Victor Bondarev: biography of the great pilots and commander

Today, General Viktor Bondarev is the commander-in-chief of the Russian aerospace forces. It is difficult to overestimate the merits of this man, who has repeatedly risked his life for the sake of protecting his homeland. Many achievements and medals received from the hands of the president testify to his deeds. And yet, what do we know about Viktor Bondarev's life? How did he become a military man? In which battles did the aviator take part? And who is he today?

Viktor Bondarev: early years and education

Victor was born on December 7, 1959. This happened in a small village Novobogoroditskom, 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 graduation from school went to the higher military Borisoglebsk aviation school of pilots. In 1981 he successfully completed his studies, after which he went to serve in 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, Victor Bondarev became commander of the squadron, as well as senior navigator concurrently at Borisoglebsky Flight Training Center. In the period from 2002 to 2004, the great pilot was on training 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 Ground Attack Aviation Regiment in the 105th Air Combined Division of the 16th Air Defense Army and Air Force. At that time, their part was under Buturlinovka, that in the Voronezh region. In 2000, he was promoted to deputy commander, and in 2004 he became commander in the same aviation division.

In 2006, Viktor Bondarev became deputy commander in the 14th Army Air Force and Air Defense, which is in Novosibirsk. And in two years he is 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 will be promoted to the post and the post of Chief of the General Staff and the 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 participant in the fighting in the North Caucasus. If we consider the First Chechen War, then during its period the aviator carried out about 100 sorties. But during the Second, this number increased more than threefold.

In particular, in December 1994 near the village of Shatoi Dudaevtsi shot down a Russian plane. Under the hail of bullets the pilot still managed to eject, but was imprisoned in the ring by the enemy. Upon learning of this, Victor Bondarev decided on the heroic deed: he independently disabled the anti-aircraft installations of the Dudayevites and covered the position of his fighter until the rescue helicopter arrived behind him. For the shown heroism and courage, the Russian president awarded Viktor Bondarev the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

The great aviator today

Despite his age, Bondarev still skillfully pilots aircraft. In particular, it was he who ran the TU-160 at the military parade in honor of May 9 in 2015.

And already in August 2015, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force. According to the great aviator, this post became one of the greatest of his life victories. 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 flag of his troops, which symbolizes the deep trust and respect of the country for the merits of Viktor Bondarev.