Viktor Astapov

Viktor Borisovich Astapov (Russian: Виктор Борисович Астапов; born 9 December 1962) is an officer of the Russian Armed Forces. He currently holds the rank of Lieutenant General, and since 2019 has served as a deputy commander in chief of the Russian Navy.

Viktor Astapov
Native name
Виктор Борисович Астапов
Born (1962-12-09) 9 December 1962
Tikhoretsk, Krasnodar Krai, Russian SFSR, USSR
Allegiance Soviet Union
 Russia
Service/branchRussian Airborne Forces
 Russian Navy
Years of service1981–present
RankLieutenant General
Commands held7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division
49th Combined Arms Army
AwardsOrder of Courage
Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" Third Class
Order of Military Merit

Astapov entered the military after studying at the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School, serving in a regimental reconnaissance company of the Soviet Airborne Forces. Rising through the ranks he saw service during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, subsequently becoming commander of a paratrooper battalion after the breakup of the Soviet Union. He saw action in the First and Second Chechen Wars as deputy commander of the 21st Airborne Brigade, and later as commander of the 51st Guards Airborne Regiment. By the mid-2000s he was commander of the 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division, and after studies at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, became chief of staff and first deputy commander of the Siberian Military District.

Astapov went on to serve in senior staff positions in the Southern and Western Military Districts, rising to the rank of lieutenant-general, before becoming a deputy commander of the navy, with responsibility for the coastal troops. Over his career he has received a number of awards, including the Order of Courage, the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" Third Class, and the Order of Military Merit.

Early life and service

Astapov was born on 9 December 1962 in Tikhoretsk, Krasnodar Krai, then part of the Russian SFSR, in the USSR.[1] Inspired by the 1971 film Officers, Astapov decided on a career in the military, and settled on the Soviet Airborne Forces.[2] After failing to gain entry to the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School on his first attempt, Astapov spent a year studying physics at Rostov State University, before succeeding in applying to the Ryazan Airborne School. He graduated in 1985 and went to serve in a regimental reconnaissance company of the Soviet Airborne Forces based in Tula.[1][2] The following year he was appointed commander of the company, and went with them to Baku, where he was posted during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. He subsequently received the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" Third Class for his service in policing the rising tensions.[2] On his return to Russia he was appointed chief of staff of a paratrooper battalion of the 106th Guards Airborne Division, becoming its commander two and a half years later.[2]

Commands and Chechen operations
Astapov in 2006, while commander of the 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division

Astapov then carried out studies at the Frunze Military Academy, graduating in 1996 and becoming deputy commander of the 21st Airborne Brigade, which was seconded to Chechnya during the First and Second Chechen Wars.[1][2] In 1999 he was given command of the 51st Guards Airborne Regiment, and took charge of the regiment's withdrawal from Chechnya. Despite continuing attacks on withdrawing Russian forces, Astapov brought off the withdrawal with minimal losses, and was awarded the Order of Courage, and the Medal "For Distinction in Military Service", first and second classes.[2] He then became commander of the 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division between 2005 and 2007.[1][3] He graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in 2009, and was then appointed to the post of chief of staff and first deputy commander of the Siberian Military District.[1]

Senior staff appointments

From January 2011 Astapov served as chief of staff and deputy commander of the 49th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District, and in May 2012 became commander of the 49th Combined Arms Army.[1][4] As army commander he was also head of the Stavropol Territorial Garrison.[5] From December 2013 to April 2014 he was deputy commander of the Southern Military District, being promoted from general-major to general-lieutenant on 24 February 2014.[1][6][7] On 21 June 2014 he was appointed chief of staff and first deputy commander of the Western Military District.[1] As chief of staff of the Western Military District, Astapov was heavily involved in planning and carrying out the Zapad 2017 exercises.[8] On 1 August 2018, while serving as acting commander of the Western Military District, Astapov met with a Japanese military delegation in Saint Petersburg, led by Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera.[9]

In February 2019 Astapov was moved from the position of chief of staff of the Western Military District to the post of a deputy commander of the navy, with responsibility for the coastal troops.[10] It was noted at the time that Astapov had experience from participating in the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War.[10] His replacement as chief of staff of the Western Military District was Lieutenant-General Aleksei Zavizon.[10]

Awards and personal life

Over his career Astapov has been awarded the Order of Courage, the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" Third Class, and the Order of Military Merit, as well as a number of medals.[1] He is married, with a son.[1]

References
  1. "Начальником штаба Западного военного округа назначен генерал-лейтенант Виктор Астапов" (in Russian). Ministry of Defence. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  2. "День защитника Отечества Комдив" (in Russian). Volnaya Kuban. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  3. "7-я гвардейская десантно-штурмовая (горная) Краснознаменная ордена Кутузова 2-й степени дивизия" (in Russian). Union of Russian Paratroopers. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  4. "Назначен новый командующий 49 общевойсковой армией Южного военного округа" (in Russian). Ministry of Defence. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  5. "Поклонимся великим тем годам..." (in Russian). Stavropol Presidential Cadet School. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  6. "Командующий войсками Южного военного округа вручил генеральские погоны ряду военнослужащих" (in Russian). Ministry of Defence. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  7. "Назначен новый заместитель командующего войсками Южного военного округа" (in Russian). Ministry of Defence. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  8. "Комсостав ЗВО начал подготовку к учениям "Запад-2017"" (in Russian). Rambler.ru. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  9. "В Санкт-Петербурге состоялась встреча командующего войсками Западного военного округа с министром обороны Японии" (in Russian). Ministry of Defence. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  10. Ramm, Aleksei; Lavrov, Anton; Stepovoy, Bogdan (23 December 2019). "Звезды под елкой: Минобороны провело крупную кадровую ротацию" (in Russian). Izvestia. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
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