Oleksandr Serhiiovych Pivnenko (; born 1986) is a Ukrainian athlete, serviceman, and the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU). He is also a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief since July 25, 2023. He currently holds the rank of Major general, and is also awarded with the title Hero of Ukraine.
Biography Oleksandr Pivnenko was born in 1986 in East Germany to a military family.
Pivnenko graduated from the Kryvyi Rih Lyceum with enhanced physical training, the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Troops, and the National Defense University of Ukraine (operational and tactical level). He served in the Omega Special Forces Detachment of the National Guard of Ukraine in Kyiv. As of 2011, he was an officer of the Special Forces and Counterterrorism Unit of the 1st Presidential Operational Brigade.
Russo-Ukrainian War On 2018, Pivnenko joined the Eastern Territorial Directorate of the NGU, and actively took part in the War in Donbas.
During the initial stages of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pivnenko participated in the battle of Kharkiv including the liberation of Kutuzivka, Mala Rohan and Tsyrkuny from Russian occupation. He also participated in fighting around the Toretsk direction in Donetsk Oblast. In July 2022, he was appointed commander of the 3rd Operational Brigade.
In 2023, he was appointed head of the Eastern Territorial Directorate of the NGU.
On July 8, 2023, Pivnenko was appointed Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On July 10, he was introduced by Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, to the National Guard's command staff. On July 25, he was admitted into the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. On November 29, he was assigned the rank Brigadier general by President Zelenskyy.
Personal life He is fond of sports.
Awards The title of Hero of Ukraine with the "Order of the Gold Star" (23 March 2023)Decree of the President of Ukraine from 23 March 2023 year № 175/2023 «Про присвоєння О.Півненку звання Герой України» Order for Courage, 2nd class (30 April 2022)Decree of the President of Ukraine from 30 April 2022 year № 290/2022 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» Order for Courage, 3rd class (17 June 2016)Decree of the President of Ukraine from 17 June 2016 year № 258/2016 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України»
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