Air Forces And Air Defense Commander Replaced In Lead-Up To West-2017 Exercises In Belarus

Major General Ihar Holub has become the new commander.

Major General Ihar Holub was relieved of his duties as deputy commander of the Military Air Forces and Air Defense Forces and appointed commander of the Military Air Forces and Air Defense Forces.

The corresponding decree No. 315 was signed by Lukashenka on August 31, 2017, his press service reports.

Earlier, the post of commander of of the Military Air Forces and Air Defense Forces of Belarus was occupied by Aleh Dzvihaliou. On July 18, Aliaksandr Lukashenka appointed him State Military-Industrial Committee chairman instead of Siarhgei Huruliou, dismissed in June.

Ihar Holub is 50 years old, he comes from Chernigov. After graduating with honors from the Chernigov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots in 1988, he held the positions of a pilot, senior pilot, flight commander, deputy commander, commander of an air squadron in the Belarusian Air Forces.

In 2005 he graduated from the Military Academy of Belarus, in 2011 – the faculty of the General Staff of the Military Academy of Belarus, he held the positions of the deputy commander of the 927th Fighter Aviation Base of the North-West Operational and Tactical Command of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces, commander of the 206th Air Assault Air Force and Air Defense Forces. In 2010 he was appointed to the post of deputy commander of the Military Air Forces and Air Defense Forces – the chief of aviation. In 2013 he was appointed deputy commander of Military Air Forces and Air Defense Forces of Belarus.

By his another decree No. 316 of August 31, 2017, Lukashenka dismissed Major-General Andrei Hurtsevich from the post of chief of the faculty of the General Staff of the Armed Forces – deputy chief of the Military Academy and appointed him deputy commander of the Military Air Forces and Air Defense Forces of Belarus.