Serhiy Knyazev (Ukrainian: Сергій Князєв; born 18 October 1971) is a Ukrainian official who served as Chief of Ukraine's National Police from 8 February 2017 until 25 September 2019.[2][3]

Serhiy Knyazev
2nd Chief of National Police of Ukraine
In office
8 February 2017 – 25 September 2019
PresidentPetro Poroshenko
Volodymyr Zelensky
Prime MinisterVolodymyr Groysman
Preceded byKhatia Dekanoidze
Succeeded byIhor Klymenko[1]
Personal details
Born (1971-10-18) 18 October 1971 (age 52)
Mstyora, Vladimir Oblast, RSFSR, USSR
CitizenshipUkraine
Residence(s)Kyiv, Ukraine
Military service
Allegiance Ukraine
Branch/service Ministry of Internal Affairs
Years of serviceSince 1992
Rank Third division general
Commands National Police of Ukraine

Career edit

In 1992 Knyazev started working for the police in his birthplace Bila Tserkva.[4] In 1995 he switched to the criminal police there and became its head in 2008.[4] Knyazev was promoted to leading the criminal investigation department of the Kyiv metropolitan region in 2008.[4]

After the start of the War in Donbass in 2014 Knyazev was transferred to Donetsk.[4] In November 2014 he became deputy chief of Donetsk Oblast Police Region and head of the criminal police.[4] He took part in the Battle of Debaltsevo.[4] In December 2014 he was awarded the Order of Danylo Halytsky "for courage and heroism in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."[4]

After the July 2015 Mukacheve shootout between the police and Right Sector Knyazev was transferred to lead the Zakarpattia Oblast Police.[4] From April until November 2016 he was transferred to Rivne Oblast to combat illegal amber mining.[4] Starting in November 2016 Knyazev was appointed head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine. On 8 February 2017 he was appointed as the overall head of the National Police of Ukraine.[2] Knyazev tendered his resignation on 24 September 2019 during a press conference,[5] one day after his ex-wife was caught at the Polish border with her employer Vadym Kahan and 500,000 euros.[6]

On 26 September 2019 Knyazev was appointed an official adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov.[7]

Personal life edit

Knyazev divorced Viktoriya in 2012.[2] She is the mother of their three children.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ (in Ukrainian) Storming of a supermarket in Mariupol: the head of the National Police threatened with immediate punishment, Ukrayinska Pravda (16 April 2020)
  2. ^ a b c Cabinet appoints Knyazev as National Police chief, Kyiv Post (8 February 2017)
  3. ^ "Уряд призначив нового Голову Національної поліції України (ФОТО, ДОДАНО ВІДЕО)".
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Experienced staff, who is the new head of the police Knyazev?, BBC Ukrainian (8 February 2017)
  5. ^ Ukraine's police chief resigns, UNIAN (24 September 2019)
  6. ^ "Chief of Ukraine's National Police resigns". Kyiv Post. 24 September 2017.
  7. ^ Князєва лишили в МВС радником Авакова
  8. ^ Голова Нацполіції пояснив історію з екс-дружиною та "пидарас" на кордоні

External links edit

  • Biography (in Ukrainian) on "VSE"-website (dated 5 April 2016)