the facts show that the USSR had state capitalism with social guarantees. Not socialism. Not communism.
Facts are stubborn things. Believe less in words and more in facts.