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Tenyukh graduated from the Frunze Higher Naval School, Leningrad in 1979 and began his career as a torpedo boat officer.[citation needed]. In 1982 he underwent submarine training and became an officer of the submarine branch, mainly working in Kilo-class submarines. From 1983 to 1991, he rose through the ranks of commander of coastal mine-sweeper, executive officer of, then commander of seagoing mine-sweeper, chief of the armament and equipment stores department on a mine and anti-submarine armament base. He was for a time attached to training and advising the Indian Navy and the Algerian Navy as a liaison officer.[citation needed] In 1991 he became a member of the Defense and State Security Commission of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament), and participated in the development of a bill on the creation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[citation needed]
From November 2005–2006 he was deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Pursuant to decree #252/2006 dated 23 March 2006 the Ukrainian president promoted him from rear admiral to commander-in-chief of the Navy of Ukraine. On 22 August 2008 Tenyukh was promoted from Vice Admiral to the rank of Admiral.[5]
On 25 March 2014, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov dismissed Tenyukh from his position after he was criticized for withdrawing from Crimea too slowly during the Russian annexation.[6]
Politics
Tenyukh is a member of the right-wing All-Ukrainian Union "Freedom" party, better known as Svoboda.[7]
Euromaidan and annexation of Crimea
During the Euromaidan rally in Kyiv on 19 January 2014 Tenyukh warned of the dangers posed by the "coup d'etat planned by the current authorities" and called for members of the Armed Forces to defy "illegal" orders from those in power.[8] He was quoted as saying "Tomorrow the regime will enslave you too. Therefore we are calling on you to fulfill your military oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people, and not to the authorities who have gone off the rails".[8] Tenyukh was appointed on 27 February 2014 by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Minister of Defense. Due to his indecisiveness during the annexation of Crimea, he submitted his resignation to the Ukrainian parliament on 25 of March which accepted it with 228 votes.[9]
Awards
Tenyukh has been awarded with orders, medals and departmental rewards.[10]
