Serhiy Hayduk

{{Infobox military person

| name = Serhiy Hayduk

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|7|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union

| death_place =

| native_name = Сергій Анатолійович Гайдук

| native_name_lang = ua

| image = Serhiy Hayduk in 2016.jpg

| caption = Hayduk on 6 March 2014

| nickname =

| allegiance = {{flag|Ukraine}}

| branch = {{navy|Ukraine}}

| serviceyears = 1992–present

| rank = Vice Admiral

| commands = Commander of the Ukrainian Navy

| battles = Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

| awards = 60px Medal For Military Service to Ukraine

60px Ministry of Defence Badge of Honour

| laterwork =

}}

Serhiy Anatoliyovych Hayduk ({{langx|uk|Сергій Анатолійович Гайдук}}; born 25 July 1963) is a Ukrainian Vice Admiral and a former commander of the Ukrainian Navy.{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7105691/ Poroshenko dismissed the commander of the navy], Ukrayinska Pravda (15 April 2016)

Career

Before becoming commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Hayduk held the staff position in charge of anti-submarine warfare,{{cite web|url=http://old.niss.gov.ua/cacds/archgiveu/jovten2000/1004c.html|title=Офицер штаба украинского флота будет участвовать в учениях минно-тральных сил ВМС Франции 7-14 октября|access-date=9 March 2015|archive-date=7 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307201939/http://old.niss.gov.ua/cacds/archgiveu/jovten2000/1004c.html|url-status=dead}} the position of chief of search and rescue operations,{{cite web|url=http://kobz.ru/index.php-article_to_view=1740.htm|title=kobz.ru|access-date=9 March 2015}} and was the first deputy chief of staff of the navy.{{cite web|url=http://new-sebastopol.com/news/novosti_sevastopolya/V_Sevastopole_Rossiya_i_Ukraina_vmeste_otmechayut_Den__rossiyskogo_moryaka_podvodnika|title=В Севастополе Россия и Украина вместе отмечают День российского моряка-подводника|access-date=9 March 2015}} In 2007, he prevented an environmental disaster from ensuing when the leaky Russian vessel Odisk arrived in Crimea from Sierra Leone carrying ferroalloys.{{cite web|url=http://news.allcrimea.net/news/2007/3/11/1173595177/|title=Севастопольских моряков наградили за предотвращение экологической катастрофы |work=Новости Крыма |access-date=9 March 2015}} He was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1100/2011|title=Про присвоєння військових звань - від 05.12.2011 № 1100/2011|access-date=9 March 2015}}

Hayduk was appointed acting commander on 2 March 2014, and commander on 7 March 2014 following the defection of Denis Berezovsky during the Russian annexation of Crimea.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26405082|title=Ukraine army on alert after Russia approves troops|publisher=BBC News Online|date=2 March 2014|access-date=2 March 2014}} Berezovsky had been dismissed for "high treason" after serving only a single day as commander. On 3 March 2014, Berezovsky, together with several Russian cossacks, had visited high-ranking officers of the Ukrainian Navy and asked them to change allegiance and side with the Russian armed forces in Crimea. After a speech by Hayduk, all the officers rejected the proposal and started to sing the Ukrainian national anthem.[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/3/7017237/ Traitor of Ukrainian Navy has proposed Navy officers to join the Russian military.] Ukrainska pravda, 3 March 2014

On 19 March 2014, pro-Russian forces took over the Ukrainian Navy's headquarters at Sevastopol and imprisoned its newly appointed commander-in-chief, Hayduk.[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26643141 Crimea crisis: Pro-Russians seize Sevastopol Ukraine naval base]. BBC news, 19 March 2014 Hayduk, along with seven other hostages, was held by the pro-Russian so-called "Crimean Security Service" and most of these hostages were tortured while in captivity according to Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group.{{cite web|url=http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1395363214|title=Crimean hostages put in an electric chair, beaten, shot at|publisher=khpg.org.ua|access-date=2014-05-01}} The hostages were released by order of the Russian Defense Minister on 20 March 2014.{{cite web|author=Jade Walker |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/20/ukrainian-navy-commander-released_n_4998100.html|title=Ukrainian Navy Commander Released: Serhiy Haiduk, Other Hostages Freed By Crimean Authorities|publisher=Huffingtonpost.com|date=2014-03-20|access-date=2014-05-01}}

On 23 August 2014, Hayduk was promoted to vice admiral.{{cite web|url=http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/18015.html|title=Указ Президента України № 679/2014|work=Офiцiйне представництво Президента України |access-date=9 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220021754/http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/18015.html|archive-date=20 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}

Hayduk was dismissed as commander of the Ukrainian navy by President Poroshenko on 15 April 2016. He was succeeded by Ihor Voronchenko.[http://www.unian.info/society/1398120-poroshenko-appoints-commander-of-naval-forces-of-ukraine.html Poroshenko appoints Commander of Naval Forces of Ukraine], UNIAN (3 July 2016)
{{cite news |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/339920.html |title=Poroshenko appoints Ihor Voronchenko as new acting head of Ukrainian Navy |newspaper=Interfax-Ukraine |date=25 April 2016 |access-date=14 May 2016}}