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Stepan PoltorakUkrainian military leader, Minister of Defense of Ukraine since October 14, 2014
Date of Birth: 11.02.1965
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Early Life and Military Education
Stepan Poltorak was born on February 11, 1965, in Veselaya Dolina, Odesa Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR. He received his higher education from the S.M. Kirov Ordzhonikidze Higher Military Command School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Military Academy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Military Career
Internal and National Guard CommandsPoltorak entered military service in August 1983. He served in various positions, including platoon commander, company commander, battalion chief of staff, battalion commander, regiment commander, and brigade commander. From March 2002, he served as the Head of the Internal Troops Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
From February 28 to March 13, 2014, Poltorak commanded the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. On March 19, 2014, he was appointed as the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine by Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov. The appointment was confirmed by the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) on April 15, 2014.
Minister of Defense
On October 13, 2014, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko nominated Poltorak for the position of Minister of Defense of Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada approved his appointment on October 14, 2014. He has held this position since then.
Ranks and Honors
Military Ranks:- Lieutenant General (August 21, 2007)
- Colonel General (August 23, 2014)
- General of the Army of Ukraine (October 14, 2015)
Awards:
- Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky II Degree (April 18, 2016)
- Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III Degree (March 24, 2006)
- Medal "For Impeccable Service" III Degree (October 20, 1998)
- Honored Worker of Education of Ukraine (March 24, 2009)
- Medal "For Combat Merit" (USSR)
- Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (USSR)
Criminal Case in Russia
On September 10, 2015, and September 11, 2017, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case against Poltorak and several deputy ministers. They were accused of alleged war crimes and genocide in Ukraine's Donbass region. The case remains ongoing.
