Aleksandr Vitko
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Aleksandr Viktorovich Vitko | |
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| Native name | Александр Викторович Витко |
| Born | September 8, 1961 Vitebsk,Byelorussian SSR,USSR |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union(1979–1991) Russia(1991–present) |
| Service/ | Soviet Navy Russian Navy |
| Years of service | 1979–2021 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Unit | Naval High Command |
| Battles/wars | 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine |
AdmiralAleksandr Viktorovich Vitko(Russian:Александр Викторович Витко;born September 13, 1961) is a retired officer of theRussian Navy,and a former commander of the RussianBlack Sea Fleetbetween April 2013 and June 2018.[1]
Biography
[edit]Aleksandr Vitko was born September 13, 1961, inVitebsk,theByelorussian SSR.In 1984 he graduated from theNakhimov Naval School,and served in thePacific Fleet.[2]During 2009-2013 he was the Deputy commander of theNorthern Fleet.
Vitko took command of theBlack Sea Fleeton April 15, 2013.[3]
Vitko took an active part in theannexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.He delivered to Ukrainian troops an ultimatum to surrender before 5:00 am on March 4, threatening to storm the offices and units of the armed forces of Ukraine in the Crimea.[4]On March 4, 2014, together withAleksei Chalyhe visited the headquarters of the Naval Forces of Ukraine. The next day, he was prosecuted by the general prosecutor of Ukraine on charges of incitement to treason and sabotage against the organization of the Ukrainian troops.[5]
The Russian Defense Ministry called this an attempt of provocation aimed to destabilize the situation in Crimea. According to Deputy Defense MinisterAnatoly Antonov,the Black Sea Fleet commander performed his duties lawfully, in strict compliance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements on basing the Russian fleet in Ukraine and the Charter of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. On March 12, 2014, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal investigation into the illegal decision of the General Prosecutor's Office against Aleksandr Vitko. He would be included amongst the individuals who were targeted withasset freezes,travel bans, andsanctionsby theEuropean Unionand theUnited States.[6][7]
On June 26, 2018, it was announced that Vitko was replaced by Vice-AdmiralAlexander Moiseevand assigned "a new place of military service in the Navy High Command."[3]
In 2019 Vitko was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Navy, replacing Vice-AdmiralAndrei Volozhinsky,and was seen as a potential political replacement forDmitry Ovsyannikov.[8][9]
Sanctions
[edit]In March 2014 theEUenacted sanctions against Aleksandr Vitko in relation to the violation of Ukrainian sovereign territory.[10]
Sanctioned by theUKgovernment in 2014 in relation toRusso-Ukrainian War.[11]
References
[edit]- ^Биография Александра Витко(in Russian).RIA Novosti.17 April 2013.Retrieved1 March2014.
- ^"Вице-адмирал Витко Александр Викторович, командующий Черноморским флотом Российской Федерации".www.kchf.ru.Retrieved2021-11-19.
- ^ab"Вице-адмирал Александр Моисеев назначен командующим Черноморским флотом".TASS. 26 June 2018.Retrieved28 June2018.
- ^Hjelmgaard, Jacob Resneck and Kim."Russian admiral issues ultimatum in Crimea; U.S. halts trade talks".USA TODAY.Retrieved2021-09-19.
- ^Тихомиров, Андрей (2019-12-17).Президентство Владимира Путина: 2016 г. Хроника событий(in Russian). Litres.ISBN978-5-04-221528-5.
- ^Al-Saiegh, Mohammed (2014-04-29)."Ukraine crisis: See full sanctions list".CNNMoney.Retrieved2021-09-19.
- ^"US and EU sanctions: the Russian and Ukrainian targets".the Guardian.2014-03-17.Retrieved2021-09-19.
- ^"Звезды под елкой: Минобороны провело крупную кадровую ротацию"(in Russian).Izvestia.23 December 2019.Retrieved9 January2020.
- ^Urcosta, Ridvan Bari."Newly Appointed Governor of Sevastopol Faces Looming Showdown With Local Elites".Jamestown.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-07-30.Retrieved2021-09-19.
- ^"COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2019/408 of 14 March 2019".Retrieved8 February2023.
- ^"CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK"(PDF).Retrieved16 April2023.
- 1961 births
- Living people
- Military personnel from Vitebsk
- Russian admirals
- People of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation
- Pro-Russian people of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
- N. G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy alumni
- Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia alumni
- Russian individuals subject to European Union sanctions
- Russian individuals subject to United Kingdom sanctions