Vladimir Petrovich Kononov (Russian: Влади́мир Петро́вич Ко́нонов; born October 14, 1974; nom de guerre Tsar)[1] is a former defence minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, serving from August 15, 2014, after the resignation of Igor Girkin (also known as Igor Strelkov) until October 1, 2018.[1][2][3]
Vladimir Kononov | |
|---|---|
Владимир Кононов | |
 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 | October 14, 1974 Hirske, Luhansk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Nickname | "Tsar" (Царь) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine (until 2014) Donetsk People's Republic (from 2014) |
| Rank | Major general |
| Battles/wars | War in Donbas |
Kononov is a Donetsk local.[4] In 2014, he was a lieutenant colonel, and by 2015 was promoted to major general.
Biography
editVladimir Petrovich Kononov was born in 1974 in the city of Hirske, Luhansk Oblast (also known as Gorskoye). He graduated from Sloviansk and the Aviation College of civil aviation in 1995, and from the Slavic 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 in judo. 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 in Sloviansk. He commanded the unit in confrontation in battles in Sloviansk, Shakhtorsk, Ilovaysk, Mospino and other settlements. His military rank (as of August 2014) was lieutenant colonel.[6]
After the resignation of Igor 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.
Sanctions
editSanctioned by the UK government in 2014 in relation to Russo-Ukrainian War.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Ukraine crisis: Rebel military chief Strelkov 'quits'". BBC. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- ^ a b "Donetsk People's Republic appoints new defense minister to replace Strelkov". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. August 15, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- ^ a b "Нове керівництво "ДНР": що відомо про міністрів самоназваної "республіки" (The new leadership of the "DPR": what is known about the ministers of the self-styled "republic")" (in Ukrainian). 11 September 2018.
- ^ Grove, Thomas (August 15, 2014). "Under artillery fire, Ukraine rebels switch their leaders". Reuters. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- ^ "Judo Federation of Donetsk region: Kononov Vladimir Petrovich". Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b Biography of Vladimir Kononov // RIA Novosti, 08/15/2014
- ^ "Биография Владимира Кононова (Biography of Vladimir Kononov)". 15 August 2014.
- ^ "Батальоны просят угля (The battalions are asking for coal)" (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2023.