Vladimir Kononov (Donetsk People's Republic)

Vladimir Kononov
Владимир Кононов
Kononov in the 2015 DPR Victory Day Parade
Minister of Defence of the
Donetsk People's Republic
In office
15 August 2014  1 October 2018
PresidentPavel Gubarev
Alexander Zakharchenko
Prime MinisterAlexander Zakharchenko
Preceded byIgor Strelkov
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born (1974-10-14) October 14, 1974
Hirske, Luhansk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Nickname"Tsar" (Царь)
Military service
Allegiance Ukraine (until 2014)
Donetsk People's Republic (from 2014)
RankMajor general
Battles/warsWar in Donbas

Vladimir Petrovich Kononov (Russian: Влади́мир Петро́вич Ко́нонов; born October 14, 1974; nom de guerre Tsar) is a former defence minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, serving from August 15, 2014, after the resignation of Igor Girkin (also known as Igor Strelkov) until October 1, 2018.

Kononov is a Donetsk local. In 2014, he was a lieutenant colonel, and by 2015 was promoted to major general.