Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky (25 January 1938 – 25 July 1980) was a highly influential Soviet singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, celebrated for his unique singing style and profound lyrics. Despite being largely overlooked by the official Soviet cultural establishment, Vysotsky's impact on Soviet culture was immense, with his work featuring social and political commentary presented in street jargon. Born in Moscow to a Jewish father and Russian mother, Vysotsky's early theatrical inclinations were supported by his mother, who nurtured his love for the arts. His World War II experiences and diverse family dynamics greatly influenced his formative years. Vysotsky's career began with his enrollment in drama courses and a brief stint at Moscow State University of Civil Engineering before he pursued acting at the Moscow Art Theatre School. His marriage to Iza Zhukova and their subsequent life together played a significant role in his personal and professional development. Vysotsky's impact on Russian music and acting continues to be felt, making him a revered figure in Soviet and Russian cultural history.

Vladimir Nikolayevich Romanov, also known as Vladimiras Romanovas, is a Russian-Lithuanian businessman known for his involvement in various sporting clubs and investments. Born on June 15, 1947, Romanov's early life saw him supporting his family at a young age after the death of his father. He served in the Soviet Navy and later ventured into business, accumulating wealth through various enterprises in Lithuania, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Russia, and Serbia. Romanov's business interests included aluminum, textiles, property, and television.His significant stakes in sporting clubs include becoming the majority shareholder in Scottish Premier League football club Hearts and Lithuanian Basketball League club Žalgiris. He also took control of the Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas and was the owner of Belarusian Premier League club FC Partizan Minsk.However, Romanov's business ventures faced challenges, notably with the closure of Ūkio Bankas by the Lithuania Central Bank in 2013, leading to investigations into allegations of fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering. Romanov faced legal issues and was arrested in Moscow in April 2014, subsequently declaring himself insolvent.His involvement in Hearts, a Scottish Premier League club, also garnered attention due to financial difficulties and his takeover of the club, which was met with both approval and criticism.Vladimir Nikolayevich Romanov's varied business ventures and sports investments

Vladimir Igorevich Arnold, also known as Vladimir Arnold, was a prominent Soviet and Russian mathematician, born on June 12, 1937, in Odesa, Soviet Union. He is best known for his contributions to various areas of mathematics, including the stability of integrable systems, geometrical theory of dynamical systems, algebra, catastrophe theory, and many more. Arnold's significant achievements include solving Hilbert's thirteenth problem at the age of 19 and co-founding three new branches of mathematics: topological Galois theory, symplectic topology, and KAM theory.Throughout his career, Arnold made substantial contributions to the field of mathematics and influenced many mathematicians and physicists through his lectures, seminars, and textbooks. He was also a popularizer of mathematics and authored several influential books, some of which were translated into English. Arnold's dedication to education and his unconventional approach to problem-solving set him apart in the world of mathematics. Despite his untimely death on June 3, 2010, at the age of 72, Arnold's legacy continues to inspire and shape the field of mathematics. His impact on modern mathematics and the prestige of Russian science is widely acknowledged, making his contribution to the world of science immeasurable.

Vladimir Herzog, known as Vlado, was a Brazilian journalist, university professor, and playwright of Croatian-Jewish descent. Born in Croatia in 1937, his family emigrated to Brazil to escape persecution during World War II. Herzog earned a degree in Philosophy from the University of São Paulo and worked as a journalist for various media outlets. He also spent time working in London for the BBC before returning to Brazil. In the 1970s, Herzog became the editor-in-chief of TV Cultura and a professor at the University of São Paulo. He was a member of the Brazilian Communist Party and actively resisted the military dictatorship in Brazil. Tragically, Herzog was summoned by the Brazilian Army, detained, beaten, and tortured, resulting in his death in 1975. Initially staged as a suicide, it took 37 years before his death certificate was revised to state that he died as a result of torture. His death had a profound impact on Brazilian society, igniting a movement towards the re-democratization of the country and sparking protests against the military dictatorship.

Vladimir Tismăneanu, born on July 4, 1951, is a renowned Romanian American political scientist, political analyst, sociologist, and professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is widely recognized for his expertise in political systems, comparative politics, and his directorship of the University of Maryland's Center for the Study of Post-Communist Societies. Tismăneanu has made significant contributions to various academic publications and worked with esteemed international media platforms. Notably, he has authored influential texts on Stalinism, Romanian communism, nationalism, and neo-Stalinism, while also exploring topics such as Cold War history, Kremlinology, and the Holocaust. His shift from a loose Marxist vision to a noted proponent of classical liberalism and liberal democracy has shaped his scholarly contributions and published works on Romania's post-1989 history. Tismăneanu's background and work came under scrutiny following his appointment as head of the Presidential Commission for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Romania in 2006. Born in Brașov to parents with a notable communist background, Tismăneanu's upbringing provided him with unique insights into Communist Party history, influencing his scholarly pursuits and critical perspective on civil society. He graduated as a valedictorian from the University of Bucharest's Faculty of Sociology in 1974, marking the beginning of his impactful academic career.