Ihor Tenyukh

Tenyukh graduated from the Frunze Higher Naval School, Leningrad in 1979 and began his career as a torpedo boat officer.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}. In 1982 he underwent submarine training and became an officer of the submarine branch, mainly working in Kilo-class submarines. From 1983 to 1991, he rose through the ranks of commander of coastal mine-sweeper, executive officer of, then commander of seagoing mine-sweeper, chief of the armament and equipment stores department on a mine and anti-submarine armament base. He was for a time attached to training and advising the Indian Navy and the Algerian Navy as a liaison officer.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} In 1991 he became a member of the Defense and State Security Commission of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament), and participated in the development of a bill on the creation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

From 1991 to 1995, he was a senior officer of maintenance of combat actions Department of the Navy of Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, chief of command of the Navy of the Main Staff of the Armed forces of Ukraine, chief of department of directions of the Main operational agency of General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} In 1994, he graduated from the U.S. Defense Language Institute, and in 1997 he became a faculty member at National Academy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to prepare officers on an operational-strategic level. From 1997 to 2005, he was a commander of 1st Surface Ships Brigade and commander of combined arms squadron of the Ukrainian Naval Forces. In 2002, he was commander of the annual activation of the Black Sea Force BLACKSEAFOR.

From November 2005–2006 he was deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Pursuant to decree #252/2006 dated 23 March 2006 the Ukrainian president promoted him from rear admiral to commander-in-chief of the Navy of Ukraine. On 22 August 2008 Tenyukh was promoted from Vice Admiral to the rank of Admiral.{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=12621 |title=Повідомлення Управління преси та інформації |publisher=Mil.gov.ua |access-date=2014-03-03}}

On 25 March 2014, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov dismissed Tenyukh from his position after he was criticized for withdrawing from Crimea too slowly during the Russian annexation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-minister-idUSBREA2O0TO20140325|title=Ukraine dismisses defense minister over Crimea|date=2014-03-25|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-09-08|language=en|first1=Natalia|last1=Zinets|first2=Pavel|last2=Polityuk|first3=Matt|last3=Robinson|editor-first=Kevin|editor-last=Liffey}}

Tenyukh is a member of the right-wing All-Ukrainian Union "Freedom" party, better known as Svoboda.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/far-right-weighs-on-ukraine-government/a-17519960|title=Far-right weighs on Ukraine government|date=26 March 2014|first=Marcus|last=Lütticke|website=Deutsche Welle|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-09-08}}

During the Euromaidan rally in Kyiv on 19 January 2014 Tenyukh warned of the dangers posed by the "coup d'etat planned by the current authorities" and called for members of the Armed Forces to defy "illegal" orders from those in power.{{cite web|author=David Stern |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25798320 |title=BBC News - Ukraine crisis: Clashes after thousands defy protest ban |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2014-01-19 |access-date=2014-03-03}} He was quoted as saying "Tomorrow the regime will enslave you too. Therefore we are calling on you to fulfill your military oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people, and not to the authorities who have gone off the rails". Tenyukh was appointed on 27 February 2014 by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Minister of Defense. Due to his indecisiveness during the annexation of Crimea, he submitted his resignation to the Ukrainian parliament on 25 of March which accepted it with 228 votes.{{cite news|last=Roland Oliphant|first=Oliphant|title=Ukraine's defence chief resigns as troops leave Crimea|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10722676/Ukraines-defence-chief-resigns-as-troops-leave-Crimea.html|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=26 March 2014|date=25 March 2014}}

Tenyukh has been awarded with orders, medals and departmental rewards.{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=en&part=command&sub=11 |title=Authorities of Ukrainian Armed Forces |publisher=Mil.gov.ua |date=2006-03-23 |access-date=2014-03-03}}

• 60px Order of Merit (Ukraine)
• 60px Medal For Military Service to Ukraine
• 60px Commendation For Merits
• 60px Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
• 60px Medal "For Impeccable Service"

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.tenyuh.openua.net/ Biography (In Ukrainian)]{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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{{s-bef | before = Ihor Knyaz}}

{{s-ttl | title = Naval Commander of Ukraine | years = 2006–2010}}

{{s-aft | after = Viktor Maksymov}}

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{{s-bef | before = Pavlo Lebedyev}}

{{s-ttl | title = Minister of Defense
{{small|acting}} | years = 2014}}

{{s-aft | after = Myhailo Koval}}

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{{Ukrainian Ministers of Defence}}

{{Commanders of the Ukrainian Navy}}

{{2014 Crimean crisis}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tenyuh, Igor}}

Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Stryi

Category:Military personnel from Lviv Oblast

Category:Svoboda (political party) politicians

Category:Ministers of defense of Ukraine

Category:Ukrainian admirals

Category:Soviet Navy personnel

Category:People of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class

Category:Naval commanders of Ukraine

Category:Saint Petersburg Naval Institute alumni