Mykhailo Volodymyrovych Koval is a Colonel General of Ukraine who until 2014 served in the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. During the 2014 Crimea crisis he was appointed as the Minister of Defence replacing outgoing Admiral Ihor Tenyukh who resigned.

Ihor Yosypovych Tenyukh is a former Ukrainian admiral and Svoboda party member. He was the commander of the Ukrainian Navy from 2006 until 2010 when dismissed by Viktor Yanukovych. Tenyukh fully supported the 2013–2014 uprising, and was appointed Minister of Defense of Ukraine in February 2014. After and because of accusations of indecision in the face of the Russian invasion of Crimea, he resigned on 25 March 2014.