Nikita Khrushchev

Nikita Khrushchev (1894–1971) – Leader of the Soviet Union after Joseph Stalin's death

• Actions:
  • Implemented the "Khrushchev Thaw" after the Second World War, allowing greater political discourse as part of his de-Stalinization campaign.
  • Elevated Ukraine's importance in the USSR by appointing many Ukrainian officials to key positions.
  • Transferred Crimea to Ukraine on the tercentenary of the "reunification" of Russia and Ukraine, largely for practical administrative reasons.
  • Enabled Petro Shelest to govern Ukraine.
  • Introduced reforms aimed at improving conditions for Ukrainian farmers in the 1960s.
• Significance:
  • His relatively liberal approach to public discourse fostered a generation of freer intellectuals who later played a role during the Collapse of the Soviet Union.
  • Reinforced a Ukrainian identity emphasizing a distinct Ukraine, though with an official focus on unity with Russia.
• Successor and Legacy:
  • Succeeded by Leonid Brezhnev.

This is part of the #Significantpersons series.