Mykhailo Yezhel
{{short description|Ukrainian admiral}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Mykhailo Yezhel
| native_name = Михайло Броніславович Єжель
| native_name_lang = uk
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|10|19|df=y}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = Bar Raion, Ukrainian SSR
| death_place =
| image = Mykhailo Yezhel.jpg
| image_upright =
| image_size = 250
| caption = Admiral Mykhailo Yezhel in 2010
| nickname =
| allegiance = Ukraine
| branch = Navy
| serviceyears = July 1970 – October 2003
| rank = Admiral
| unit =
| commands =
| battles =
| awards =
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
Admiral (Ret.) Mykhailo Bronislavovych Yezhel ({{langx|uk|Михайло Броніславович Єжель}}) is the former Minister of Defence of Ukraine (from 2010 to 2012) and a former Commander of the Ukrainian Navy (from 2001 to 2003).
Biography
Yezhel was born on 19 October 1952 in a small village of Sloboda-Yaltushkivska, Bar Raion, Vinnytsia Oblast, in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union.
In 1970 he completed 10th grade in a Republican specialized boarding school in Kyiv and went on military career. Having served in the Pacific Fleet of the Soviet Navy from 1975 till 1993, Yezhel acquired citizenship of the newly independent Ukraine and joined its Navy from the very beginning of its foundation.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
From 20 August 2001 until 25 April 2003, he served as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Navy. He retired in October 2003.[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122085/ Yanukovych replaces defense minister], Kyiv Post (8 February 2012)
From 11 March 2010[http://unian.net/eng/news/news-366934.html VR of Ukraine appointed Yezhel Defense Minister of Ukraine], UNIAN (March 11, 2010) until 8 February 2012 he served as the Minister of Defence of Ukraine.[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122090/ Ukraine gets new defence minister], Kyiv Post (8 February 2012)
According to Ukrayinska Pravda he had been forced to resign "for failure to plan for army reform".{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/02/8/6958377/ ЯНУКОВИЧ ЗМІНИВ ЄЖЕЛЯ НА САЛАМАТІНА], Ukrayinska Pravda (8 February 2012) On 24 February 2012 Yezhel was appointed an adviser to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/123130/ Former Defense Minister Yezhel appointed presidential adviser], Kyiv Post (24 February 2012)
From 2013 until 2015 Yezhel was Ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus.{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/08/22/7118411/ The court allowed the investigation into the distance Yezhel], Ukrayinska Pravda (22 August 2016)
In March 2016 Mykhailo Yezhel together with (his successor as Minister of Defence) Pavlo Lebedyev were placed on a wanted list by Ukrainian authorities on suspicion of criminal activities and desertion. Yezhel was specifically wanted in relation to the sale of two Tu-95MS bombers to Russia during his period as defense minister.{{citation| url =http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/330472.html| title = Two former Ukrainian defense ministers announced wanted – chief military prosecutor| date = 14 March 2016| work = Interfax-Ukraine }} In April 2015 Belarus refused to respond to the Ukrainian request as to whether Yezhel lived in Minsk. Yezhel than confirmed that he and his family did live in Belarus, and that he will only return to Ukraine after a withdraw of the criminal charges. He was granted refugee status in Belarus in July 2018.[https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/belarus-grants-refugee-status-to-ex-defense-minister-of-ukraine-30318.html Belarus grants refugee status to ex-defense minister of Ukraine]
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20041213080944/http://www.ezhel.openua.net/ Biography (In Ukrainian)]
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef | before = Volodymyr Bezkorovainy}}
{{s-ttl | title = Naval Commander of Ukraine | years = 2001–2003}}
{{s-aft | after = Ihor Knyaz}}
{{s-end}}
{{Ukrainian Ministers of Defence}}
{{First Azarov government}}
{{Commanders of the Ukrainian Navy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yezhel, Mykhailo}}
Category:Soviet Navy personnel
Category:Military personnel from Vinnytsia Oblast
Category:Naval commanders of Ukraine
Category:Ministers of defense of Ukraine
Category:Ambassadors of Ukraine to Belarus
Category:Recipients of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd class