Restructuring from Below: Informal Groups in Ukraine under Gorbachev, 1985–89

Abstract

For fifteen years Ukraine had been ruled by Volodymyr Shcherbyts-kyi, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU). Widespread repression of all forms of dissent, an all-embracing campaign of Russification and subservience to Moscow authorities had characterised his tenure of office.¹ While the Western media speculated on Shcherbytskyi’s demise after Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in April 1985,² the arch-conservative boss of Ukraine remained in control. Perestroika in Ukraine was undoubtedly sacrificed in the interests of maintaining centralised control. As the former political prisoner Iuri Badzio noted, ‘Gorbachev wanted to maintain political stability in Ukraine at the expense of democracy.’³