Leonid Makhnovets

Leonid Yefremovych Makhnovets (Леоні́д Єфре́мович Махнове́ць; 31 May 1919 – 19 January 1993) was a Ukrainian literary critic, historian, archaeologist, interpreter, bibliographer. He was a Doctor of Philological Sciences (1966) and a recipient of the Shevchenko National Prize (1990) for preparation and publishing "Chronicle Ruthenian" (based on Hypatian Codex).

Makhnovets was born on May 31, 1919, in village Ozera, Kiev Governorate, Ukrainian People's Republic (today Bucha Raion, Kyiv Oblast).

After the fourth year at philology faculty of Kyiv University, Makhnovets went to war (World War II) therefore he graduated it in 1947. After that Makhnovets entered doctorate at the Shevchenko Institute of Literature (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) graduating in 1950.

In 1950–1955 he was a researcher at the Shevchenko State Museum, in 1955–72 Makhnovets worked in the Shevchenko Institute of Literature (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) from where he was groundlessly fired. Only an invitation to work at the Harvard University forced the Soviet government of Ukraine allowed him to return to scientific research. In 1975-85 Makhnovets worked as a researcher at the Institute of archaeology (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine).

He researched history of literature and culture of Ukraine, including the period of Kievan Rus. Makhnovets translated and commented The Tale of Igor's Campaign (1970) and the Chronicle Ruthenian after Hypatian Codex (1990), created several detailed indices.

Makhnovets is an author and coauthor of 400 works, compiler and editor of publications of Shevchenko Institute of Literature.

Makhnovets died on January 19, 1993, in Kyiv, Ukraine.