Russian Navy Gets New Commander

10.05.2012 Dmitry Medvedev endorsed a decree appointing Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov new Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief.

According to press service of presidential administration, VADM Viktor Chirkov was appointed Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief by the decree dated May 6, 2012. Ex-commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky was relieved from office by the same document.

Concurrently with that, Viktor Bondarev superseded Alexander Zelin as Russian Air Force Commander; the latter was retired on Apr 27. The president designated Zelin to a new post - Assistant Defense Minister.

Viktor V. Chirkov, Curriculum Vitae

Viktor V. Chirkov had been holding the post of Baltic Fleet Commander since Sept 8, 2009.

He was born on Sept 8, 1959 in Alma-Ata. After graduation from the Makarov Pacific Naval College, Chirkov was posted torpedo officer on a Pacific Fleet (PF) frigate. Since 1987 he served as commanding officer of a PF frigate, since 1990 through 1993 - commanding officer of a destroyer. He also served as deputy chief of staff, deputy commander and commander of ASW ship division; Northeast Naval Force Deputy Commander; PF Primorskaya Flotilla Commander. Chirkov was transferred to Baltic Fleet (BF) in Sept 2007 as its deputy commander. He graduated from the Kuznetsov Naval Academy and the General Staff Military Academy. Viktor Chirkov is decorated with such medals as "For Service to Motherland in Armed Forces" 3-rd grade, and "For Military Merits". Married, has two sons.

Vladimir S. Vysotsky, Curriculum Vitae

Vladimir S. Vysotsky had been holding the post of Russian Navy Commandeer-in-Chief since Sept 11, 2007. Promoted to the rank of Admiral in Dec 2006.

He was born on Aug 18, 1954 in Komarno, Lvov region. Vysotsky graduated from the Nakhimov Naval School, then the Black Sea Naval College (Sevastopol) in 1976, Higher Naval Officers' Course in 1982, the Kuznetsov Naval Academy (with golden medal) in 1990, and the General Staff Military Academy (with golden medal) in 1999. His naval career started at Pacific Fleet (PF): antisubmarine officer on a PF destroyer, executive officer on command cruiser Admiral Senyavin. Since 1983 he served as chief executive officer on a guided missile cruiser, in 1986 he was appointed chief executive officer on aircraft-carrying cruiser Minsk. In 1990, Vysotsky was posted commanding officer on constructed aircraft-carrying cruiser Varyag, but the construction was shut down, and the ship sold off for scrap to China. In 1992 he was appointed PF 36-th Missile Ship Division Deputy Commander and in 1994 headed it. In 1999, Vysotsky was transferred to Northern Fleet (NF) to the post of Kola Flotilla Chief of Staff (in 1993-1996 this position was held by his predecessor ex-Navy Commander Vladimir Masorin). In 2000, Vysotsky took part in rescue operation of K-141 Kursk nuclear submarine. Vysotsky headed NF Kola Flotilla on Jan 21, 2002. On Aug 20, 2004 he was appointed Baltic Fleet (BF) Deputy Commander. Vysotsky held the post of NF Commander on Sept 26, 2005.