Mykola Rudenko

Mykola Rudenko
Микола Руденко
Born(1920-12-19)19 December 1920
Died1 April 2004(2004-04-01) (aged 83)
NationalityUkrainian
Citizenship Ukrainian SSR (1920–1922) →  Soviet Union (1922–1988) → stateless (1988–1990) →  Soviet Union (1990–1991) →  Ukraine (1991–2004)
Alma materKyiv State University
Occupation(s)political instructor of company during the Second World War, writer, novelist, poet, radio personality
Employer(s)Writer's Union of Ukraine, Radio Liberty, Voice of America
Known forhuman rights activism with participation in the Ukrainian Helsinki Group
Political partyCommunist Party of the Soviet Union
Movementdissident movement in the Soviet Union
Spouse(s)Olena Shapovalova, Raisa Rudenko
Childrensons: Yuriy, Oleh, Valeriy; daughter: Alyona
Parent(s)Danylo and Dokiya
Military career
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service/branch Red Army / Soviet Army
Years of service1941–1945
Unitcompany
Battles/warsSecond World War
Awards
USSR

Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class Order of the Red Star

Ukraine
Hero of Ukraine Order of Merit (Ukraine)
Shevchenko National Prize

Mykola Danylovych Rudenko (Ukrainian: Микола Данилович Руденко; 19 December 1920 – 1 April 2004) was a Ukrainian poet, writer, philosopher, Soviet dissident, human rights activist and World War II veteran. He was the founder of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, and was twice arrested for his dissident activities.