Oleksandr Kuzmuk

Oleksandr Kuzmuk is a former Minister of Defense of Ukraine, having served from 1996 to 2001 and briefly in 2004-2005 during the presidency of Leonid Kuchma. He also held the position of Vice Prime Minister in 2007 and was a member of the Ukrainian parliament in the 4th and 6th convocations. Despite his past leadership in defense, he has faced criticism regarding the decline of Ukraine's military capabilities during his term, particularly highlighted by a 2018 forensic examination that linked him to significant reductions in military assets. Currently, he serves as an advisor to the commander of the Territorial Defense Forces, where he recently awarded honors to military personnel.