Viktor Nikolaevich Bondarev (Russian: Виктор Николаевич Бондарев; born 7 December 1959) is a retired Russian colonel general[1] and former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces (1 August 2015 – 26 September 2017), and the former Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force before it became a branch of the Aerospace Forces (6 May 2012 – 1 August 2015).

[4] Bondarev's career started off with his joining the Soviet Air Force in 1977.

[5] He was a squadron commander of the Boris Aviation Training Centre before becoming a deputy commander and senior pilot of the Attack Aviation Regiment, and as such, participated in the Soviet–Afghan War.

[5] In July 2011, Bondarev was appointed Chief of Staff–Deputy Commander of the Russian Air Force.

[5] On 21 April 2000, via a presidential decree, Bondarev was named a Hero of the Russian Federation for engaging in military activities involving significant risks to his life.