Which leader marked the beginning of an independent Russia after the Mongol rule?

The leader who marked the beginning of an independent Russia after the Mongol rule is Ivan the Great. During his reign from 1462 to 1505, he successfully ended the dominance of the Mongol Empire over Russia by refusing to pay tribute and asserting Russian sovereignty. Ivan the Great is credited with centralizing power and expanding the territories of what would become the Russian state. He significantly strengthened the Russian monarchy and laid the groundwork for the further consolidation of power that his successors, including Ivan the Terrible and later rulers, would build upon. His efforts led to the establishment of Moscow as the central hub of a unified Russian state, truly signaling a departure from the Mongol yoke.