Vyacheslav Chornovil

born in 1941 Ivan Mykolaychuk possessed a unique, almost magical energy. He was called the "soul of Ukrainian cinema", and his character fascinated everyone who crossed paths with him: Colossal natural magnetism and generosity: Mykolaychuk attracted people to him instantly. Colleagues recalled that life was always bustling around him. He was incredibly generous - he could give away all the money from his fee to friends or completely unfamiliar students who needed help. Deep folk wisdom and organicity: he did not play a Ukrainian on the screen or in life - he was one. His character was formed by the Bukovina village, from where he brought a deep knowledge of traditions, songs and philosophy. Serhiy Parajanov said that he did not teach Mykolaychuk to act in [“Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”](wikipedia.org_ ()), because Ivan himself taught the entire film crew of Carpathian authenticity. Vulnerability and hidden tragedy: despite his external beauty and success, Mykolaychuk had a very vulnerable soul. When the Soviet authorities branded his films as “nationalistic” and effectively banned him from filming for many years, he experienced it as a personal death. This unspoken pain and longing for unrealized plans gnawed at him from within.

born in 1938 Contemporaries and colleagues remembered Mykola Sheiko as a man of deep inner culture, who sought harmony and aesthetic perfection on the stage. His character was defined by the following traits: Incorrigible romanticism: he perceived the theater not as work, but as a miracle. He was called a man of the "Silver Age", who sought to transfer beauty, sophistication and high ideals to the stage, which often contrasted with the harsh Soviet reality. Ironic mind and calmness: unlike many impulsive directors, Sheiko had a philosophical mindset. His irony helped him psychologically survive under the pressure of Soviet censorship, when his performances were banned or forced to change. Erudition and intelligence: he was extremely well-read, had a delicate taste in literature (which later allowed him to successfully manage the literary part of the theater for years). He never put pressure on the actors with authority, but acted through conviction and joint intellectual search.

Mykola Kholodnyi had perhaps the most complex, contradictory and extravagant character among the entire circle of the Creative Youth Club. If Iryna Zhilenko was a "celebrating person", then Kholodnyi was a rebel-provocateur, an outrageous radical and an absolute nonconformist. Contemporaries described his personality through very sharp and contrasting features: Outrageousness and irony: Kholodnyi loved to shock the public. His poems were sarcastic, stinging and openly anti-Soviet (for which only the famous line "Today horses spend the night in the church and smell of manure instead of incense..." is worth it). He deliberately went into conflict with the system, not trying to soften the corners. Uncompromising and desperate: in his youth he demonstrated an absolute lack of fear of the KGB. His speeches at KTM literary evenings and self-published poems ("a little book") were so sharp that even some senior dissident colleagues feared his radicalism. Psychological breakdown and tragedy: in 1972, during a wave of mass arrests of the intelligentsia, Kholodny was detained. Under intense pressure and the threat of reprisal, he wrote a letter of repentance to the Soviet press. This step became a deep personal tragedy for him, which broke his inner world and forever changed his character. Tendency to loneliness and resentment: after repentance, he was not accepted by the Soviet authorities, but also repelled many former dissident friends. Because of this, Kholodny's character developed suspicion, solitude, and deep resentment towards the whole world. Until the end of his life, he remained a solitary artist, acutely experiencing his isolation. Poetic maximalism: even in the most difficult times, he remained true to his chopped, expressive style. His poetry was not a lyrical contemplation, but a weapon, a naked nerve.

he was born in 1937 Yevhen Hutsalo had an amazing character, combining external softness, a lyrical worldview and iron inner fortitude. He was often called the "pure lyricist" of the sixties because of his gentle, almost mystical sense of nature and the human soul. Contemporaries, friends and researchers highlighted the following key features of his personality: Poetic contemplation and shyness: Hutsalo was a surprisingly quiet, modest and delicate person. He did not like tribunes, loud slogans or public pathos. His inner strength was manifested not in shouting, but in the ability to notice the subtlest shades of human feelings and the beauty of nature. Hidden iron will: behind the soft and gentle exterior was an unshakable spine. When the Soviet authorities began to put pressure on the sixties, demanding repentance and ideological works, Hutsalo categorically refused to write odes to the Communist Party or glorify socialist realism. Phenomenal hard work: like Valery Shevchuk, he believed in daily work. Writer Mykola Vingranovsky recalled that Hutsalo wrote always and everywhere. His creative legacy is enormous, because he considered literature to be his only true calling. Subtle humor and irony: despite his general lyricism, Yevhen had a sharp mind and a wonderful sense of humor. In later years, this developed into the creation of brilliant satirical and whimsical works, where he ridiculed Soviet absurdity. Organic patriotism: his love for Ukraine was natural, “from the ground”, without theatrical gestures. He suffered deeply from the destruction of the Ukrainian village and language, which later resulted in his sharp journalistic articles.

he was born in 1939 Valery Shevchuk has a character that was radically different from the turbulent temperament of most of the sixties. His defining features are asceticism, phenomenal hard work, and intellectual detachment. While others were loudly rallied, Shevchuk chose the path of a “cultural hermit” who saved Ukrainian culture through fierce daily work at a desk. Researchers and contemporaries highlight the following key facets of his character: “Intellectual monk” and archivist: Shevchuk possesses extraordinary self-discipline. He consciously distanced himself from loud companies and the Soviet litprocess in order to devote himself entirely to the study of Ukrainian baroque, translations of ancient texts, and writing his own philosophical novels. Deep inner independence: unlike many colleagues, he never compromised with the Soviet authorities and did not write laudatory odes to the party. Because of this, his works were not published for years, but Shevchuk calmly continued to write "at the table", demonstrating iron patience. A mystic thinker: in life and work, he always remained inclined to deep psychological analysis, parables and the study of the human soul. He is often called the master of Ukrainian magical realism because of his special, slightly mysterious view of the world. Principled and uncompromising: despite his outward calmness and quiet voice, Valery Shevchuk always had an unwavering civic position. He supported dissidents, was friends with Alla Horskaya, protested against arrests, but did it without unnecessary pathos, as an internal moral duty.

She was born in 1941. The character of Iryna Zhilenko is best described by the Latin expression “Homo Feriens” – “Celebrating Person”. This is how she named her famous book of memoirs, which reflects her life credo – “joyfulness”, that is, the ability to find beauty and festivity in life despite any life tragedies and Soviet grayness. Researchers, friends and her own diaries highlight several striking features of her character: A combination of childish carelessness and maturity: contemporaries often described her as an “adult child” with eyes eternally in love with life. She knew how to look at the world around her with fabulous delight and sincere naivety, but at the same time she had a deep, ironic mind. Non-dissident steadfastness: unlike her close friends Vasyl Stus or Alla Gorska, Iryna was not a political activist on the barricades. Her rebellion against the Soviet system consisted in a categorical refusal to let socialist realism and ideology into her inner world. She consciously chose the "poetry of private space" (home, garden, family, flowers). Inner emotionality and vulnerability: the poet herself called herself a "timid stripper" in her memoirs, because she always bared her soul to the reader in her poems as much as possible, but at the same time she was very afraid of unkind people, their condemnations and sentences. Self-criticism and irony: Zhilenko very modestly assessed her own talent. In her notes, she was not afraid to criticize both herself and the sixties movement in general for their tendency to discord or black-and-white thinking. Incredible zest for life and toughness: having survived the loss of her parents in World War II, Soviet searches, dismissal from work and hardship, she retained a warm, sentimental and colorful view of the world.

Mykola Vingranovsky's character combined explosive creative passion, Cossack temperament and deep inner delicacy. In the memories of his contemporaries, he remained a man with a keen sense of beauty, innate charisma and aristocratic spirit. The main character traits of the artist: True magnetism: He had extraordinary masculine beauty and charisma. Contemporaries recalled that girls fell in love with him "in droves", and he was considered a real sex symbol of his time. Love for life and observation: He knew how to sincerely rejoice in little things, admired nature and animals. He had the ability to see happiness in simple things. Explosive temperament and will: A childhood that fell on the Holodomor and war tempered his character and added endurance. In his work, he was passionate and expressive, he would "exert himself" and test all the receptors before writing it down. Delicacy and kindness: Despite his build and the type of a brave hero, he had a very soft and delicate character. This sometimes hindered him in the profession of a film director, which often required toughness. Lack of vanity: Unlike many of his fellow sixties colleagues, he did not aspire to a political career, positions or tribunes. He was devoted to his work - he wrote books and made films.

Vasyl Symonenko's character was distinguished by crystal honesty, deep emotional vulnerability, and uncompromising devotion to the truth. Contemporaries remembered him as a modest person in everyday life, but extremely courageous, sharp and passionate in word and deed. Psychological portrait and key character traits of the poet: Main personality traits Organic truthfulness: He absolutely did not know how and did not want to deceive, falsify or adapt to Soviet censorship. Deep empathy: He had a heightened sense of other people's pain and social injustice, which is why he was called the "conscience of Ukrainian poetry". External modesty: In everyday life and communication, he remained simple, quiet and delicate, avoiding pathos or self-promotion. Internal explosion: He combined calm behavior with incredible emotional passion and iron will when it came to protecting human dignity. Civic courage: Together with Alla Horska, he investigated the secret burials of victims of Stalinism in Bykivna, not given the mortal danger and KGB surveillance. Worldview guidelines: Chivalrous humanism: He placed the value of the individual human personality above all else, which became the manifesto of the generation of the sixties. Filial loyalty: He had a sacrificial, selfless love for Ukraine, which he considered his only spiritual support.

Alla Gorskaya's character was distinguished by bright leadership, exceptional nobility, and fearless devotion to her friends and beliefs. Contemporaries called her the "soul of the sixties", "princess" and "center of gravity", around which the creative youth of Kyiv united. Psychological portrait and key character traits of the artist: Magnetic leadership: She had colossal charisma, powerful energy and organizational talent, thanks to which she became the leader of the Creative Youth Club "Contemporary". Knightly nobility: She was always the first to come to the rescue, raised funds for the families of the arrested, supported them materially and morally. Fearlessness and directness: She openly expressed protests against arrests, refused to testify against her KGB friends, demonstrating iron will and steadfastness. Principledness: Despite her origin from a nomenclature family and Russian-speaking upbringing, she consciously switched to the Ukrainian language, learned it and stood up for the defense of national culture. Emotional openness: She combined aristocratic restraint with extraordinary sincerity, optimism and ardent belief in justice.

The character of Vasyl Stus was defined by extreme honesty, uncompromising attitude to falsehood and principled indomitability. Researchers and contemporaries described him as a "man without skin" - intellectually profound, with a keen sense of justice, who absolutely did not accept compromises with the totalitarian system and demanded the same sincerity from himself and others. The psychological portrait and life principles of the poet were distinguished by the following features: Maximalism and selflessness: He set the highest moral demands both to his own creativity and behavior, and to those around him. Stus never made concessions to his conscience, which is why he consciously chose the path of open resistance. Uncompromisingness (the principle of the "man without skin"): The poet reacted painfully to any lie, meanness and adaptation. His inner moral compass made any cooperation with the Soviet regime impossible. Deep intellectuality: He was a highly educated man, perfectly versed in world literature and philosophy, which was reflected in his complex, existential works. Civic courage: He went through years of Mordovian camps, hard labor in the Kolyma, punishment cells, and the confiscation of manuscripts. Even in inhuman conditions, he showed will, which forced the camp administration to consider him "the most dangerous prisoner."

Ivan Drach was distinguished by a multifaceted, dynamic and contradictory character. His contemporaries, fellow artists and literary critics (you can read more in the Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine) describe his nature as a combination of a passionate innovator, a profound philosopher and a charismatic leader. Here are the key character traits of Ivan Drach, which defined him as a person and an artist: Eternal rebel and innovator: The poet constantly sought experiments, breaking the usual norms and canons. It is not without reason that he was called the "eternal heretic" of Ukrainian poetry - he was bold in his metaphors and was not afraid to introduce scientific vocabulary into his poems. Temperamental and emotional: Drach had a very lively, passionate nature, which was clearly manifested both in his work and in life (as in his literary memoirs). He was often compared to a "sunflower" because of his optimism, but at the same time his work was full of strong emotions - from radical denial to deep sadness.A figure and leader: As one of the first co-founders of the People's Movement of Ukraine, Drach proved himself as a fearless patriot and fighter for independence. However, as biographers testify (for example, in collections on UkrLib), in certain periods of the Soviet era he, like many sixties people, had to make compromises, which added to the contradictions of his image.Surrealist and thinker: A deep interest in world philosophy and a sincere, deep-rooted love for his native folk word, folklore, and everyday life harmoniously coexisted in Drach's character.

Ivan Dzyuba was an exceptionally modest, delicate and intelligent person who combined gentleness in everyday communication with steely courage and uncompromisingness in defending the truth and Ukrainian identity. The memoirs of contemporaries and historical essays highlight the following key traits of his character: Modesty and unpretentiousness: He never sought fame or power, avoided public ostentation. Even during the banning of his books or persecution by the authorities, Dzyuba impressed those around him with his simplicity and dedication to the cause. Uncompromisingness and courage: He showed incredible courage, publicly speaking out in defense of the Ukrainian intelligentsia and culture. His legendary work "Internationalism or Russification?" became a symbol of intellectual resistance. Deep intellectuality and tolerance: As a literary scholar and critic, he knew how to conduct a dialogue, avoiding wild radicalism in favor of deep analysis. His views were sincere and balanced. Humanity and kindness: Contemporaries remembered him as a man with kind, "childish" eyes, a bright mind, and sincere love for people, which made him a moral authority for the generation of the sixties.

Ivan Svitlychny's character was defined by a combination of unbreakable steadfastness, crystal honesty, and deep empathy. Contemporaries described him as a "camp conscience," the spiritual leader of the sixties, and a man of European formation who never betrayed his principles. More about his key traits: Moral authority: He had an undeniable influence among political prisoners due to his purity, disinterestedness, and lack of lust for power. Unwaveringness: He showed uncompromisingness in defending human rights, withstood long protest hunger strikes, and underwent the trials of the camps with dignity. Intelligence and tolerance: He was a categorical opponent of any fundamentalisms and fanaticisms. He was a deeply ironic intellectual. Sociability: He was an extremely charismatic person who gathered like-minded people around him. He had one of the best private libraries of the time, and shared it and his knowledge with others. Extraordinary vitality: Despite a childhood injury (loss of the phalanges of most fingers) and the difficult conditions of captivity, he was distinguished by optimism and love of life.

Vyacheslav Chornovil was an uncompromising fighter, a man of incredible energy and intelligence. Contemporaries remembered him as a "Zekiv general" - unshakable, hot-tempered, but devoted to the idea. Historical Truth describes him as a man who could endure personal insults to infinity, but never forgave encroachments on Ukraine. The main character traits of Vyacheslav Chornovil: Indomitability and courage: He went through 15 years of camps and exiles, but did not break under the pressure of the system, working with redoubled strength every year. Energy and determination: He was always on the move. In the camps, he quickly fulfilled his production quota in order to have time to read and write articles. Sharp mind and irony: He often mocked his KGB supervisors thanks to his deep knowledge, which drove the investigators to despair. Principled: He defended democratic values, sharply criticized corruption, and never held a grudge. Unpretentiousness in everyday life: He was absolutely modest in everyday life, more concerned with the fate of the state. Charismatic: He knew how to find a common language with different people, relieving tension in the audience with a well-aimed joke or good conversation.