Yulia Tymoshenko served two terms as Prime Minister of Ukraine, the first in 2005 and the second from 2007 to 2010. Tymoshenko remains the first and only woman in Ukraine to hold that position.

Yulia Tymoshenko was born in 1960. She studied cybernetic engineering s at Dnipropetrovsk State University and in 1984 received a degree in economics first degree honors as an engineer-economist. In 1999, she obtained her PhD from ‘Kyiv National Economic University.’ 

Prior to her political career, Tymoshenko worked as an economist and academic, and was also a successful businesswoman.  In 1995. Tymoshenko became president of United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU). She was first elected to the Ukrainian parliament in 1996. She served in parliament from 1997 to 2000, from 2002 to 2005, 2006 to 2007, and from 2014 to present. From 1999 until 2001, she served as Deputy Prime Minister for Fuel and Energy.