Vadym Hetman

Vadym Petrovych Hetman
Born	Template:Birth date Snityn, Poltava Oblast, Ukrainian SSR
Died	April 22, 1998(1998-04-22) (aged 62) Kyiv, Ukraine
Occupation(s)	Politician, statesman, banker
Known for	Founder of the National Bank of Ukraine; Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine (1992–1993)

Vadym Petrovych Hetman (; 12 July 1935 – 22 April 1998) was a prominent Ukrainian politician, statesman, and banker, recognized as the founder of Ukraine's central financial institution, the National Bank of Ukraine. He was murdered in Kyiv in 1998, with the Prosecutor General attributing the assassination to former Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko. In 2005, Hetman was posthumously honored with the title of Hero of Ukraine.

Early life and career

Born in 1935 in Snityn, Poltava Oblast (then part of the Ukrainian SSR), Hetman completed his studies at the Kyiv Financial-Economic Institute in 1956. His early professional experience included various financial positions within Zaporizhzhia Oblast. By 1975, he advanced to become first vice-president of the Government Committee on Pricing of the Ukrainian SSR. In 1987, he took charge of the Agricultural-Industrial Bank of the Ukrainian SSR, which was renamed Ukraine Bank in 1990.

Chairman of the National Bank

Vadym Hetman was appointed as Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine on 24 March 1992. He played a leading role in implementing initial monetary reforms during Ukraine’s early years of independence until his resignation from the supervisory board in 1993. Despite stepping down, he maintained a close relationship with his successor Viktor Yushchenko. Notably, Hetman’s signature is featured on the first series of hryvnia banknotes issued in September 1996.

People's Deputy of Ukraine

From 1990 until his death in 1998, Hetman served as a member of the Verkhovna Rada. In 1994, running as an independent candidate for the Talne electoral district, he secured re-election with 50.97% support. However, in the 1998 parliamentary elections, he narrowly missed re-election by obtaining only 21.85% of the vote, losing to Mykhailo Onofryichuk, First Deputy Minister of Information. Hetman also raised concerns with President Leonid Kuchma regarding electoral irregularities within parliament.

Assassination

On 22 April 1998, Hetman was shot dead inside the elevator of his apartment building in Kyiv. The suspect, Serhiy Kulev—allegedly affiliated with the Donbas-based "Kushner gang"—was apprehended in 2002 and received a life sentence in 2003. Ukrainian authorities accused former Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko of orchestrating and financing the murder; Lazarenko denied these claims. Despite judicial conclusions, skepticism remains as Kulev appealed his conviction in 2005, claiming his confession was coerced and that the case was fabricated.

Awards and legacy

In recognition of his contributions, Vadym Hetman was posthumously awarded the Hero of Ukraine title by President Viktor Yushchenko on 11 July 2005.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled on 12 July 2005 at House №13—the location where Hetman lived and was assassinated.

That same year, Kyiv National Economic University, where Hetman had studied during the 1950s, was renamed to honor him.

On 19 April 2006, Industrial Street in Kyiv was renamed after Vadym Hetman.

Additionally, the "Vadym Hetman Cup," a yacht racing event, serves to preserve his memory.

External links

• National Bank of Ukraine — official site
• Vadym Hetman Cup — official site