Denis Berezovsky

Denis Valentinovych Berezovsky (born July 15, 1974) is a Rear Admiral and the Russian Black Sea Fleet deputy commander. He is also a former commander of the Ukrainian Navy. He was appointed as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Navy by Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov on March 1, 2014, serving for just one day before defecting to the current authorities of Crimea. On March 24, 2014, the Defense Minister of Russia Sergei Shoigu appointed Berezovsky as the Russian Black Sea Fleet deputy commander.

On March 5, 2014, the Office of the General Prosecutor of Ukraine issued an order to detain Berezovsky as a suspect in a treason.

Military service
A graduate of the Nakhimov Higher Naval Institute (Sevastopol) in 1996, Berezovsky was the commander of the frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy from 2002-2005. On December 6, 2012, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. In 2012 and 2013, he led the joint exercises with Ukraine and the United States, Sea Breeze 2012 and Sea Breeze 2013. Prior to March 1, 2014, he served as deputy commander for combat training - Head of the Ukrainian Navy combat training. On March 1, 2014, President Turchynov appointed Berezovsky as Commander of the Naval Forces of Ukraine. In the morning of March 2, 2014, Berezovsky was dismissed from the post of commander of the Ukrainian Navy after he issued orders to lay down arms. After being dismissed, he appeared in media as pledging allegiance to the Crimean people.

On March 24, 2014, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu along with a group from the Defence Ministry visited Crimea where he appointed Rear Admiral Denis Berezovsky, as the new Russian Black Sea Fleet deputy commander.

Defection
On March 2, 2014, Berezovsky took an oath of allegiance to the people of Crimea. Earlier in the morning of the same day, he was removed from his position in the Ukrainian Navy "for failing to manage the Navy in extreme conditions" at the decision of the Defense Minister, Ihor Tenyukh. Dmitry Tymchuk, the head of the Center of Military and Political Research, suggested at his Facebook page that Berezovsky pledged his allegiance when his family was kidnapped and held hostage. His defection immediately resulted in Ukraine launching a treason case against him, and the appointment of Serhiy Hayduk as his successor.

Honours

 * Medal "For Irreproachable Service", 3rd Class (27 June 2007) - for personal contribution to strengthening the defense of Ukraine, the exemplary performance of military duty, and on the Day of the Naval Forces of Ukraine.


 * The memorial "230 years of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation" (the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy, 2013) - for active participation in the preparation and conduct of the joint Ukrainian-Russian exercises "Fairway of Peace 2013" shown a high level of theoretical training, sea, field and flight proficiency.