Mykhailo Koval

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Mykhailo Koval

| image = Mykhailo Koval photo cropped.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption =

| office = Acting Minister of Defence of Ukraine

| successor = Valeriy Heletey[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/211936.html Heletei appointed Ukrainian defense minister], Interfax-Ukraine (3 July 2014)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|2|26}}

| birth_place = Izyaslav, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Ukraine)

| party =

| alma_mater = Frunze Military Academy

| spouse =

| children =

| signature = Signature of Mykhailo Koval.jpg

| allegiance = {{USSR}} (to 1991)
{{UKR}}

| branch = {{army|Soviet Union}}
{{army|Ukraine}}
{{flagicon image|Flag of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.svg|size=23px}} SBGS

| serviceyears = 1979–2021

| termstart = 25 March 2014

| termend = 3 July 2014

| battles =

| native_name_lang = uk

| native_name = {{nobold|Михайло Коваль}}

}}

Mykhailo Volodymyrovych Koval ({{langx|uk|Михайло Володимирович Коваль}}; born 26 February 1956) is a Colonel General of Ukraine who until 2014 served in the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. During the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation he was appointed as the Minister of Defence replacing outgoing Admiral Ihor Tenyukh who resigned.[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/25/7020231/ Verkhovna Rada appointed Acting Defense Minister Mykhailo Koval]. Ukrayinska Pravda. March 25, 2014

Biography

Mykhailo Koval was born on 26 February 1956 in the city of Iziaslav, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukrainian SSR.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-25 |title=Биография Михаила Коваля |url=https://ria.ru/20140325/1000995743.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=РИА Новости |language=ru}}

= Military service =

From September 1971 to June 1975, he studied at the Kamianets-Podilsky Industrial College at the mine surveying department. After graduating, he received the qualification of a "mining technician- mine surveyor" and attended the Kamianets-Podilsky Higher Military-Engineer Command School as a Second Lieutenant in the Sappers.{{Cite web |date=2014-04-24 |title=Виконуючий обов'язки Міністра оборони України генерал-полковник Коваль Михайло Володимирович |url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=command&sub=koval_m |access-date=2023-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424210742/http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=command&sub=koval_m |archive-date=24 April 2014 }}

Until 1987 he served in the Sapper units of the Soviet Airborne Troops (VDV), in 1987 being a Captain, after which he entered the M. V. Frunze Military Academy in Moscow and graduated it in 1990 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. From 1990 to 1995, Koval served in a VDV training centre.

In 1997 he also graduated the National University of Defense of Ukraine. From 1997 to 1999, Koval worked in commanding positions of the Northern Operation Command, and from 1999 to 2001, the Western Operation Command. In 2001/2002 he served as the First Deputy Commander of the Internal Troops of Ukraine, since 2002 and until 2011 - Hold multiple positions the First Deputy Commander and human rcources manager of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Since 2011 and until March 2014 - He became a full-timesources manager.

== Russian annexation of Crimea ==

On 5 March 2014, during the annexation of Crimea, Colonel-General of the Border Troops Koval was abducted by "unknown formations in military uniform" near the military unit near Yalta, where he came to "lift the morale of Ukrainian border guards."{{Cite web |date=2014-03-25 |title="Подробности" изучили биографию Михаила Коваля |url=https://podrobnosti.ua/966767-podrobnosti-izuchili-biografiju-mihaila-kovalja.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=podrobnosti}} According to Koval, he was kidnapped by the Russian Airborne Forces with the assistance of Crimean civilians.{{Cite web |title=Коваль: российские военные не хотят выполнять преступные приказы Путина |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/03/7/7018017/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=Украинская правда |language=ru}} He was released the same day.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-25 |title=Депутаты назначили Коваля и.о. министра обороны |url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/rolling_news_russian/2014/03/140325_ru_n_ministry_defence_new |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=BBC News Україна |language=ru-UA}}{{Cite web |title=Рада приняла отставку и.о. министра обороны Тенюха - Новости Харькова и Харьковской области. МГ «Объектив» |url=http://archive.objectiv.tv/250314/94852.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=archive.objectiv.tv}}{{Cite web |last=Ukraine |first=Izvestia |title=За что "ушли" Тенюха – адмирала без флота и авторитета |url=https://izvestia.kiev.ua/article/63221 |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=izvestia.kiev.ua |language=ru}}

== War in Donbas ==

On 25 March 2014, the Verkhovna Rada of approved him as Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine, 251 deputies voted for this decision with the required minimum of 226 votes.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-25 |title=В должности и.о. министра обороны Украины утвержден Михаил Коваль |url=https://ria.ru/20140325/1000975285.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=РИА Новости |language=ru}}{{Cite web |date=2014-03-25 |title=Новым врио министра обороны Украины назначен Михаил Коваль |url=https://www.interfax.ru/world/367054 |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=Interfax.ru |language=ru}}

On 3 July 2014, the Verkhovna Rada, at the proposal of the President, relieved Koval from the duties of the Minister of Defense. The decision was approved by 327 deputies with the required minimum of 226 votes.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-03 |title=Верховная Рада освободила Михаила Коваля от исполнения обязанностей |url=https://ria.ru/20140703/1014565869.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=РИА Новости |language=ru}} On the same day, by presidential decree, he was appointed to the post of Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Про призначення М. Коваля заступником Секретаря Ради національної безпеки і оборони України |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/564/2014 |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}} He served in this post until 27 February 2021,{{Cite web |date=2021-02-27 |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №321/2021"Про звільнення М.Коваля з посади Першого заступника Секретаря Ради національної безпеки і оборони України" |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/3212021-39513 |access-date=2025-02-11}} and from 17 February 2015, he became the First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

From 24 February 2022 to 15 August 2022, he was the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of the National Defense University of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Ми арештували двох московських генералів та заблокували на аеродромі псковських десантників — Михайло Коваль |url=https://armyinform.com.ua/2023/09/14/my-areshtuvaly-dvoh-moskovskyh-generaliv-ta-zablokuvaly-na-aerodromi-pskovskyh-desantnykiv/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=armyinform.com.ua |language=uk}} Since 16 August 2022, he has been serving as the Rector of the NDUU.

Awards and decorations

60px Order of Merit (Ukraine)
60px Medal For Military Service to Ukraine
60px Defender of the Motherland Medal
60px Dignity and Honour Commendation
60px Order of the Red Star
60px Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR
60px Medal for Battle Merit
60px Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
60px Medal "For Impeccable Service" (15 years)
60px Medal "For Impeccable Service" (10 years)

References

External links

[http://espreso.tv/new/2014/03/05/nevidomi_vykraly_ukrayinskoho_heneral_polkovnyka_u_krymu Unknown kidnapped a Colonel General in Crimea]. Espreso. March 5, 2014
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140306182351/http://ord-dpsu.ru/?page_id=231 Leadership of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine]

{{s-bef

| before = M. I. Kolisnichenko

}}

{{s-ttl

| title = Commander of the 30th Armoured Division

| years = 1997–1999

}}

{{s-aft

| after = Viktor Myshakovsky

}}

{{s-bef

| before = First