Leonid Kuchma

Leonid Danylovych Kuchma (in Ukrainian: ?????? ????????? ?????) (born August 9, 1938) was the second President of Ukraine from July 19, 1994, to January 23, 2005.

Early Life

Kuchma was born in Chaikyne, a village of the Chernihivs'ka oblast' (Ukrainian SSR). His father was killed on the World War II front in 1944. Kuchma studied at Dnipropetrovs'k university and got a degree in rocket engineering. He moved into senior management posts of the Yuzhmash industrial company in Dnipropetrovs'k (finally becoming its executive), as well as in the Communist party elite. As such, Kuchma played an important role in Soviet strategic missile and space rocket programs.

Related Topics:
Chaikyne - Chernihivs'ka oblast' - Ukrainian SSR - World War II - 1944 - Dnipropetrovs'k - Rocket - Engineering - Yuzhmash - Communist party - Soviet - Strategic missile - Space

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Some researchers believe that Kuchma's earlier career had been significantly boosted by his marriage to Ludmila Tumanova, the daughter of a local CPSU chief.

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Kuchma was an amateur guitar player in his younger years. He was also known for being good in the complicated card game called preferans.

Related Topics:
Guitar - Card game

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