| Viktor Viktorovich Chirkov | |
|---|---|
 Vice-Admiral Viktor Chirkov at the Kremlin (February 2011) | |
| Native name | Виктор Викторович Чирков |
| Born | September 8, 1957 |
| Place of birth |
Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR (now Almaty, Kazakhstan) |
| Allegiance |
 Soviet Union,  Russia |
| Years of service | 1974-present |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | |
| Awards | |
Viktor Viktorovich Chirkov (Russian: Виктор Викторович Чирков; born September 8, 1957, in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR)[1] is a Russian admiral and the former commander of the Baltic Fleet. On 6 May 2012, he was appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, succeeding Vladimir Vysotsky, who had occupied the post for almost five years.[2][3]
Entering the Navy in 1979, after graduating from the S.O. Makarov Higher Naval School in Vladivostok in 1982, Chirkov first posting was as the commander of mine-and-torpedo department of a Pacific Fleet frigate.[1] During the next several years, Chirkov would serve as the assistant commander of frigate before becoming executive officer of a destroyer.[1] In 1987, he was appointed executive officer of the frigate Storozhevoy after successfully completing the Navy Higher Special Officer Classes in Leningrad. In 1990, he became the commanding officer of the Udaloy I-class anti-submarine warship Admiral Spiridonov.[1]
In 2000, having completed the Military Academy of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, Chirkov was made the Chief of Staff/First Deputy Commander of the Northeast Group of Troops and Forces on Kamchatka.[1] Since 2007, he was the Chief of Staff/First Deputy Commander of the Baltic Fleet, and appointed Fleet Commander by the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev on 8 September 2009.[1]
On 6 May 2012, President Dmitry Medvedev on his last day in office prior to the inauguration of Vladimir Putin appointed Chirkov to replace Vladimir Vysotskiy as the Russian Navy's Commander-in-Chief. In an interview with news agency RIA Novosti, Chirkov said, "The most important thing for Russia is to build a fleet with the support of the president and like-minded persons."[2]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Viktor Chirkov". Ministry of Defence. Mil.ru. http://eng.mil.ru/en/management/combatant_arms/more.htm?id=10339457@SD_Employee. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Medvedev Replaces Russian Navy Commander". En.rian.ru. 6 May 2012. http://en.ria.ru/mlitary_news/20120506/173260767.html. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ↑ Cook, Brad (6 May 2012). "Medvedev Names Russian Navy, Air Force Heads on Last Kremlin Day". Bloomberg L.P. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-06/medvedev-names-russian-navy-air-force-heads-on-last-kremlin-day.html. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
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