Pyotr Shelest has a special place in the political history of Ukraine in the 20th century. Having gone through a difficult life, in 1963 he became the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. He supported N. Khrushchev and his political line, but was among those who brought L. Brezhnev to power. He advocated the suppression of the Prague Spring of 1968 and at the same time blocked the total strangulation of dissent in Ukraine. He recognized Stalin’s authority and at the same time demanded that the Moscow leadership adhere to the officially declared principles in relations between the center and the then “union republics.” He was against the dismantling of the USSR and at the same time contributed to the strengthening of Ukrainian national traditions and respect for Ukraine’s past. His memoirs will help find answers to many questions of our recent history.