dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə sˈoʊviət pˈiəɹɪəd, ɐ pˈoʊst ʌv hˈɛd ʌv stˈeɪt wʌz ɪn ɐ ʃˈædoʊ ʌvðə kˈɑːmjuːnˌɪst pˈɑːɹɾi lˈiːdɚ sˈiː fˈɜːst sˈɛkɹətɹi ʌvðə kˈɑːmjuːnˌɪst pˈɑːɹɾi ʌv juːkɹˈeɪn.
During the Soviet period, a post of head of state was in a shadow of the Communist Party leader (see First Secretary of the Communist Party of Ukraine).