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Valeriy GeletheyUkrainian military leader
Date of Birth: 28.08.1967
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Valeriy Heletey: A Ukrainian Military Leader and Politician
- Career in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (1988-2006)
- Head of the State Guard (2007-2009)
- Return to the State Guard and Appointment as Defense Minister (2014)
- Reforms and Controversies as Defense Minister
- Investigations and Resignation
- Personal Life and Connections
- Legacy
Valeriy Heletey: A Ukrainian Military Leader and Politician
Early Life and Military ServiceValeriy Viktorovych Heletey was born in 1967 in Verkhny Koropets, Ukraine. In 1990, he graduated from the Ivano-Frankivsk Specialized Secondary School of Militia and in 1994, he completed his education at the Ukrainian Academy of Internal Affairs. Heletey initially served as a junior controller in the Western Border District of the KGB USSR.
Career in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (1988-2006)
In 1988, Heletey joined the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and held various positions in the criminal investigation department. He rose through the ranks, serving as deputy head and first deputy head of the Organized Crime Department in Kyiv. In 2000, he became head of the Oktyabrsky District Police Department in Kyiv and later the head of the Criminal Investigation Department.
Head of the State Guard (2007-2009)
In 2007, Heletey was appointed as the head of the State Guard of Ukraine amidst political tensions between the President and Prime Minister. His tenure was marked by controversy, including an incident involving a forceful raid on the General Prosecutor's Office. Despite criminal charges against him, a court annulled the case in 2007. Heletey also made a public statement alleging a plot to assassinate former President Viktor Yushchenko and other opposition leaders.
Return to the State Guard and Appointment as Defense Minister (2014)
In 2014, after the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych, Heletey was reappointed as head of the State Guard. In July 2014, President Petro Poroshenko nominated Heletey as the Minister of Defense. He was confirmed by the Verkhovna Rada with 260 votes.
Reforms and Controversies as Defense Minister
As Defense Minister, Heletey initiated administrative reforms aimed at improving the combat readiness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He also proposed creating a joint brigade with Lithuania and Poland. However, his tenure was overshadowed by controversies, including allegations of unsatisfactory leadership during the Battle of Ilovaisk. The Ukrainian Parliament's investigative commission later cited Heletey as a key figure responsible for the tragedy.
Investigations and Resignation
In October 2014, Heletey resigned from his post at the request of President Poroshenko, who believed that changing the Defense Minister would strengthen the Armed Forces and Ukraine's defense capabilities. Heletey subsequently faced criminal charges in Russia for alleged involvement in war crimes in eastern Ukraine, but he dismissed the accusations.
Personal Life and Connections
Heletey is married to Anzhelika Oleksandrivna Heletey and has two sons. He is also related to Viktor Baloha, a former influential Ukrainian politician. He is widely seen as having risen through the ranks quickly due to Baloha's patronage.
Legacy
Valeriy Heletey's legacy remains complex and controversial. He was a key figure in Ukrainian military and politics during a turbulent period, marked by political instability and armed conflict. While his supporters credit him for his role in reforming the Armed Forces, his critics have accused him of mismanagement and contributing to a tragic military defeat.
