Mykhailo Koval

Mykhailo Koval (Михайло Володимирович Коваль; 26 February 1956) is a Colonel General of Ukraine who until 2014 worked in the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. During the 2014 Crimea crisis he was appointed as the Minister of Defence replacing Admiral Ihor Tenyukh who resigned.

Professional career
In 1979 Koval graduated the Kamianets-Podilsky Higher Military-Engineer Command School. Until 1987 he served in the Soviet Airborne Troops (VDV), after which he entered the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow and graduated it in 1990. In 1990-95 Koval served in a VDV training centre.

In 1997 he also graduated the National University of Defense of Ukraine. In 1997-99 Koval worked in commanding positions of the Northern Operation Command, in 1999–2001 - the Western Operation Command. In 2001-02 he served as the First Deputy Commander of the Internal Troops of Ukraine, since 2002 and until 2013 - the First Deputy Commander of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Awards and decorations

 * Ukraine-zaslug1.png Order of Merit (Ukraine)
 * Medal For military service to Ukraine ribbon.PNG Medal For Military Service to Ukraine
 * Medal 001ukr.png Defender of the Motherland Medal
 * UKR-MOD – Dignity and Honour Commendation BAR.png Dignity and Honour Commendation
 * Order redstar rib.png Order of the Red Star
 * Order service to the homeland3 rib.png Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR
 * CombatRibbon.png Medal for Battle Merit
 * 70 years saf rib.png Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
 * 15YearsServiceUSSRRibbon.png Medal "For Impeccable Service"