Vitaly Ganchev
Vitaly Ganchev | |
|---|---|
| Виталий Ганчев | |
| Head of the Kharkov Military-Civil Administration | |
| Assumed office June 3, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Виталий Константинович Ганчев 24 May 1975 Kharkiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR (now Ukraine) |
| Nationality | Soviet Union (1975-1991) Ukraine (1991–2022) LPR (2022) Russia (2022–present) |
| Alma mater | National Academy of Internal Affairs |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ukraine (2009–2011; 2013–2014) LPR (2014–2022) |
| Years of service | 2009–2011; 2013–2022 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit |
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Vitaly Ganchev (Russian: Виталий Константинович Ганчев, romanized: Vitaliy Konstantinovich Ganchev; born May 24, 1975) 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.
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.
In June 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ganchev became part of the Russian occupation administration, and became the governor of Russian-occupied Kharkiv Oblast. He stayed in that position until October, when the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive forced him to flee into Russia.