Leaders of Soviet Ukraine

This is a comprehensive chronological list of national leaders of Ukraine since its independence in 1917, including its presidents both before and after the Soviet era, and the Soviet leaders themselves, who, unlike the presidents, were not formal heads of state.

Ukraine has had only eight presidents since 1917, divided into two periods (1917–1921 and 1991–present). In between, the country was a part of the Soviet Union (1922–1991) with the name of Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Non-Soviet leaders of Ukraine 1917–1991

Ukrainian People's Republic (1917–1921)

The Ukrainian People's Republic was formed after the Russian Revolution of 1917, and lasted until the Peace of Riga between Poland and Soviet Russia in March 1921. The state leadership position title varied and, despite a rather widespread misconception, none of them had an official ''Presidential'' title.

Western Ukrainian People's Republic (1918–1919)

The government of the Western Ukrainian People's Republic, which was proclaimed on 19 October 1918, united with the Ukrainian People's Republic on 22 January 1919, although this was mostly a symbolic act because the western Ukrainians retained their own Ukrainian Galician Army and government structure. After the Polish-Ukrainian War, Poland took over most of territory of the West Ukrainian People's Republic by July 1919.

Ukrainian People's Republic in exile (1920–1992)

''In Paris and Prague to 1945; Munich 1945–1992 and New York City 1945–1946 and then in the last part of 1992:''

Soviet leaders of Ukraine (1918/1921–1991)

Ukraine was incorporated into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on 30 December 1922.

Head of state

The nomenclature for the head of state position was changing. At first it was called as the chairman of the Central Executive Committee, then it was called as the ''Uprising Nine'' (Povstanburo) which was later reorganized into the Central Military-Revolutionary Committee (sort of revkom). In mid July 1918 there were some biases about the idea of the Ukrainian SSR, but with the help of more nationally inclined bolsheviks such as Skrypnyk, Zatonsky, and others the government of the Soviet Ukraine was preserved. After the defeat of Directoria the head of state was again called as the chairman of the Central Executive Committee. Since 1938 the position began to be called as the chairman of the Presidium of Verkhovna Rada which was abolished in 1990. From 1990 to 1991 it was simply the head of the Verkhovna Rada until the introduction of the office of the President of Ukrainian SSR.

The Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Ukraine (CP(b) U) leaders

The following list is composed of the secretary of the Central Committee of the party who were the leaders of the Party. The position also was changing names between being called the First Secretary or the general secretary, depending on a political atmosphere in the Soviet Union. The position was not officially of the head of state, but certainly was very influential, especially within the republic. The longest serving secretary was Vladimir Shcherbitsky with some 17 years as the head of the Communist Party, the second best is split between Stanislav Kosior and Nikita Khrushchev, both of which have 11 years.

* Mykola Oleksiiovych Skrypnyk (20 April – 26 May 1918, Secretary of the Organizational Bureau)

Ukraine (1991–present)

On 5 July 1991, the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR passed a law establishing the post of the President of the Ukrainian SSR. The title was changed to the President of Ukraine upon the proclamation of independence (24 August 1991). The first election of the President of Ukraine was held on 1 December 1991.

Living former heads of state

* Leonid Kuchma, (born 1938)
* Viktor Yushchenko, (born 1954)
* Viktor Yanukovych, (born 1950)
* Oleksandr Turchynov, (born 1964)
* Petro Poroshenko, (born 1965)

See also

*List of Ukrainian rulers
*Prime Minister of Ukraine
*Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
* Igor Zhovkva

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of National Leaders Of Ukraine
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National leaders
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