Vitold Fokin 1932 – 2025

Biography

Born in 1932 in Novomykolaivka, Vitold Fokin emerged as a defining figure in Ukrainian public service during the nation’s most turbulent decades. He carved out a career navigating the seismic shifts of the Soviet era and the exhilarating chaos of post-independence Ukraine, becoming a fixture in Kyiv’s political landscape. Fokin’s work spanned some of history’s most consequential moments for his country—from the final gasps of communism to the birth pangs of a newly sovereign nation.

Fokin’s life embodied Ukraine’s own transformation. A seasoned operator in the halls of power, he witnessed firsthand the ideological earthquakes and geopolitical upheavals that reshaped Eastern Europe. His decades of public service reflected an unwavering commitment to his homeland through eras when that commitment demanded courage and conviction.

He passed away on March 20, 2025, in Kyiv at 92, his final resting place at the distinguished Baikove Cemetery—a burial ground reserved for those who shaped the nation’s destiny. Fokin leaves behind the imprint of a life spent in service to Ukraine during its most defining chapter.