My homeland is so young, not even 21 so far, and I was lucky enough to keep track of the country during all these independent years in person. I was in junior school when they decided that USSR’s over in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, my parents were scared and thought there was some sort of war. No one knew what to think! The TV showed young Yeltsin, a powerful and enthusiastic and very contagious with that. Then there was National voting for Independence, Elections and here he goes,
1. Leonid Kravchuk
The First President of Ukraine (1991-1994) a very wise person, a patriot, a Politician from the capital P.
Being a head of the ideology department of CC of CPU and second secretary of CC of CPU in 1988-1991, in 1990 he was elected the People`s deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, later – the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. On 1st of December, 1991 was elected the President of Ukraine on the first direct presidential election.
It was him who represented Ukrainian SSR in Belovezhskaya Pushcha and for that only he deserves all the respects. And he was the first and the only President to win the Elections in the first tour! And it’s to him that the journalists go for comments, which always contain sence, humour, wits, diplomacy and… do not ever tell what he really thinks on the point.
2. Petro Simonenko
Representative of endangered species of Communists. Not the first, not the last, looks like they’ve always been there and will still be for a couple more years. To be true, I picked this one just for fun! It’s unbelievable that in 2010 there are people who still believe in Dedushka Lenin, hope to build communism, but at the same time leave their aged wives to start it all over with a young girl 
So, the chap is the head of the Communist Party of Ukraine, a member of Ukrainian Parliament (the party hardly passed 3% barrier in 2006). Makes easy money voting in Verkhovna Rada and has little hopes for future. Though he’s one of innumerous politicians with 2 higher educations and a deserved scientific degree.
3. Viktor Yushchenko
The third president of Ukraine, he has come to the throne after the Orange Revolution in the result of re-run elections in 2004. Despite his ratings falling dramatically after the Orange Revolution due to his being unable to keep the team working instead of dividing the loot, there are things we should thank him for.
The Orange Revolution itself made them revise the political maps all over the world and mark Ukraine with a brighter spot. Even if he lost in 2004 having done only this he’d be on the list! He was the first to introduce some social standards (like substantial child benefits). He was the one to make 19 governments recognize the Famine of 1932-33 as genocide against Ukrainian people. He was so kind to cancel visas for EU and USA citizens and did a couple more noticeable things.
So these are mine top… 2 Ukrainian politicians and a trace of our Soviet past. We’ll see what comes next!
