Mykola Plaviuk

Mykola Vasyliovych Plaviuk (; 5 June 1925 – 10 March 2012) was a Ukrainian social and political activist in emigration, who served as the last President of the Ukrainian People's Republic in exile. He terminated his authority on 22 August 1992, when he formally ceded his authority to the first President of independent Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk.

Early life and education Mykola Plaviuk was born on 5 June 1925 in the village of Rusów in Poland (now Rusiv, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, in independent Ukraine). After the war, he fled to Germany in June 1988 elected vice-president of the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR) in Exile.

After death of incumbent president Mykola Livytskyi, Plaviuk became his successor, In his declaration, Plaviuk proclaimed that the current Ukrainian state is the lawful successor to the Ukrainian People's Republic and a continuation of its authority and state traditions.

For his achievements in Ukrainian community and political affairs in the diaspora, Mykola Plaviuk was awarded the St. Volodymyr the Great Medal by the Ukrainian World Congress, and the Taras Shevchenko Medal by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. In 1993, via extraordinary decree by President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, Mykola Plaviuk was made a citizen of Ukraine. In 1996, by presidential decree Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma conferred upon Mykola Plaviuk the State Order of Merit, 3rd Class "…for his personal contribution to the development of Ukrainian statehood, and his active community and humanitarian involvement…."

In 2007, through presidential decree President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko conferred upon Mykola Plaviuk The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st Class for his contributions as a “…public and political leader, President of the UNR in exile 1988-1992, for his selfless service to the Ukrainian people, and distinguished personal achievements in the revival of Ukraine’s independence."

Mykola Plaviuk was the leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists from 1981 until his death. Plaviuk lived in both Kyiv and Canada. He died on 10 March 2012 in Hamilton, Ontario.