Wikipedia

Vitaly Ganchev

Vitaly Ganchev (Russian: Виталий Константинович Ганчев, romanized: Vitaliy Konstantinovich Ganchev; born May 24, 1975[2]) is a former Ukrainian police officer and lieutenant colonel, who became a pro-Russian collaborator after the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014.

Vitaly Ganchev
Виталий Ганчев
Governor of Russian-occupied Kharkiv Oblast
In office
June 3, 2022 – present[1]
Disputed with Oleh Syniehubov
Preceded byPosition established
Personal details
Born
Виталий Константинович Ганчев

(1975-05-24) 24 May 1975 (age 49)
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Kharkiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Soviet Ukraine
Nationality Soviet Union (1975-1991)
 Ukraine (1991-2022)
 LPR (2022)
 Russia (2022-present)
Alma materNational Academy of Internal Affairs
Military service
Allegiance Ukraine(2009-2011; 2013-2014)
 LPR (2014-2022)
Years of service2009-2011; 2013-2022
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Unit
Battles/wars

Following his defection to the pro-Russian separatist Luhansk People's Republic, he became part of the ministry of internal affairs in the LPR, and was the head of economic security department in the Zhovtnevyi District within the city of Luhansk.[3][4][5]

In June 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ganchev became part of the Russian occupation administration,[2] and became the governor of Russian-occupied Kharkiv Oblast.[6] He stayed in that position until October, when the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive forced him to flee into Russia.

Early life

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Ganchev was born on May 24, 1975, in the Soviet city of Kharkiv.[7] In 1990, he graduated from School No.31, and in 2008 graduated from the National Academy of Internal Affairs. Afterwards, he worked for the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs.[8] In 2013, he became the deputy chief of police in Derhachi Raion, with the rank of lieutenant colonel.[3][9]

Political career

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In 2014, he helped support the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine,[10][11] and was sought by the pro-Russian separatist Luhansk People's Republic as a potential collaborator.[12][13] According to the pro-Ukrainian NGO "Myrotvorets", Ganchev moved to Luhansk Oblast in 2014, and became the head of the department of economic security in Zhovtnevyi District within the city of Luhansk. He also had the rank of lieutenant colonel.[4]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

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In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces began the Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast, with Ganchev responsible for the administration in the settlement of Kozacha Lopan.[14] In April, Russian authorities announced their intention to appoint Ganchev as the head of administration in occupied Kharkiv Oblast.[15][16][17][18] On June 3, pro-Russian authorities organized a meeting in Kupyansk, and officially named Ganchev as the governor of the occupational administration.[19][11] Six days later, on June 9, the Security Service of Ukraine officially placed Ganchev on a wanted list for treason and collaborative activities.[20][21]

During his position as de facto governor of occupied Kharkiv Oblast, he discussed plans for annexation of the territories into Russia.[22] He also supported the creation of pro-Russian symbols, such as a new flag and a new emblem, along with making Russian the official language.[23]

In September 2022, the Ukrainian military carried out the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive, which successfully retook most of the territories in Russian-occupied Kharkiv Oblast. The Russian authorities shortly moved the administrative center from Kupyansk to Vovchansk on the 8th,[24] but the city soon fell also,[25][26] and Ganchev fled to Belgorod Oblast in Russia. This was evident when Ganchev appeared in a photo op along with two Russian officials, Vyacheslav Gladkov and Andrey Turchak.[27]

Western sanctions

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In July 2023, the British government added Ganchev to its sanctions list for supporting Russian actions in Ukraine.[28][29][30] The US Government also placed Ganchev under its sanctions list in February 2024.[31]

References

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  1. ^ "Russian official says Ukraine pouring troops into contested Kharkiv region". Reuters. June 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Гауляйтеры Харьковской области. Часть первая". 2day.kh.ua. March 22, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Псевдоголову окупованої Козачої Лопані підозрюють у держзраді та колаборації" (in Ukrainian). Суспільне. Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  4. ^ a b СІА. "Ганчев Виталий Константинович". Myrotvorets.center (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  5. ^ "Ганчев Віталій Константинович — Державний зрадник, інформація про зраду, біографія, посада, зада | ПолітХаб". www.chesno.org (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  6. ^ "Нові гауляйтери Харківської області. Як змінюється влада на окупованих територіях". 2day.kh.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  7. ^ "Ганчев Виталий Константинович". War Proekt. June 2022.
  8. ^ "Гауляйтери Харківської області. Частина перша". 2day.kh.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  9. ^ "Представник духовенства Дергачівщини закликав місцевих жителів допомагати правоохоронцям захищати мир та спокій на вулицях рідного краю" (in Ukrainian). Derhachi Raion. n.d. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "Гауляйтери Харківської області: хто і як зрадив Україну". 2day.kh.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  11. ^ a b "It Became Known What Will Happen Next to the Liberated Territories of the Kharkiv Region". eprimefeed. July 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "А ви питаєте, як Центр Миротворець отримує відомості про бойовиків та сепаратистів? Самі дають". Myrotvorets News (in Ukrainian). 2016-01-08. Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  13. ^ Batyanya (2015-07-09). "ЛНР подготовила список лиц, похищенных и удерживаемых украинской стороной (СПИСОК)". Новости в мире. События, политика, экономика (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  14. ^ "Виталию Ганчеву, который добровольно стал главой захваченного пгт Казачья Лопань, сообщили о подозрении" (in Russian). Objectiv.tv. April 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "Другому гауляйтеру з Харківської області оголосили підозру у держзраді". 2day.kh.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  16. ^ Виталий Ганчев — глава временной администрации Харьковской области (in Ukrainian), archived from the original on 2022-09-22, retrieved 2022-08-19
  17. ^ "Второму гауляйтеру из Харьковской области объявили подозрение в госизмене" (in Russian). 2day.kh.ua. April 22, 2022.
  18. ^ "Collaborator Vitaly Ganchev who was intends to hold a referendum in the #Kharkiv region. At the moment, the #Russian occupiers appointed him as head of the interim civilian administration". Nexta. April 21, 2022 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "They told how to organize the new power system in the Kharkov region". newsunrolled. June 4, 2022.
  20. ^ "Допомагає окупантам на Харківщині: самопроголошеному голові Козачої Лопані повідомили про підозру". nv.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  21. ^ "СБУ заподозрила в госизмене членов "временной администрации Харьковской области"" (in Russian). Radio Free Europe. June 9, 2022. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023.
  22. ^ "Eksperci odczytują plany Putina. Charków znów zagrożony" (in Polish). onet.pl. July 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment - July 9, 2022". Institute for the Study of War. July 9, 2022.
  24. ^ "Оккупационная "власть" Харьковщины бежит из Купянска в Волчанск" (in Russian). Archived from the original on September 8, 2022.
  25. ^ "Ukraine continues to pressure retreating Russian troops". PBS. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  26. ^ "Russian Troops Retreating From Vovchansk, Population Evacuated". Ukranian News. September 11, 2022.
  27. ^ "ГАУЛЯЙТЕРЫ КУПЯНСКА И ИЗЮМА СБЕЖАЛИ В РОССИЮ", vgorode.ua (in Russian), 2022-09-15, archived from the original on 2022-09-30, retrieved 2022-09-17
  28. ^ "UK Sanctions List - GANCHEV Vitaliy Konstantinovich". UK Government. July 17, 2023.
  29. ^ "Financial Sanctions Notice" (PDF). UK Government. July 17, 2023.
  30. ^ "Великобритания ввела санкции против главы администрации Харьковской области" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. July 17, 2023. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023.
  31. ^ "Russia-related Designations; Issuance of Russia-related General Licenses and new and amended Frequently Asked Questions". US Government. February 23, 2024. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024.
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