Chernenko bụ onye isi ndị Soviet n'afọ 1948 mgbe a họpụtara ya ka ọ bụrụ onye isi ngalaba mgbasa ozi nke Communist Party na Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. N'ebe ahụ, ọ zutere ma nweta ntụkwasị obi nke Leonid Brezhnev, onye odeakwụkwọ mbụ nke Moldavian SSR site na 1950 ruo 1952 na onye ndu ọdịnihu nke Soviet Union. Chernenko sooro Brezhnev na 1956 iji mejupụta ọkwa mgbasa ozi yiri nke ahụ na Kọmitii Central nke CPSU na Moscow. Na 1960, mgbe a họpụtara Brezhnev onyeisi oche nke Presidium nke Supreme Soviet (onye isi ala nke Soviet Union), Chernenko ghọrọ onye isi ndị ọrụ ya. Ajụjụ: Onye dugara ndị soviets, n'ikpeazụ?
Leonid Brezhnev