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Viktor Chernomyrdin

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Viktor Chernomyrdin, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025
Viktor Chernomyrdin
Born
Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin

(1938-04-09) April 9, 1938 (age 88)
Chernyi Otrog, Orenburg Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
DiedNovember 3, 2010(2010-11-03) (aged 72)
Occupation(s)Politician, entrepreneur
Years active1961–2010
Known forPrime Minister of Russia (1992–1998), founding chairman of Gazprom, Ambassador to Ukraine (2001–2009)

Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin (; 9 April 1938–3 November 2010) was a prominent Soviet and Russian political figure and entrepreneur. He held the position of Minister of Gas Industry in the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1989 and subsequently became the inaugural chairman of the Gazprom energy corporation. Chernomyrdin served as Russia's Prime Minister from 1992 to 1998, making him the second longest-serving individual in that office, where he significantly influenced the country's shift from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented system. Between 2001 and 2009, he acted as Russia’s ambassador to Ukraine before taking on the role of presidential advisor.

Renowned for his unique and often humorous use of language, characterized by frequent malapropisms and grammatical mistakes, many of Chernomyrdin’s sayings have entered popular culture across Russian-speaking regions. Notable examples include "We wanted the best, but it turned out like always" and "The thing that never happens just happened again."

After battling a prolonged illness, Chernomyrdin passed away on 3 November 2010. His funeral took place at Novodevichy Cemetery and was broadcast live on national television.

Early life and education

Born in Chernyi Otrog, Orenburg Oblast, within the Russian SFSR, Chernomyrdin was one of five siblings in a working-class family. He completed his secondary education in 1957 and subsequently worked at an oil refinery in Orsk as a mechanic until 1962, with an interruption for military service from 1957 to 1960. His responsibilities at the refinery included roles such as machinist, operator, and head of technical installations.

In 1962, despite modest examination results and low competition, he gained admission to Kuybyshev Industrial Institute (later known as Samara Polytechnical Institute). He graduated in 1966 and later completed additional economics coursework through correspondence by 1972.

Soviet political and government career

Chernomyrdin became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) in 1961. From 1967 until 1973, he worked as an industrial manager within the Orsk city party committee. He then served as deputy chief engineer and director at a natural gas facility in Orenburg between 1973 and 1978. In 1978, he relocated to Moscow to join the heavy industry department of the CPSU Central Committee, where he remained until 1982.

In 1982, he was appointed deputy minister for the Soviet natural gas sector and concurrently led Glavtyumengazprom starting in 1983. Under Mikhail Gorbachev’s administration, he was promoted to minister of natural gas industry in 1985, a post he held until 1989.

Founder of Gazprom

In August 1989, Chernomyrdin spearheaded the reorganization of the Ministry of Gas Industry into Gazprom, marking Russia’s first state-corporate entity. As its founding chairman, he managed a company that remained wholly state-owned but operated through shareholding mechanisms.

Although unsuccessful in securing a seat during the 1990 Russian Supreme Soviet election, his prominence increased following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. Gazprom retained control over Russia’s gas infrastructure and established a domestic monopoly, while former Soviet assets were divided into national companies such as Ukrgazprom and Turkmengazprom.

Gazprom’s influence grew politically when President Boris Yeltsin appointed Chernomyrdin as Prime Minister in 1992. He was succeeded as Gazprom chairman by Rem Viakhirev. Despite facing challenges throughout the 1990s, Gazprom emerged by the early 2000s as both the world’s largest natural gas producer and Russia’s biggest corporation.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia

In May 1992, President Boris Yeltsin designated Chernomyrdin as deputy prime minister responsible for fuel and energy sectors, commencing his duties in June under acting prime minister Yegor Gaidar. His nomination received backing from the Civic Union political faction, reflecting his close ties with industrial interests.

Prime Minister of Russia

Following the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia's refusal to confirm Gaidar as permanent prime minister, Yeltsin put forward Chernomyrdin, whose moderate political stance facilitated his approval. He officially assumed office on 14 December 1992.

Although Gaidar faced considerable criticism, Chernomyrdin largely upheld his predecessor’s policy direction. He jointly led the Gore–Chernomyrdin Commission alongside U.S. Vice President Al Gore, fostering bilateral collaboration between the United States and Russia, especially in space exploration initiatives. In 1993, they unveiled plans for a collaborative space station project that later developed into the International Space Station, while also expanding American participation in the Mir space program.

In April 1995, Chernomyrdin established the political coalition Our Home – Russia, which garnered 10% of votes and secured 55 parliamentary seats, placing third in the 1995 Russian legislative election. That same year, he enacted a decree to launch a nationwide tiger conservation initiative.

During the Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis in June 1995, Chernomyrdin engaged directly with militants led by Shamil Basayev, reaching an agreement that ceased military operations in Chechnya and initiated peace negotiations, marking a significant development in the First Chechen War.

On 6 November 1996, while President Yeltsin was undergoing cardiac surgery, Chernomyrdin temporarily assumed the role of Acting President of Russia for nearly a full day.

He continued as Prime Minister until his removal on 23 March 1998. In the aftermath of the 1998 Russian financial crisis, Yeltsin reinstated him and appeared to position him as a potential successor. Nevertheless, persistent refusals by the State Duma to endorse him forced his withdrawal, paving the way for Yevgeny Primakov to establish a new government.

Diplomatic Career

Amidst the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, Chernomyrdin acted as Russia’s special envoy to Yugoslavia and declared his intention to contest the presidential election in 2000.

He secured a seat in the State Duma in December 1999. Subsequently, in May 2001, Vladimir Putin appointed him as Ambassador of Russia to Ukraine, a move interpreted by some observers as an effort to marginalize him from central political affairs within Russia. In 2003, he rejected appeals for a Soviet apology concerning the Holodomor Famine.

In February 2009, Chernomyrdin's critical remarks about Ukrainian leadership strained Russia–Ukraine relations, prompting Ukraine’s foreign ministry to consider declaring him "persona non-grata." On 11 June 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed him from his ambassadorial post and named him presidential adviser on economic cooperation with CIS nations. Throughout these events, Chernomyrdin maintained that Russia had no obligation to apologize to Ukraine over disputes related to gas payments, underscoring Russia’s entitlement to compensation for natural gas supplied.

Death

Viktor Chernomyrdin passed away on the morning of 3 November 2010 following a prolonged illness. Those close to him, including the singer Lev Leshchenko, remarked that he was profoundly impacted by the loss of his wife Valentina, who had died seven and a half months prior.

His burial took place on 5 November 2010 at Novodevichy Cemetery, where he was laid to rest alongside his wife. On the day of his passing, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev commanded that Chernomyrdin's funeral be broadcast live across federal television channels—an exceptional tribute recently bestowed only upon former President Boris Yeltsin and Patriarch Alexy II. The funeral proceedings were directed by Sergey Naryshkin, head of the Presidential Administration of Russia.

Messages of sympathy were received from President Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, various Russian dignitaries, as well as Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich.

Sayings

Within Russian-speaking communities, Chernomyrdin is remembered for his numerous linguistic slips and grammatically flawed expressions, collectively referred to as Chernomyrdinki, akin to the concept of Bushisms. His most renowned quote, "We wanted (to do) it better, but it turned out as always" (Хотели как лучше, а получилось как всегда), has become a frequently cited phrase in analyses of Russia’s economic reforms. This saying originated following an unsuccessful currency exchange operation conducted by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in July 1993.

Honours and awards

State awards from Russia and the USSR
Awards from President and Government
  • Diploma from the President of Russia (12 December 2008) – recognizing his pivotal role in drafting the Constitution and supporting democratic principles
  • Presidential Gratitude (1993, 1995, 1996, 1999) – awarded for contributions to Victory Day celebrations, election campaigns, and diplomatic initiatives in the Balkans
  • Diplomas from Russian Government (2003, 2008) – for promoting trade between Russia and Ukraine and for long-term public service
International distinctions
  • Medal commemorating "100th Anniversary of Georgi Dimitrov" (Bulgaria, 1982)
  • Mkhitar Gosh Medal (Armenia, awarded in 1998/2002) – for humanitarian assistance following the Spitak earthquake
  • Order of Parasat (Kazakhstan, 1999) – honoring contributions to Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector
  • Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 5th class (Ukraine, 2003) – recognizing efforts to enhance bilateral relations between Russia and Ukraine
  • Order of Merit, 3rd class (Ukraine, 2009) – awarded for sustained diplomatic engagement
Regional awards within Russia
  • Order "For Merit" from Ingushetia (2001) – acknowledging efforts toward regional economic development
  • Order of the "Key of Friendship" from Kemerovo Region (2008)
Ecclesiastical awards
  • Order of St. Sergius, 2nd class (Russian Orthodox Church, 2007) – for promoting Orthodox unity
  • Order of Christmas, 2nd class (UOC)
  • Jubilee medal commemorating "1020 years since Baptism of Kievan Rus" (Russian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate, 2008)
Departmental recognitions
  • Honorary Worker titles from Ministry for Oil and Gas Construction (1988), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2003), and Veteran status within Gas Industry (1998)
Additional honors
  • A Russian icebreaker vessel has been named after Viktor Chernomyrdin

External links

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