Dmytro Krasylnykov

AwardsOrder of the Gold StarAlma materOdesa Military Academy, Ivan Chernyakhovsky National Defense University of Ukraine

Dmytro Serhiiovych Krasylnykov (Ukrainian: Красильников Дмитро Сергійович; born July 3, 1978) is a Ukrainian military commander, brigadier general, commander of the Northern Operational Command (since 2023), and commander of the Northern Operational-Tactical Grouping. He is a Hero of Ukraine (2022).

Biography

He was born on July 3, 1978. In 1995, he enrolled in the Odesa Institute of Land Forces. After graduation, he was assigned to the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade. In 2012, he entered the Ivan Chernyakhovsky National Defense University of Ukraine.

In May 2014, he was summoned to the Ministry of Defense and ordered to form and lead the 34th Territorial Defense Battalion of Kirovohrad Oblast (reformed into a separate motorized infantry battalion, 57th Separate Motorized Brigade, in October).

On July 21, 2014, the soldiers of the 34th Battalion engaged in their first battle, participating in the liberation of the then Dzerzhynsk (now Toretsk). The Special Operations Forces troops were the first to reach the city executive committee building, while the "34th" with servicemen from the 169th Training Center "Desna" (a consolidated platoon tactical group) entered the city from two sides, destroying enemy checkpoints and strongholds, defeating reserves, and eliminating groups attempting to retreat from the city towards Horlivka and Yasynuvata.

Later, other units were created based on the 34th Battalion: motorized infantry battalions, reconnaissance platoons, an artillery unit, an air defense unit, and a communications unit. In October, they were all consolidated into the 57th Separate Motorized Brigade. In 2015, Dmytro Krasylnykov became its commander. The unit took part in the Debaltseve operation.

With the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the commander of the Northern Operational-Tactical Grouping resisted continuous assaults for two days, saving people and equipment. He prevented the enemy from reaching Kharkiv from Luhansk Oblast.^[1][2][3]

On March 13, 2023, he was appointed as the commander of the Northern Operational Command.

Awards

He was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star on February 28, 2022, for personal courage and heroism demonstrated in defense of Ukraine's state sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for his loyalty to the military oath.^[4]

References