Hearts and Dundee United shared the points in an ill-tempered 1-1 draw at Tynecastle Park.
In an encounter where tempers frayed between the sides, a Kucherenko own-goal in the first half was cancelled out by Luca Stephenson's header before the break.
The Jambos head into the international break seven points clear at the Premiership summit, with second placed Celtic holding a game in hand.
The big news pre-match from Derek McInnes was that Beni Baningime would be sidelined for at least a few weeks following an injury during the week; that meant there was room for Tomas Magnusson in only his second start of the season, with Claudio Braga reinstated to the starting XI following last week's 4-0 win over Dundee in Gorgie.
Dundee United started with intensity, getting in the Jambos' faces. The Arabas thought they had claimed the lead after eight minutes when Zac Sapsford was slid through on goal and lobbed Schwolow - but subsequent replays showed he was well offside.
Hearts had a chance of their own after 13 minutes; a corner was knocked down to Magnusson by Stuart Findlay on the edge of the box, with his powerful lash from distance palmed away by Kucherenko in the United goal.
Two minutes later, and Hearts went close again, Claudio Braga steamrolling through a sea of United shirts as he advanced to the edge of the area - his low attempt at goal dragging wide of the post.
United had tried to unsettle Hearts with their energetic start, but it would count for little, with the Jambos racing into the lead after 26 minutes.
A well worked short corner saw Braga thread the ball to Alexandros Kyziridis who was enjoying acres of space on the edge of the box. United had been caught sleeping, and he curled a thunderous strike home that was helped across the line by Kucherenko.
The game was getting ratty, and as half time approached, United pulled back an unexpected equaliser.
United's corner was sent deep, and found Luca Stephenson who peeled away from his markers at the back to post to send a bullet header crashing into the net beyond the reach of Alex Schwolow.
HT: Heart of Midlothian 1-1 Dundee United
McInnes shuffled the pack after the break; introducing Michael Steinwender and Stephen Kingsley to proceedings; the latter going close from a free-kick on the hour mark - his ranged effort going just over the crossbar.
It was a bruising and energy sapping encounter at Tynecastle, with United looking to hit on the counter and break up play where they could.
With 70 minutes gone, United thought they had scored again, with Zac Sapsford getting on the end of a short squared ball across goal, but subsequent VAR checks confirmed offside in the build up.
Despite huffing and puffing, the Jambos couldn't find a way through, and had to settle for a point going into the international break.
Hearts: Schwolow, Halkett, Shankland, Braga (Kabangu 88'), Kabore (Kingsley 45'), Devlin, Milne (Kerjota 80'), Findlay, Magnusson (Ageu 65'), McEntee (Steinwender 45'), Kyziridis
Subs: Gordon, Steinwender, Kingsley, Borchgrevink, Ageu, Spittal, Kerjota, Kabangu
Dundee United: Kucherenko, Esselink, Iovu, Sevelj, Camara, Sapsford, Fatah, Dolcek, Stephenson, Naamo, Keresztes
Subs: Richards, Trapanovski, Eskesen, Stirton, Cleall-Harding, Beattie, Welsh, Moller
Attendance: 18,755
