SafekipediaList of heads of state of Ukraine
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
This is a list of the leaders of Ukraine from the year 1917 onward. Ukraine has had many different leaders during this time, each helping to guide the country through many changes. For older times, you can learn about the Grand Prince of Kiev or the List of princes of Galicia and Volhynia. If you are interested in the leaders of the Cossack times, you can read about the Hetman of Zaporizhian Cossacks. These leaders played important roles in shaping Ukraine's history.
Ukrainian People's Republic (1917–1921)
Further information: Central Rada and Directorate of Ukraine
The Ukrainian People's Republic began after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and ended with the Peace of Riga in March 1921, a treaty between Poland and Soviet Russia. During this time, the leaders had different titles, but none were officially called president.
The Directorate of Ukraine was a temporary group that led after Skoropadskyi's government ended. On 22 January 1919, the Act of Unification joined the Ukrainian People's Republic with the West Ukrainian People's Republic.
In exile (1921–1992)
Main article: President of Ukraine (in exile)
Further information: Government of the Ukrainian People's Republic in exile
In Munich during 1948–1992, and in New York City in 1992:
| No. | Picture | Name (Birth–Death) | Began office | Left office | Party | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Volodymyr Pavlovych Naumenko (1852–1919) | 17 (4) March 1917 | 28 (15) March 1917 | Constitutional Democratic Party | Chairman of the Central Rada | |
| 1 | Mykhailo Hrushevsky (1866–1934) | 28 (15) March 1917 | 29 April 1918 | Ukrainian Socialist-Revolutionary Party | Chairman of the Central Rada | |
| 2 | Volodymyr Vynnychenko (1880–1951) | 14 December 1918 | 11 February 1919 | Ukrainian Social Democratic Labour Party | Chairman of the Directory | |
| 3 | Symon Petliura (1879–1926) | 11 February 1919 | 10 November 1920 | Independent | Chairman of the Directory |
| No. | Picture | Name (Birth–Death) | Began office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andriy Livytskyi (1879–1954) | 16 July 1948 | 17 January 1954 | Ukrainian Social Democratic Labour Party | |
| 2 | Stepan Vytvytskyi (1884–1965) | 17 January 1954 | 9 October 1965 | Independent | |
| 3 | Mykola Livytskyi (1907–1989) | 9 October 1965 | 8 December 1989 | Independent | |
| 4 | Mykola Plaviuk (1925–2012) | 8 December 1989 | 22 August 1992 | Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists |
Ukrainian State (1918)
In April 1918, a change in leadership happened in Ukraine after support from German forces. A former Russian general named Pavlo Skoropadskyi declared himself the leader, calling the country the Ukrainian State. However, this government did not last long. By December of that same year, it was replaced, and a new group called the Directory took over, restarting the Ukrainian People's Republic.
| Hetman | Reign | Dynasty | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Pavlo Skoropadskyi (1873–1945) | 29 April 1918 – 14 December 1918 | Skoropadsky | |
West Ukrainian People's Republic (1918–1919)
The Western Ukrainian People's Republic was proclaimed on October 19, 1918. On January 22, 1919, it joined with the Ukrainian People's Republic, but this was mostly symbolic because the western Ukrainians kept their own army and government. After the Polish-Ukrainian War, Poland took control of most of the West Ukrainian People's Republic's land by July 1919.
| No. | Picture | Name (Birth–Death) | Began office | Left office | Party | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yevhen Petrushevych (1863–1940) | 18 October 1918 | 22 January 1919 | Ukrainian National Democratic Party | President |
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (1917–1991)
Further information: First Secretary of the Communist Party of Ukraine and Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
The title of the person leading Ukraine changed many times between 1917 and 1991. At first, it was called the Chairman of the Central Executive Committee, then it changed again several times. Ukraine became part of the Soviet Union on December 30, 1922. By 1938, the leader was known as the chairman of the Presidium of Verkhovna Rada, a role that ended in 1990. From 1990 to 1991, the leader was simply the head of the Verkhovna Rada before the role of the President of Ukrainian SSR was created.
Ukraine (1991–present)
Main articles: List of presidents of Ukraine and President of Ukraine
In 1991, Ukraine became its own country. On July 5, 1991, leaders created a new job called the President of the Ukrainian SSR. After Ukraine announced its independence on August 24, 1991, the job name changed to President of Ukraine. The person leading the parliament at that time, Leonid Kravchuk, became the acting president.
The first election for president happened on December 1, 1991. Later, on August 22, 1992, Mykolay Plaviuk, who was the last president of a government in exile, gave his powers to Leonid Kravchuk, the first president of Ukraine after it became independent.
| № | President | Took office | Left office | Elected | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Leonid Kravchuk (1934–2022) | 24 August 1991 | 5 December 1991 | — | Independent | |
| 1 | 5 December 1991 | 19 July 1994 | 1991 | |||
| 2 | Leonid Kuchma (Born 1938) | 19 July 1994 | 23 January 2005 | 1994 1999 | Independent | |
| 3 | Viktor Yushchenko (Born 1954) | 23 January 2005 | 25 February 2010 | 2004 | Our Ukraine | |
| 4 | Viktor Yanukovych (Born 1950) | 25 February 2010 | 22 February 2014 | 2010 | Party of Regions | |
| — | Oleksandr Turchynov (Born 1964) | 23 February 2014 | 7 June 2014 | — | Fatherland | |
| 5 | Petro Poroshenko (Born 1965) | 7 June 2014 | 20 May 2019 | 2014 | Petro Porshenko Bloc | |
| 6 | Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Born 1978) | 20 May 2019 | Incumbent | 2019 | Servant of the People | |
Timeline
This section lists the leaders of Ukraine from 1917 onward. The country has had many leaders during different times, reflecting its complex history. Each leader played a role in shaping the nation through various periods of change.
Related articles
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