▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Party ▁of ▁Reg ions ▁and ▁was ▁the ▁Minister ▁of ▁Def ense ▁of ▁Ukraine ▁( 1 9 9 6 – 2 0 0 1 , ▁ 2 0 0 4 – 2 0 0 5 ). ▁K uz mu k ▁formerly ▁commanded ▁the ▁National ▁Guard ▁of ▁Ukraine ▁( 1 9 9 5 – 1 9 9 6 ) ▁and ▁holds ▁the ▁highest ▁rank ▁in ▁the ▁Ukrain ian ▁military , ▁General ▁of ▁the ▁Army ▁of ▁Ukraine ▁( 1 9 9 8 ). ▁ ▁Biography ▁K uz mu k ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁April ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁in ▁a ▁family ▁of ▁military ▁officer ▁Ivan ▁Fed or ov ych ▁K uz mu k ▁(? - 1 9 7 3 ) ▁and ▁Ray isa ▁My kh ail iv na ▁K uz mu k ▁in ▁a ▁village ▁of ▁Di at yl iv ka , ▁S lav uta ▁Ra ion ▁( K hm el ny t sky i ▁O blast ). ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁he ▁graduated ▁the ▁Kh ark iv ▁High er ▁Arm or ▁Command ▁College . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 5 - 8 0 ▁K uz mu k ▁starting ▁out ▁as ▁a ▁pl ato on ▁leader ▁of ▁arm or ▁forces ▁served ▁until ▁becoming ▁the ▁deput y ▁chief ▁of ▁staff ▁of ▁an ▁arm or ▁regiment . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 0 - 8 3 ▁he ▁was ▁an ▁aud it ▁student ▁of ▁the ▁Mal in ov sky ▁Military ▁Arm ored ▁Forces ▁Academy ▁( M osc ow ). ▁After