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Alexandr LyahkoSoviet and Ukrainian politician
Date of Birth: 30.12.1915
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military Service
- Post-War Career
- Rise to Prominence
- Top Party Position
- Prime Minister of Ukraine
- Chernobyl Disaster
- Retirement and Legacy
- Honors and Awards
Early Life and Education
Born into a railway worker's family, Scherbytsky began his career in 1930 as a locksmith's apprentice. After graduating with honors in 1931, he studied at the Lugansk Highway Technical College, graduating with distinction in 1935. From 1937 to 1941 and 1945 to 1947, he attended the Donetsk Industrial Institute's metallurgy department.
Military Service
During World War II, Scherbytsky served as a tank platoon leader in Kuban, Stavropol, and Rostov Oblast. He was later sent to Samarkand for retraining in self-propelled artillery. From 1943 to 1945, he taught at a tank school in Samarkand.
Post-War Career
Post-war, Scherbytsky worked at the Novokramatorsk Machine-Building Plant from 1945 to 1952, holding positions such as engineer, deputy shop manager, and deputy director. He actively participated in the city's political life.
Rise to Prominence
In 1952, Scherbytsky became the first secretary of the Kramatorsk City Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU). He continued to rise through the ranks, serving as secretary from 1954 to 1957, second secretary from 1957 to 1960, and first secretary from 1960 to 1963 of the Donetsk Regional Committee of the CPU.
Top Party Position
From 1963 to 1969, Scherbytsky held various positions within the Central Committee of the CPU, including secretary, bureau chairman, and second secretary. In 1969, he became Chairman of the Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR and Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Prime Minister of Ukraine
In June 1972, Scherbytsky was appointed Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR, a position he held for 15 years. He presided over a period of significant industrial and economic development in Ukraine.
Chernobyl Disaster
In March 1986, Scherbytsky led the Republican government commission responsible for mitigating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.
Retirement and Legacy
Scherbytsky retired in 1987 and died in Kiev in 2005. He was buried in the central alley of Baikove Cemetery, alongside notable figures like Natalia Uzhviy and Oles Honchar.
Honors and Awards
- Hero of Socialist Labor (1985)- Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky (Ukraine)
- Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Fifth Class (Ukraine)
- Six Orders of Lenin
- Two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor
- Order of the Patriotic War, First Degree (1985)
