Leonid Chernov (Maloshyichenko) (1899–1933) — a Ukrainian writer, poet, traveler, and extraordinarily versatile artist whose work blended the romance of travel, cinema, and the spirit of the new industrial era.
Early years and literary beginnings
Leonid Kindratovych Chernov (real surname Maloshyichenko) was born on January 15, 1899, in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleksandriia. From a young age, he demonstrated exceptional talent and initiative, publishing the illustrated satirical magazine Rohatka, which briefly interrupted his formal education. He continued his studies at the Chisinau Gymnasium, then pursued higher education at the universities of Odessa, Kyiv, and Katerynoslav (now Dnipro), studying mathematics, law, and medicine.

Chernov’s literary career began very early. His first works were published in the almanac Hrono when he was only 17. Over the next few years, he established himself as a bold innovator with collections such as 125 Days Under the Tropics and The Sun Under the Oars. His early writing reflected experimentation with form and language, capturing the rhythm of a changing era.

The Maloshyichenko family. From left to right: Leonid, mother Oksana Fedorivna, brother Mykola, sisters Kateryna and Olga, father Kindrat Feodosiyovych. Oleksandriia, 1909.

Odessa and Travels

Odessa played a pivotal role in Chernov’s life, serving as both a creative hub and a geographic anchor for his experiences. In 1924, as a cinematographer, he embarked on one of his first major journeys aboard the Transbalt from Vladivostok, traveling across the Indian Ocean and visiting cities such as Bombay and Cairo before returning to Odessa.

He chronicled this remarkable voyage in the Odessa journal Shkval, complementing his travel essays with thirty original photographs. These accounts later formed the basis of his book 125 Days Under the Tropics.

In Odessa, Chernov also immersed himself in the local literary scene, connecting with futurists associated with the journal Yugolef. He published fragments of his cine-poems in Shkval and actively contributed to the literary and cinematic environment, blending poetry, prose, and film. The city inspired works such as his poetic cycle The Sea, reflecting the rhythm, movement, and openness of the port city.

Leonid Chernov (Maloshyichenko) on the set of the film Wind from the East. Odessa, 1925.

Creative legacy and final years

Chernov authored numerous prose and poetry works, including The Sun Under the Oars, Znamyanka Station, The Man from Another Planet, Eccentrics Adorn the World, and adventurous and fantastical narratives. His style combined the dynamism of futurism with lyrical and neoromantic elements, expressing fascination with industrial progress and urban life.

He was also involved in literary associations such as Nova Generatsiia and Avangard, supporting avant-garde and experimental Ukrainian literature.

Chernov’s travels to India led to his contraction of tuberculosis, which forced his return to Odessa. Although he avoided arrest, unlike many contemporaries, his works were later banned and his name erased from the literary record for decades.

Leonid Chernov remains a symbol of Ukraine’s literary avant-garde and a visionary of the country’s modern, urban, and globally connected artistic spirit. Odessa, in particular, served as a place where travel, literature, and cinema intersected, shaping his enduring creative legacy.