Vladimir Kononov | |
|---|---|
Владимир Кононов | |
.jpg) Kononov in the 2015 DPR Victory Day Parade | |
| Minister of Defence of the Donetsk People's Republic | |
| In office 15 August 2014 – 1 October 2018 | |
| President | Pavel Gubarev Alexander Zakharchenko |
| Prime Minister | Alexander Zakharchenko |
| Preceded by | Igor Strelkov |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1974-10-14)October 14, 1974 (age 51) |
| Nickname | "Tsar" (Царь) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine(until 2014) Donetsk People's Republic(from 2014) |
| Rank | Major general |
| Battles/wars | War in Donbas |
Vladimir Petrovich Kononov (Russian:Влади́мир Петро́вич Ко́нонов; born October 14, 1974;nom de guerreTsar)[1] is a former defence minister of the self-proclaimedDonetsk People's Republic, serving from August 15, 2014, after the resignation ofIgor Girkin (also known as Igor Strelkov) until October 1, 2018.[1][2][3]
Kononov is a Donetsk local.[4] In 2014, he was alieutenant colonel, and by 2015 was promoted tomajor general.
Vladimir Petrovich Kononov was born in 1974 in the city ofHirske,Luhansk Oblast (also known asGorskoye). He graduated fromSloviansk and the Aviation College of civil aviation in 1995, and from theSlavic State Pedagogical Institute in 1999.
He was professionally engaged in sports and pedagogical activities, and worked as a coach in the Judo Federation of Donetsk region.[5] He has 20 years of coaching experience injudo. He also passed special training for senior commanders.
On April 13, 2014, he volunteered in the people's militia of Donbass, and led the checkpoint inSloviansk. He commanded the unit in confrontation in battles in Sloviansk,Shakhtorsk,Ilovaysk,Mospino and other settlements. His military rank (as of August 2014) waslieutenant colonel.[6]
After the resignation ofIgor Strelkov, he became acting defense minister of the People's Republic of Donetsk.[1][2] He became defense minister of the Donetsk People's Republic on August 14, 2014.[7] On October 1 2018, the Donetsk People's Republic allegedly abolished the office of defence minister.[3][8]
He is married and has a child.[6] His younger brother is one of the commanders of the militia of the NDP.
He was sanctioned by theUK government in 2014 in relation to theRusso-Ukrainian War.[9]