As part of the work to counter the ideology of terrorism, the Voronezh Regional Art Museum. I.N. Kramskoy continues the series of online publications “Heroes of Russia”, dedicated to the natives and residents of the Voronezh region – the Heroes of Russia, who distinguished themselves in the fight against international terrorism.

Bondarev Viktor Nikolaevich (December 7, 1959, the village of Novobogoroditskoye, Voronezh region, RSFSR, USSR) is a Russian military leader and statesman.

Chairman of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Defense and Security since September 27, 2017, Senator of the Russian Federation from the executive power of the Kirov Region since September 19, 2017. Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation (August 1, 2015 – September 26, 2017), Commander-in-Chief of the Air Forces of the Russian Federation (May 6, 2012 – August 1, 2015). Colonel General (2014). Hero of the Russian Federation (2000). Candidate of Technical Sciences.

Born in the village of Novobogoroditskoye, Petropavlovsk District, Voronezh Region.

In the Armed Forces of the USSR since August 1977. In 1981 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School named after V.P. Chkalov. Instructor pilot, flight commander at the Barnaul Higher Military Aviation Pilot School named after Chief Marshal of Aviation K.A. Vershinin (1981-1989).

From 1989 to 1992 – studied at the Air Force Academy named after Yu.A. Gagarin. Upon graduation from the academy, senior navigator, squadron commander at the V.P. Chkalov, then squadron commander, deputy commander of an assault aviation regiment. From September 1996 to October 2000 – Commander of the 899th Guards Assault Aviation Orsha Twice Red Banner Order of Suvorov Regiment named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky (Buturlinovka, Voronezh region).

From 2000 to 2002 – deputy commander, and from 2004 to 2006 – commander of the 105th mixed aviation division of the 16th air army (Voronezh). Participated in the first Chechen war (over 100 sorties) and in the second Chechen war (over 300 sorties).

On April 21, 2000, Colonel Bondarev was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation “for the courage and heroism shown in the performance of military duty in conditions involving a risk to life.”

From 2002 to 2004 he studied at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2005, he was awarded the military rank of Major General.

Since May 2006 – Deputy Commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Novosibirsk). Since June 9, 2008 – Commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army. Since August 2009 – Commander of the 2nd Air Force and Air Defense Command. Since July 2009 – Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Federation. From July 2011 to May 6, 2012 – Chief of the General Staff – 1st Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.

Since May 6, 2012 – Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force. On August 9, 2012, by decree of the President of Russia, he was awarded the military rank of lieutenant general.

During the aviation part of the military parade on Red Square on May 9, 2015, he personally piloted the Tu-160 aircraft. By decree of the President of Russia on August 11, 2014, he was awarded the military rank of Colonel General.

Since August 1, 2015 – the first Commander-in-Chief of a new branch of the Armed Forces – the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation. Since the beginning of the Russian military operation in Syria in September 2015, he has led the Aviation Group of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria.

In May 2016, he personally checked the reconstructed runway at the Privolzhsky military airfield. Performed a complex of aerobatics on the MiG-29 fighter: afterburner take-off, half-turn, turn, “ear”, “slide”, “barrel”, “cask”.

On March 17, 2016, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, presented the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev, with the Battle Banner of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation.

He has a total flying time of over 3,000 hours. Cool qualification “pilot-sniper”. Candidate of Technical Sciences. He was a member of the editorial board of the journal “Military Thought”.

On September 19, the Governor of the Kirov Region, Igor Vasiliev, endowed Viktor Bondarev with the powers of a member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

On September 26, 2017, by decree of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, he was relieved of the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces and transferred to the reserve.

On September 27, 2017, he was elected Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

Photo from the website of the international patriotic Internet project “Heroes of the Country”