Mykhailo Koval
Acting Minister of Defence of Ukraine
In office
25 March 2014 – 3 July 2014
Prime MinisterArseniy Yatsenyuk
Preceded byIhor Tenyukh
Succeeded byValeriy Heletey[1]
Personal details
Born (1956-02-26) 26 February 1956 (age 67)
Izyaslav, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Ukraine)
Alma materFrunze Military Academy
Signature
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union (to 1991)
 Ukraine
Branch/service Soviet Army
 Ukrainian Ground Forces
SBGS
Years of service1979–2021
Battles/warsRusso-Ukrainian War

Mykhailo Volodymyrovych Koval (Ukrainian: Михайло Володимирович Коваль; 26 February 1956) is a Colonel General of Ukraine who until 2014 served in the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. During the 2014 Crimea crisis he was appointed as the Minister of Defence replacing outgoing Admiral Ihor Tenyukh who resigned.[2]

Biography

Mykhailo Koval was born on 26 February 1956 in the city of Iziaslav, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukrainian SSR.[3]

Military service

From September 1971 to June 1975, he studied at the Kamianets-Podilsky Industrial College at the mine surveying department. After graduating, he received the qualification of a "mining technician- mine surveyor" and attended the Kamianets-Podilsky Higher Military-Engineer Command School as a Second Lieutenant in the Sappers.[4]

Until 1987 he served in the Sapper units of the Soviet Airborne Troops (VDV), in 1987 being a Captain, after which he entered the M. V. Frunze Military Academy in Moscow and graduated it in 1990 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. From 1990 to 1995, Koval served in a VDV training centre.[4]

In 1997 he also graduated the National University of Defense of Ukraine. From 1997 to 1999, Koval worked in commanding positions of the Northern Operation Command, and from 1999 to 2001, the Western Operation Command. In 2001/2002 he served as the First Deputy Commander of the Internal Troops of Ukraine, since 2002 and until 2013 - the First Deputy Commander of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

2014 Crimea crisis

Main article: 2014 Crimea crisis

On 5 March 2014, during the annexation of Crimea, Colonel-General of the Border Troops Koval was abducted by "unknown formations in military uniform" near the military unit near Yalta, where he came to "lift the morale of Ukrainian border guards."[5] According to Koval, he was kidnapped by the Russian Airborne Forces with the assistance of Crimean civilians.[6] He was released the same day.[7][8][9]

War in Donbas

Main article: War in Donbas (2014–2022)

On 25 March 2014, the Verkhovna Rada of approved him as Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine, 251 deputies voted for this decision with the required minimum of 226 votes.[10][11]

On 3 July 2014, the Verkhovna Rada, at the proposal of the President, relieved Koval from the duties of the Minister of Defense. The decision was approved by 327 deputies with the required minimum of 226 votes.[12] On the same day, by presidential decree, he was appointed to the post of Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.[13] He served in this post until 27 February 2021, and from 17 February 2015, he became the First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

From 24 February 2022 to 15 August 2022, he was the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of the National Defense University of Ukraine. Since 16 August 2022, he has been serving as the Rector of the NDUU.

Awards and decorations

See also

References

  1. ^ Heletei appointed Ukrainian defense minister, Interfax-Ukraine (3 July 2014)
  2. ^ Verkhovna Rada appointed Acting Defense Minister Mykhailo Koval. Ukrayinska Pravda. March 25, 2014
  3. ^ "Биография Михаила Коваля". РИА Новости (in Russian). 25 March 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Виконуючий обов'язки Міністра оборони України генерал-полковник Коваль Михайло Володимирович". 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  5. ^ ""Подробности" изучили биографию Михаила Коваля". podrobnosti. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Коваль: российские военные не хотят выполнять преступные приказы Путина". Украинская правда (in Russian). Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Депутаты назначили Коваля и.о. министра обороны". BBC News Україна (in Russian). 25 March 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Рада приняла отставку и.о. министра обороны Тенюха - Новости Харькова и Харьковской области. МГ «Объектив»". archive.objectiv.tv. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  9. ^ Ukraine, Izvestia. "За что "ушли" Тенюха – адмирала без флота и авторитета". izvestia.kiev.ua (in Russian). Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  10. ^ "В должности и.о. министра обороны Украины утвержден Михаил Коваль". РИА Новости (in Russian). 25 March 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Новым врио министра обороны Украины назначен Михаил Коваль". Interfax.ru (in Russian). 25 March 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Верховная Рада освободила Михаила Коваля от исполнения обязанностей". РИА Новости (in Russian). 3 July 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Про призначення М. Коваля заступником Секретаря Ради національної безпеки і оборони України". Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 August 2023.

External links

Military offices Preceded byM. I. Kolisnichenko Commander of the 30th Armoured Division 1997–1999 Succeeded byViktor Myshakovsky Preceded byFirst Commander of the 80th Airmobile Regiment 1992–1995 Succeeded byMykola Novak
Ukrainian ministers of defence
War in Donbas (2014–2022)
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