Viktor Chirkov

This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Viktorovich and the family name is Chirkov.
Viktor V. Chirkov

2015
Native name Виктор Викторович Чирков
Born (1959-09-08) September 8, 1959
Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
(now Almaty, Kazakhstan)
Allegiance  Soviet Union
 Russia
Service/branch Russia Russian Navy
Years of service 1977-2016
Rank Admiral
Commands held

Viktor Viktorovich Chirkov (Russian: Виктор Викторович Чирков; born September 8, 1959, 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] He retired from his position due to the health reasons in March 2016.[4]

Military career

Chirkov is a surface warfare officer with Pacific Fleet roots. He was born on 8th September, 1959 in Alma-Ata, capital of the former Kazakh SSR. In 1982, he graduated from the Pcaific S.O. Makarov Higher Naval School in Vladivostok and became head of the mine-torpedo department on old Riga-class frigate Lun in the Pacific Fleet.[1] He served as assistant commander of a corvette, then executive officer of Kotlin-class destroyer Vozbuzhdennyy.[1]

In 1986-1987, Chirkov completed Higher Special Officers’ Classes in Leningrad, and became commander of the infamous Krivak-class frigate Storozhevoy. Under a mutinous crew, this Soviet Baltic Fleet unit tried, unsuccessfully, to defect in 1975. Later it transferred to the Pacific Fleet.

From 1990 to 1993, Chirkov commanded Udaloy-class destroyer Admiral Spiridonov.[1] He was deputy chief of staff for an ASW ship division, deputy division commander, and commander of an ASW ship division during 1993-1998. In 1997, he completed the Kuznetsov Naval Academy as a correspondence student.

After graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 2000, Chirkov served for five years as chief of staff, first deputy commander of Troops and Forces in the North-East on Kamchatka.[1] In the first years of this assignment, he served under Vice-Admiral Sidenko.

In 2005-2007, he commanded the Primorskiy Mixed Forces Flotilla. For the next two years, he was chief of staff, first deputy commander of the Baltic Fleet, and became its commander in September 2009.

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]

Retirement

In March 2016, Russian media announced Chirkov's retirement due to the health reason. It is expected that his successor will be Vladimir Korolev, the current commander of the Northern Fleet. [4]

Awards

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Vladimir Vysotsky
Commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy
20122016
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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