Today, General Viktor Bondarev is the commander in chief of the aerospace forces of Russia. It is difficult to overestimate the merits of this man, who repeatedly risked his life for the sake of protecting 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 military man? What battles did the aviator take part in? And who is he today?
Victor Bondarev: the early years and education
Victor was born on December 7, 1959. This happened in the small village of Novobogoroditsky, in the Petropavlovsk district, Voronezh region. From a young age, he dreamed of conquering the sky and did not see himself as anything other than a pilot.
That is why Viktor Bondarev immediately after leaving school went to the Higher Military Borisoglebsk Aviation Pilot School. 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 at the Air Force Academy. Gagarin. Thanks to this training, in 1992 Viktor Bondarev became the squadron commander, as well as a senior part-time navigator at the Borisoglebsk Flight Training Center. In the period from 2002 to 2004, the great pilot was trained at the Academy under 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 and Air Force Army. At that time, their part was near Buturlinovka, in the Voronezh region. In 2000, he was promoted to deputy commander, and in 2004 he became a commander in the same aviation division.
In 2006, Viktor Bondarev became deputy commander in the 14th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense 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 was awaiting promotion and the post of chief of the General Staff and 1st Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. 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 member of 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 increased by more than three times.
In particular, in December 1994, near the village of Shatoy, the Dudayevites shot down a Russian plane. Under the hail of bullets, the pilot was nevertheless able to eject, but he was imprisoned in the ring by the enemy. Upon learning of this, Viktor Bondarev decided on a heroic act: he independently disabled the Dudaev's anti-aircraft mounts and covered the position of his fighter until the moment when a rescue helicopter arrived behind him. For 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 airplanes. In particular, it was he who drove the TU-160 at a military parade in honor of May 9 in 2015.
And already in August 2015, Colonel General Viktor Bondarev was appointed commander of the Russian Air Force. According to the great aviator, this position has become one of the greatest of his victories in life. And in March 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin made 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 reverence for the merits of Viktor Bondarev.