Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has expressed his condolences to South African President Jacob Zuma following the death of the country's former president and hero of the struggle against apartheid, Nelson Mandela.

"With feelings of great sorrow Ukraine has learned about the news of the death of the former South African president, a prominent politician and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela," he said in a letter of condolences released by the presidential press service on Friday.

"For many generations he was an example of fortitude, integrity and strength of character," Yanukovych said.

South Africa's first black president, Mandela, died on December 5.