Yuriy Ilyin | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Ilyin in 2013 | |
| Native name | Юрій Іванович Ільїн |
| Birth name | Yuriy Ivanovych Ilyin |
| Born | (1962-08-21)21 August 1962 (age 63) |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine Soviet Union |
| Branch |  Soviet Navy Ukrainian Navy |
| Years of service | 1983–2014 |
| Rank |  Admiral |
| Commands |
|
| Spouses | Married, one daughter. |
Yuriy Ivanovych Ilyin (Ukrainian:Юрій Іванович Ільїн;Belarusian:Юры Іванавіч Ільін,romanized: Jury Ivanavič Iljin ;Russian:Юрий Иванович Ильин,romanized: Juri Ivanovič Iljin; born 21 August 1962) is a Ukrainianadmiral and former commander of theUkrainian Navy. He was elevated to the position ofChief of the General Staff by PresidentViktor Yanukovych on 19 February 2014 after the existing chief, Colonel GeneralVolodymyr Zamana, was dismissed by the President during theFebruary 2014 Euromaidan riots.
After an admission to hospital following a heart attack on 27 February 2014, Ilyin was dismissed from the post of Chief of the General Staff by interim presidentOleksandr Turchynov on 28 February 2014.
Ilyin was born inRohachow,Belarus. In 1979 he graduated from theSuvorov Military School inMinsk and subsequently entered theFrunze Higher Artillery Command Military School inOdesa.[1]
Between 1983 and 1991 he served with theBlack Sea Fleet as a platoon leader and battery commanding officer in the detached marine brigade. He then spent two years serving as an officer at theCoast Guard for the Black Sea Fleet.[1]
By 1993 he had moved to the Ukrainian Navy Command HQ and served in this post for five years. In 1998 he assumed command of the 1st Detached Marine Brigade of theUkrainian Navy, a position he held for five years. Between December 2003 and June 2005 he was the Deputy Chief of Ukrainian Navy Command and Chief of the Defence Planning Department in the Ukrainian Navy. From June 2005 to August 2008 he was a senior military representative of the Ukraine's armed forces in the United States. Between August 2008 and July 2012 he was the First Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff/First Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Navy.[1]
He graduated from the National Defence University in 2010.[1] In 2010 he led a delegation of Ukrainian naval personnel during their visit to theUnited States Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado "to study the training of special operations units andMarine Corps of theUS Navy".[2]
Ilyin was appointed to the post of Ukrainian Navy Commander on 27 July 2012[3][4] and promoted to the rank ofAdmiral on 24 August 2013.[5] He was then appointed Chief of the General Staff on 19 February 2014 after PresidentViktor Yanukovych dismissed the incumbent officeholder, Colonel GeneralVolodymyr Zamana, at the height of theEuromaidan riots.[1][6][7] Shortly after Yanukovych fled the presidential palace, Ilyin issued a statement claiming, "As an officer I see no other way than to serve the Ukrainian people honestly and assure that I have not and won't give any criminal orders".[8] and defected from the Ukrainian Military.
Ilyin was reported to have been admitted to hospital after suffering a heart attack on 27 February 2014;[citation needed] he was subsequently dismissed as Chief of the General Staff by the interim President of Ukraine,Oleksandr Turchynov.[9][10]
Ilyin is married and has one daughter.[1]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander of the 4th Marine Infantry Brigade 1998–2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Naval Commander of Ukraine 2012–2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of the General Staff 2014 | Succeeded by |
| Ukrainian People's Republic (1918–1921) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine (since 1991) | ||
*Acting Chief | ||
