[9][10] Serhiy Taruta was born in Mariupol in 1955 and was a successful cyclist in his youth; he later claimed that he rode an average of 120 kilometres a day.

[13][failed verification] According to Forbes magazine, he ranks among the richest people in the world, with his estimated wealth being over 2.7 billion US dollars (2008).

[citation needed] On 2 March 2014, amidst the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov appointed Taruta Governor of Donetsk Oblast.

[23] Taruta is the co-chair of the Parliamentary Platform for the Future of Donbass, a body that aims to develop new legislative initiatives to help solve problems related to the reintegration of occupied territories of the region.

[30] On 16 March (2 weeks and one day before the election) Taruta pledged his campaign-team would support fellow candidate Yulia Tymoshenko's campaign efforts.