Which senior military commander received the most government decorations during the full-scale invasion?
The failure to fulfill the announced goals of the counteroffensive during the summer-autumn campaign provoked personnel changes in the military camp.
Without any explanation, President Zelensky fired:
commander of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Igor Tantsyuru,
commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Viktor Khorenko,
commander of the Medical Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Tatyana Ostashchenko,
first deputy and three more deputy commanders of the National Guard.
Poisonous arrows of criticism even flew towards the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valery Zaluzhny, who until now enjoyed unconditional support and respect in the army. During November, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, MP from the Servant of the People Maryana Bezuglaya publicly and systematically criticized the general. A deputy close to the President’s Office stated bluntly: Zaluzhny must resign. Bankovaya, after a pause, responded to these attacks as follows: the adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, Mikhail Podolyak, was assigned to comment on the topic. He assured that there is no conflict between the president and the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, this did not stop Bezuglaya...
And while the media, exclusively with references to unnamed sources, describe the growing tension in relations between Zelensky and Zaluzhny, the nature of the relationship between the country’s top political leadership and the top military command allows us to understand one simple criterion - awards.
During a full-scale war, which member of the senior military command did Supreme Commander-in-Chief Zelensky most single out?
The highest military command is the generals of the Armed Forces, naval and air forces and special services, who develop and are responsible for the course of military operations to liberate the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops.
The contrast immediately attracts attention: the clear subordination of the military, in accordance with ranks, positions held, and the number of awards presented to the commander by the head of state do not correlate in any way. For example, Colonel General Alexander Syrsky, who directly reports to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Valery Zaluzhny, has a significantly larger pile of awards than his boss. Or, for example, during the invasion, the president twice promoted the head of the SBU Vasily Malyuk and the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Kirill Budanov to military ranks. At the same time, most of their colleagues overcome this path for years, or even decades...
The list of generals noted by the president begins with those worthy who received the Hero of Ukraine star after February 24, 2022:
Since August 2019, Colonel General Alexander Syrsky (58 years old) has been Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces. During the full-scale war, the military man collected the most state awards among the top generals.
On March 18, 2022, the president awarded Syrsky with the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, II degree.
On April 5, 2022, the Colonel General was awarded the highest state award - the title of “Hero of Ukraine” and the Order of the “Gold Star”. On this occasion, the presidential press service emphasized: thanks to Syrsky’s military skill, the troops subordinate to him stopped the Russian invasion. We are talking primarily about the Kyiv region.
On July 27, 2022, Alexander Syrsky was awarded the Presidential insignia “Cross of Military Merit”. This is a new award established during the war, “for outstanding personal courage and courage or an outstanding heroic deed during the performance of a combat mission, or outstanding achievements in the leadership of troops during the conduct of military operations.”
Separately, the president congratulated Syrsky with a birthday gift. In particular, the Colonel General was presented with a painting “which reflects the feat of Ukrainian soldiers and respect for them.”
Towards the end of last year, Syrsky became a full holder of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, receiving the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, 1st degree.
It should be added that Alexander Syrsky has been responsible for the operational situation in the Bakhmut direction since the battle for this city.
The current commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Alexander Pivnenko (37 years old), has made a stunning career leap. In March 2023, the 37-year-old colonel received the title “Hero of Ukraine” with the award of the Order of the Golden Star. President Zelensky noted that the military officer distinguished himself in the fight against the Russian occupiers, in particular in the battles for Bakhmut.
Note: the title “Hero of Ukraine” is the highest degree of distinction in Ukraine, which is granted to citizens of Ukraine for committing an outstanding heroic deed or outstanding labor achievement.
On July 8, Zelensky appointed Pivnenko commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, and then appointed the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to Headquarters.
On September 29, Zelensky made Pivnenko a brigadier general.
On the fifth day of the Russian invasion, President Zelensky awarded the commander of the Ukrainian Marine Corps (since 2018), commander of the Donetsk operational-tactical group, Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol (52 years old), the title “Hero of Ukraine.”
At the beginning of September 2023, Yuriy Sodol was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, II degree.
Sodol has been at war since 2014.
He was the commander of the 25th separate airborne brigade, with which he visited the hottest spots, liberating Ukrainian cities from the enemy. The battle for Rubezhnoe, the assault on Yampol, the defense of Donetsk airport, covering the exit of Ukrainian forces from Debaltseve, and this is not a complete list.
Lieutenant General Nikolai Oleshchuk (51 years old) has been commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces since August 2021.
On April 26, 2022, Oleschuk was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, III degree. On October 14, 2022, he received the title “Hero of Ukraine”.
The commander of the Ukrainian Air Force recalled how, on the night of a full-scale invasion, he gave two key orders. The first - at 3:20 - the “Carpet” plan was announced on the territory of Ukraine (the plan was introduced due to the so-called unknown or dangerous objects in the sky).
The second order was given at 3.50 - all military aircraft were scrambled, since it was expected that the Russian Federation would first attack airfields, infrastructure, anti-aircraft systems and radar equipment. All equipment was dispersed, and the units changed their deployment.
According to Nikolai Oleschuk, both orders worked well.
Commander of the troops of the Operational Command “North” (2021-2023), commander of the defense of Chernigov in 2022, Major General Viktor Nikolyuk (48 years old) has been appointed commander of the training of the Ground Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since March 2023.
On March 10, 2022, he received the title “Hero of Ukraine”. A few months later, on June 17, 2022, he was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, II degree.
Over the years, Viktor Nikolyuk was the chief of staff of the 93rd separate mechanized brigade “Kholodny Yar” and the commander of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade named after Ivan Sirko.
At the beginning of September 2014, the 92nd brigade reached the area of Shchastya, Trekhizbenka, Stanitsa Luganskaya, and after rotation, it held the defense in the Donetsk direction.
Near Shchastya in the Lugansk region on May 16, 2015, Nikolyuk participated in the capture of two Russian citizens - servicemen of the 3rd separate special forces brigade, Alexander Alexandrov and Evgeniy Erofeev.
Since March 2020, Lieutenant General Sergei Naev (53 years old) has been the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces. At the end of April 2022 he became a “Hero of Ukraine”.
In November 2023, some media outlets circulated news about a possible change of commanders Naev and Tarnavsky. Alexander Tarnavsky is the commander of the operational-strategic group of troops “Tavria”.
When asked by journalists to refute or confirm this information, the newly appointed Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov noted: the issue of changing commanders is being discussed, but no decision has been made yet.
The current First Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Alexander Pavlyuk (53 years old), faced the full-scale invasion as commander of the Joint Forces Operation. On March 4, 2022, the president awarded him the title “Hero of Ukraine.” From mid-March to mid-May 2022, Pavlyuk headed the Kyiv Regional State Administration. In particular, he was responsible for organizing the defense and support of Kyiv.
In 2023, the country's top political leadership again invited Pavlyuk to the power vertical. On February 13, the head of state amended his previous decrees, which allowed military personnel with the ranks of lieutenant general and vice admiral to hold the position of first deputy minister of defense during the period of martial law. The next day, by decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, Lieutenant General Alexander Pavlyuk was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense.
In early March, Zelensky introduced Pavlyuk to the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, a key body that includes the military-political leadership of Ukraine and which makes decisions on the de-occupation of Ukrainian territory.
Since the end of July 2021, the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been occupied by General Valeriy Zaluzhny (50 years old). He is responsible for the military leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and also manages the forces and means of other components of the defense forces transferred to his subordination.
On March 4, 2022, Zelensky awarded Zaluzhny a general, and on May 6, he presented the Presidential Award “Cross of Military Merit.”
Last summer, on the occasion of Zaluzhny’s 50th birthday, the president presented him with a personalized firearm - a Ukrainian-made Fort pistol. The presentation took place at an offsite meeting of the Headquarters in the Dnepropetrovsk region.
By the way, the influential American magazine Time included Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny in the list of the 100 most influential people on the planet in 2022. Both were included in the “Leaders” category.
The same American publication in September 2022 named Valery Zaluzhny “the face of war” and placed his photograph on the cover. “It is difficult to predict where the war will go and what role Zaluzhny will ultimately play. But, perhaps for the first time, it now seems possible that the army he commands will win,” Time predicted last fall.
In August 2020, Colonel Kirill Budanov (37 years old) was appointed head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.
At the beginning of April 2022, Budanov received the rank of major general, and a year later, on Military Intelligence Day, the president gave Budanov a gift - the military rank of lieutenant general.
In August 2022, some media outlets called Budanov “Zelensky’s favorite military man.” It was he who was responsible for most of the high-profile and daring operations at the beginning of the Russian invasion, such as the supply of weapons to Azovstal, the assault on Zmeinoye, or various kinds of “claps” in Crimea and Russia.
On the eve of Independence Day in 2022, Budanov was awarded the presidential award “Cross of Military Merit.”
The career growth of the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Major General Vasily Malyuk (40 years old) coincided with the full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
After the rapid occupation of the Kherson region by Russians, the president staged a personnel earthquake in the SBU. Then Malyuk moved from the post of deputy head of the department to the post of first deputy, and in February of this year he became the head of the SBU.
On March 25, 2022, Malyuk became a brigadier general based on a presidential decree. At the beginning of December 2022, Zelensky promoted him to major general.
Since June 2023, Brigadier General Alexander Tarnavsky has been the commander of the operational-strategic group of troops “Tavria” of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. During the full-scale war, he became a full holder of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
In March 2022, the president awarded Tarnavsky the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III degree. In April - Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, II degree. On November 14 of the same year, Tarnavsky received the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, 1st degree.
We emphasize: this state award is awarded to citizens of Ukraine for special services in protecting state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and strengthening the country’s defense capability and security.
Since August 2021, the Operational Command “South” of the Ukrainian Ground Forces has been headed by Major General Andrei Kovalchuk (49 years old).
After the full-scale invasion, the major general received two state awards: on May 2, 2022 - the Order of Daniil Galitsky (awarded for “significant personal contribution to the development of Ukraine, conscientious and impeccable service to the Ukrainian people”), and on July 27, 2022 - the presidential award “Cross of Military Merit” "
As “Commander in Chief” reported, despite the fact that Major General Andrei Kovalchuk was developing a plan for the liberation of the Nikolaev and Kherson regions, he was removed at the last moment. The operation to liberate Kherson was led by Brigadier General Alexander Tarnavsky.
Since August 2021, Major General Sergei Litvinov has served as commander of the troops of the Operational Command “West”. On March 19, 2022, the President awarded him the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III degree.
In April 2022, Sergei Litvinov already received the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, II degree.
As you know, Major General Sergei Litvinov comes from tank forces. In 2015-2017, he commanded the 17th separate tank brigade, individual units of which participated in the defense of Mariupol, the battles for Ilovaisk, and Debaltsevo. The brigade's mechanized battalion took part in the defense of Stanitsa Luganskaya.
At the beginning of October 2023, Major General Anatoly Bargilevich (54 years old) took the post of commander of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
In 2022, the head of state awarded him the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, II degree and III degree.
Anatoly Bargilevich has been in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for more than 30 years. He served for a long time as an officer in operational units in various positions.
He began to deal with the development of territorial defense in 2016, when he headed the Operational Directorate of the Command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
Major General Eduard Moskalev (49 years old), who before the great war was the head of a tank regiment at the Ground Forces training center, rose to the rank of commander of the joint forces on March 15, 2022. The major general served in this responsible position until February 2023.
On March 19, 2022, the Major General received the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, II degree, from the President. Now he heads the operational-strategic group of troops “Odessa”.
Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmitry Marchenko (45 years old) led the defense of Nikolaev.
On March 8, 2022, the President awarded him the Order of Courage, III degree.
Despite the popularity of General Marchenko among the people (after the expulsion of the Russians from Nikolaev, billboards appeared in the city with the inscriptions: “Nikolaev is a Hero. Marchenko is with us”), the top political leadership did not spoil him with awards. In one of the interviews, Major General of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Dmitry Marchenko was so full of revelations that when asked by the presenter whether he would like Valery Zaluzhny to become the President of Ukraine, he said: “God willing! I would really like to.” However, after the broadcast, Marchenko retracted his words about Zaluzhny’s presidency.
