Vitaliy Radetsky

He was born in the village of Khrystynivka, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union . He is Ukrainian. He graduated from Railway School No. 18 and the Odessa Mechanical and Technological College. From 1963, he worked as a foreman at the Odessa Flour Mill. == Military service ==

In 1968, he graduated from the Kiev Higher Combined Arms Command School. He was the school's heavyweight boxing champion. He was platoon leader, company commander, and deputy battalion commander in the Baltic Military District from 1968-1971, and a battalion commander from 1971-1975 in the Far Eastern Military District. In 1975, he graduated from the Frunze Military Academy. In 1989, he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. He was First Deputy Commander of the 13th Combined Arms Army in the Carpathian Military District from May 1989 – May 1991 and Commander of the 6th Guards Tank Army of the Odessa Military District from May 1991. == Ukraninan government ==

He was one of the first to transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the collapse of the USSR and took the Ukrainian oath. In January 1992, he was appointed commander of the Odessa Military District. From October 4, 1993 to October 10, 1994, he was the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. He was awarded the military rank of General of the Army of Ukraine on November 30, 1993 (the first to be awarded this rank) . He actively supported Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk during the 1994 Ukrainian presidential election campaign. After Leonid Kuchma's victory in the Ukrainian presidential election, he was immediately removed from his post and in August 1995, was appointed Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. He participated in the 1998 Ukrainian parliamentary election for the Verkhovna Rada as a candidate from the Bloc of Democracies - NEP. From in May 2005 to retirement, he headed the National Defence University of Ukraine. In January 2009, he was discharged from military service due to age. == External links ==