| Viktor Nikolaevich Bondarev | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | Виктор Николаевич Бондарев |
| Born | December 7, 1959 |
| Place of birth | Voronezh, USSR |
| Allegiance |
 Soviet Union,  Russia |
| Years of service | 1977–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant General[1] |
| Awards | |
Viktor Nikolaevich Bondarev (Russian: Виктор Николаевич Бондарев; born December 7, 1959, in Voronezh, USSR) is a Lieutenant General[1] and the current Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, having been appointed to the post on 6 May 2012.[2][3] He replaced Alexander Zelin, who was dismissed from the military on 27 April.[4]
Bondarev's career started off with his joining of the Soviet Air Force in 1977. By 1981 he had graduated from the Boris Aviation Training Centre for flight crews in Borisoglebsk, and by 1992 had graduated from the Gagarin Air Force Academy. In 2004, he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff.[5]
He was a squadron commander of the Boris Aviation Training Centre before becoming a deputy commander and senior pilot of the Attack Aviation Regiment, and as such, participated in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.[5] He then became the commander of the 899th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment located in Buturlinovka, Voronezh; the regiment fought in the First and Second Chechen Wars. In 2000, he became the deputy commander, before being appointed the Commander in 2004, of the 105th Composite Air Division, 16th Army Air Force and Air Defense.[5] From May 2006, he became the Deputy Commander of the 14th Army Air Force and Air Defense; he would become the Commander of the branch in June 2008.[5]
In July 2011, Bondarev was appointed Chief of Staff–Deputy Commander of the Russian Air Force.[5]
On 21 April 2000, via a presidential decree, Bondarev was named a Hero of the Russian Federation for engaging in military activities involving significant risks to his life.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Russian Navy Commander Promoted to Admiral". Rusnavy.com. 10 August 2012. http://rusnavy.com/news/newsofday/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=15604. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ↑ Cook, Brad (6 May 2012). "Medvedev Names Russian Navy, Air Force Heads on Last Kremlin Day". Bloomberg L.P.. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-06/medvedev-names-russian-navy-air-force-heads-on-last-kremlin-day.html. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ↑ "Viktor Bondarev appointed Air Force commander". Kremlin.ru. 6 May 2012. http://eng.news.kremlin.ru/news/3760. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ↑ "Медведев назначил новых главкомов ВВС и ВМФ России". Medvedev appointed a new commander in chief of the Air Force and Navy of Russia. 6 May 2012. http://lenta.ru/news/2012/05/06/bondarev/. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Биография Виктора Бондарева" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. Ria.ru. 6 May 2012. http://www.ria.ru/spravka/20120506/642499433.html. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
The original article can be found at Viktor Bondarev and the edit history here.