Oleksandr Pivnenko

Oleksandr Serhiiovych Pivnenko (Олександр Сергійович Півненко; born 1986) is a Ukrainian athlete, serviceman, Brigadier general of the National Guard of Ukraine, a participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine (since July 8, 2023), member of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff (since July 25, 2023). Hero of Ukraine (2023).

Biography
Oleksandr Pivnenko was born in 1986 to a military family.

He 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 Operational Brigade.

From 2018 - in the Eastern Territorial Directorate of the NGU. He took an active part in the battles in eastern Ukraine; from February 24, 2022 - in repulsing the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the same year, he was appointed commander of the 3rd Operational Brigade.

He demonstrated courage and professionalism during the battles for Kharkiv, the liberation of its suburbs (in particular, the village of Kutuzivka, the villages of Mala Rohan and Tsyrkuny in Kharkiv Raion) and the holding of combat positions near the city of Toretsk, Bakhmut Raion, Donetsk Oblast. Under the command of Colonel Oleksandr Pivnenko, the soldiers of the 3rd Brigade eliminated a significant amount of manpower and military equipment of the Russian occupiers, including four tanks on the bypass road near Kharkiv on the first day of the large-scale invasion and a Su-25 aircraft, whose pilot was detained; destroyed eight infantry fighting vehicles, two ZU-23-2 systems, 22 vehicles and a multiple rocket launcher system. He repeatedly helped with the evacuation of civilians.

In 2023, he was appointed head of the Eastern Territorial Directorate of the NGU.

On July 8, 2023, he was appointed Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine by a decree of the President of Ukraine. On July 10, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko introduces Oleksandr Pivnenko to the command staff of the National Guard.

Personal life
He is fond of sports.

Awards

 * The title of Hero of Ukraine with the "Order of the Gold Star" (23 March 2023)
 * Order for Courage, 2nd class (30 April 2022)
 * Order for Courage, 3rd class (17 June 2016)