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Ihor Tenyukh | |
|---|---|
Ігор Тенюх | |
 Tenyukh in 2007 | |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 27 February 2014 – 25 March 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Pavlo Lebedyev |
| Succeeded by | Mykhailo Koval |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1958-05-23)23 May 1958 (age 67) |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Party | All-Ukrainian Union Svoboda |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union (1979–1991) Ukraine (1991–2010) |
| Branch/service | Soviet Navy Ukrainian Navy |
| Years of service | 1979–2010 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Unit | Submarine Warfare |
Ihor Yosypovych Tenyukh (Ukrainian:Ігор Йосипович Тенюх; born 23 May 1958) is a former Ukrainianadmiral andSvoboda party member.[1] He was the commander of theUkrainian Navy from 2006 until 2010 when dismissed byViktor Yanukovych. Tenyukh fully supported the2013–2014 uprising, and was appointedMinister of Defense of Ukraine in February 2014. After and because of accusations of indecision in the face of theRussian invasion of Crimea, he resigned on 25 March 2014.[2][3][4]
Tenyukh graduated from theFrunze Higher Naval School,Leningrad in 1979 and began his career as a torpedo boat officer.[citation needed]. In 1982 he underwent submarine training and became an officer of the submarine branch, mainly working inKilo-class submarines. From 1983 to 1991, he rose through the ranks of commander of coastal mine-sweeper, executive officer of, then commander of seagoing mine-sweeper, chief of the armament and equipment stores department on a mine and anti-submarine armament base. He was for a time attached to training and advising theIndian Navy and theAlgerian Navy as a liaison officer.[citation needed] In 1991 he became a member of the Defense and State Security Commission of theVerkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament), and participated in the development of a bill on the creation of theArmed Forces of Ukraine.[citation needed]
From 1991 to 1995, he was a senior officer of maintenance of combat actions Department of the Navy ofMinistry of Defence of Ukraine, chief of command of the Navy of the Main Staff of the Armed forces of Ukraine, chief of department of directions of the Main operational agency ofGeneral Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.[citation needed] In 1994, he graduated from the U.S.Defense Language Institute, and in 1997 he became a faculty member atNational Academy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to prepare officers on an operational-strategic level. From 1997 to 2005, he was a commander of1st Surface Ships Brigade and commander of combined arms squadron of the Ukrainian Naval Forces. In 2002, he was commander of the annual activation of the Black Sea ForceBLACKSEAFOR.
From November 2005–2006 he was deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Pursuant to decree #252/2006 dated 23 March 2006 the Ukrainian president promoted him from rear admiral to commander-in-chief of the Navy of Ukraine. On 22 August 2008, Tenyukh was promoted fromVice Admiral to the rank ofAdmiral.[5]
On 25 March 2014, acting PresidentOleksandr Turchynov dismissed Tenyukh from his position after he was criticized for withdrawing fromCrimea too slowly during theRussian annexation.[6]
Tenyukh is a member of the right-wing All-Ukrainian Union "Freedom" party, better known asSvoboda.[7]
During theEuromaidan rally in Kyiv on 19 January 2014 Tenyukh warned of the dangers posed by the "coup d'etat planned by the current authorities" and called for members of the Armed Forces to defy "illegal" orders from those in power.[8] He was quoted as saying "Tomorrow the regime will enslave you too. Therefore we are calling on you to fulfill your military oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people, and not to the authorities who have gone off the rails".[8] Tenyukh was appointed on 27 February 2014 by theVerkhovna Rada of Ukraine Minister of Defense. Due to his indecisiveness during theannexation of Crimea, he submitted his resignation to the Ukrainian parliament on 25 March which accepted it with 228 votes.[9]
Tenyukh has been awarded with orders, medals and departmental rewards.[10]
Order of Merit (Ukraine)
Medal For Military Service to Ukraine
Commendation For Merits
Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
Medal "For Impeccable Service"| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Naval Commander of Ukraine 2006–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of Defense acting 2014 | Succeeded by |
