Viktor Sukhodrev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Viktor Sukhodrev
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Sukhodrev (center) interpreting during the Brezhnev–Nixon meeting, 1973
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| Born |
Viktor Mikhailovich Sukhodrev
12 December 1932 |
| Died | 16 May 2014 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Linguistic interpreter and translator |
| Spouse(s) |
Inna Kmit
(divorced)Inga Okunevskaya
(died) |
| Children | 1 |
Viktor Mikhailovich Sukhodrev (Russian: Виктор Михайлович Суходрев; 12 December 1932 – 16 May 2014) was a very important Soviet and Russian diplomat and translator. He was famous for being the personal interpreter for top Soviet leaders like Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, and Mikhail Gorbachev. He also worked with other high-ranking Soviet politicians.
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Early Life and Learning
Viktor Sukhodrev was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1932. His father was a Soviet intelligence officer who worked in the United States. When he was a young boy during World War II, Viktor lived in London for six years with his mother. She worked at the Soviet trade mission there.
He started attending the Soviet Embassy School in London when he was 8 years old. This helped him learn English very well from a young age. When he was twelve, he moved back to Moscow. Later, he studied at the Military Institute of Foreign Languages, where he became an expert in languages.
A Career as a Top Interpreter
In 1956, Viktor Sukhodrev began his career at the translation office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was the start of a nearly 30-year career where he helped leaders from different countries talk to each other.
Interpreting for World Leaders
Sukhodrev was present at many important meetings and deals between the Soviet Union and other countries. He helped translate famous quotes, like Nikita Khrushchev's well-known phrase "We will bury you".
American leaders also thought highly of him. Richard Nixon, a former U.S. President, said Sukhodrev was "a superb linguist" who spoke English as well as he spoke Russian. Henry Kissinger, a famous American diplomat, called him "unflappable," meaning he always stayed calm and steady.
Amazing Language Skills
Both Soviet and U.S. officials believed he was the best interpreter in the world for Russian and English. Sometimes, he was the only interpreter needed at meetings between two countries.
He had a fantastic understanding of English phrases and expressions, knowing how words could mean different things in various parts of the English-speaking world. His memory was also incredible. He only needed a few notes to perfectly translate a 20-minute speech! In 2012, Sukhodrev was given the Russian national prize, "Translator of the Year," for his amazing work.
Later Life
Viktor Sukhodrev was married two times. He had a son named Sergei with his first wife, Inna Kmit. His second wife was Inga Okunevskaya, who was an English professor. She passed away before him.
Viktor Sukhodrev died in Moscow on 16 May 2014, when he was 81 years old.
