Oleksandr Heorhiiovych Tarnavskyi (Ukrainian: Олександр Георгійович Тарнавський; born 12 May 1970) is a Ukrainian military officer and brigadier general who rose to prominence during the Russian invasion of Ukraine due to his leading role during the counteroffensive in southern Ukraine in 2022 and 2023.[1] He is the former Commander of the Tavria operational-strategic group[2] and the former Commander of the Sloboda operational-strategic group. He is also a Knight of all degrees of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
Oleksandr Tarnavskyi Олександр Тарнавський | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 12, 1970 Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine) |
| Allegiance | Ukraine |
| Service | Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Commands | 2024 – until now Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Training Command. |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards |    |
Biography
editTarnavskyi was born on May 12, 1970 in the city of Dnipropetrovsk to a family of doctors.[citation needed]
In 2011, Tarnavskyi was appointed as a Commander of the 17th Separate Tank Brigade and led the combat unit through 2015.[3] In May 2012, Tarnavskyi attended the consecration of the UOC (MP) church, which was located on the territory of the 17th Separerate Tank Brigade.[4][5]
From 2022 to 2024, holding the rank brigadier general, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi held the position of the Commander of the Operational Command "East". Tarnavskyi became the Deputy Commander of Operational Command East (Unit A1314) in mid-2022.[6] Shortly thereafter, Tarnavskyi would command the Sloboda group. Tarnavskyi later assumed command of an operational-strategic grouping of troops that was active in both the 2022 Kherson counteroffensive and the subsequent liberation of Kherson.[7]
Tarnavskyi commanded the Southern grouping of forces during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.[8] During this tenure, Tarnavskyi was involved in the Ukrainian breakthrough of Russian defensive lines in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast,[9] which in turn resulted in the liberation of Robotyne.[10]
Tarnavskyi was later appointed as the Commander of the Avdiivka front, a position he would hold until the city was captured by Russian forces in February 2024.[11] Following the fall of Avdiivka, Tarnavskyi became Commander of the Training Command of the Ground Forces of Ukraine.[citation needed]
On 13 December 2024, the commander of the Ukrainian Donetsk Operational and Tactical Group, Oleksandr Lutsenko, was replaced by Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi. Due to recent advances of Russian forces towards Pokrovsk, Ukrainian commander Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi personally replaced Lutsenko.[12]
Military ranks
editOn December 10, 2021, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi was awarded the rank of brigadier general.
Russian-Ukrainian war
editThroughout the Russian-Ukrainian War, Tarnavskyi has been designated command over a number of operational groups both in Eastern Ukraine and Southern Ukraine. These designations include the following:
- Commander of the Donetsk operational tactical group;
- Commander of the Sloboda operational group;
- Commander of the Kharkiv operational group;
- Commander of the Oleksandria operational and strategic group;
- Commander of the Kherson operational-strategic group;
- Commander of the Tavria operational-strategic group.
Awards
editOleksandr Tarnavskyi has been awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky three times.[13]
References
edit- ^ Свобода, Радіо (2023-08-12). "Контрнаступ на півдні: Тарнавський заявив про «відбиті території» на Таврійському напрямку". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ "Таврійський напрямок. Окупанти втратили вертоліт Ка-52 та понад чотири роти солдатів". ua.news (in Ukrainian). 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ "Про відзначення державними нагородами України". Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "К празднику Великой Победы в Кривом Роге освятили новый храм и наградили орденами его благотворителей". 0564.ua - Сайт міста Кривого Рогу (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "ХРАМ ВЕЛИКОМУЧЕНИКА ГЕОРГИЯ ПОБЕДОНОСЦА". church-site.kiev.ua. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Бригадний генерал Олександр Тарнавський: на таких людях тримається військо – Головнокомандувач ЗСУ". armyinform.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ "Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on stabilization measures in the de-occupied Kherson region". President of Ukraine - Official Website. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ Psaropoulos, John (2023-10-11). "Russia tries to spoil Ukraine's counteroffensive before winter". Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- ^ "Tarnavsky: Ukrainian troops break through the first line of defense in the Zaporizhzhia region". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- ^ "Ukrainian Army's 47th brigade says Robotyne has been liberated". euronews. 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- ^ Segura, Cristian (2024-02-20). "Ruins and corpses among the howitzers: Russia prepares its next great siege in eastern Ukraine". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ TETYANA OLIYNYK (2024-12-13). "Donetsk Operational and Tactical Group commander dismissed and his replacement already prepared – FT". Ukrainska Pravda.
- ^ "President of Ukraine decorates intelligence officer who raised Ukrainian flag in Snihurivka". news.yahoo.com. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-09.