Today, General Viktor Bondarev is the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It is difficult to overestimate the merits of this man, who repeatedly risked his life to defend his homeland. His exploits are evidenced by many awards and medals received from the hands of the president himself. And yet, what do we know about the life of Viktor Bondarev? How did he become a soldier? In what battles did the aviator participate? And who is he today?
Viktor Bondarev: early years and education
Victor was born on December 7, 1959. It happened in the small village of Novobogoroditsky, in the Petropavlovsk district, Voronezh region. From a young age, he dreamed of conquering the sky and saw himself as nothing more than a pilot.
That is why Viktor Bondarev, immediately after graduating from school, went to the Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots. In 1981 he successfully completed his studies, after which he went to serve at the Higher Barnaul Aviation School. Here he worked as an instructor pilot until 1989.
In 1989, he began attending courses in the Militaryair academy. Gagarin. Thanks to this training, in 1992, Viktor Bondarev became a squadron commander, as well as a part-time senior navigator at the Borisoglebsk flight training center. In the period from 2002 to 2004, the great pilot was studying at the academy at the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Military career
In the period from 1996 to 2000, Viktor Bondarev commanded the 889th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment in the 105th Aviation Mixed Division of the 16th Air Defense Army and Air Force. At that time, part of them was located near Buturlinovka, in the Voronezh region. In 2000, he was promoted to deputy commander, and in 2004 he became commander in the same air division.
In 2006, Viktor Bondarev became deputy commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army in Novosibirsk. And two years later he was appointed to the post of commander of this formation. In 2009, Bondarev became Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Federation. In June 2011, he is waiting for a promotion and the post of Chief of the General Staff and 1st Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. On May 6, 2012, Viktor Bondarev becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Federation.
Participation in military operations
In the past, Bondarev was a participant in the hostilities in the North Caucasus. If we consider the First Chechen War, then during its period the aviator made about 100 sorties. But during the Second, this number more than tripled.
In particular, inIn December 1994, near the village of Shatoy, the Dudayevs shot down a Russian plane. Under a hail of bullets, the pilot was still able to eject, but was imprisoned in the ring by the enemy. Upon learning of this, Viktor Bondarev decided on a heroic act: he independently disabled the anti-aircraft installations of the Dudaevites and covered the position of his fighter until the rescue helicopter arrived for him. For his heroism and courage, the President of Russia awarded Viktor Bondarev the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
Great aviator today
Despite his age, Bondarev still skillfully pilots planes. In particular, it was he who drove the TU-160 at the military parade in honor of May 9 in 2015.
And already in August 2015, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces. According to the great aviator, this position was one of the greatest victories of his life. And in March 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave Bondarev another incredible gift. The head of state handed over to the great aviator the battle banner of his troops, which symbolizes the country's deep trust and respect for the merits of Viktor Bondarev.
