Army general (Russia)


Army general is the second highest military rank in Russia, inferior only to a marshal and superior to a colonel general. It is a direct counterpart of the Soviet Army General rank.
At present it is also the highest rank in the air force, artillery, aerospace defense forces, armored troops, engineer troops and signal troops. Unlike the Soviet Union where similarly ranked officers were called marshals and chief marshals of a branch. The corresponding naval rank is admiral of the fleet.
On appointment as Defense Minister on 7 May 1992, Pavel Grachev was the first officer to be promoted to this rank. Vladimir Yakovlev was promoted to this grade while serving as commander of the Strategic Missile Forces.

Rank insignia

Since 2013 rank insignia is one big star and army emblem on straps which was used also till 1997, like in Soviet Army since 1974. Between 1997 and 2013 the rank insignia was 4 stars in a row, like in the Soviet Union from 1943 to 1974.
Until 1997 generals wore a "small" marshal's star. But when in 1993 ranks of chief marshal and marshal of the branch in Russian Federation were abolished, there was no more reason for special rank insignia for generals. By the President's decree of January 27, 1997 generals regained 1943-like straps with 4 stars in a row.

List of Russian army generals

This list is translated from the corresponding article in Russian Language Wikipedia
NameLifespandate of appointmentpost at time of appointmentleft military service
Pavel Grachev1948 - 20127 May 19921st Deputy Minister of Defence2007
Viktor Barannikov1940-19957 May 1992Minister of Security RF1993
Viktor Dubynin1943-19925 October 1992Chief of the General Staffdied in service 1992
Mikhail Kolesnikov1939-20075 May 1995Chief of the General Staff2004
Mikhail Barsukovborn 19479 November 1995Director FSB1997
Anatoly Kulikovborn 19469 November 1995Minister of Internal Affairs1998
Andrey Ivanovich Nikolayevborn 194917 November 1995Director Federal Border Service1998
Viktor Samsonovborn 194125 January 1996Chief of Staff at the Military Cooperation Headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States1999
Vladimir Toparovborn 194622 February 1996Deputy Minister of Defence2002
Pyotr Deynekin1937-201713 June 1996Commander of the Air Force 1998
Viktor Prudnikov1939-201513 June 1996Commander of the Air Defence Forces 2004
Vladimir Semyonovborn 194013 June 1996Commander of the Ground Forces2004
Igor Sergeyev1938 -200613 June 1996Commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces2001
Igor Rodionov1936 - 20144 October 1996Minister of Defence1996
Anatoly Kvashninborn 194625 November 1997Chief of the General Staff2004
Vyacheslav Trubnikovborn 194422 January 1998Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service 2000
Nikolay Kovalyovborn 194923 February 1998Director FSB1998
Aleksandr Starovoitovborn 194023 February 1998Director of FAPSI1999
Viktor Kazantsevborn 194621 February 2000Commander of the North Caucasus Military District2000
Anatoly Kornukov1942 - 201421 February 2000Commander of the Air Force2002
Vladimir Yakovlevborn 195427 June 2000Commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces2004
Nikolai Patrushevborn 195111 June 2001Director FSB2008
Vladimir Isakovborn 195022 February 2002commander of the Rear of the Russian Armed Forces2008
Aleksandr Kosovanborn 194122 February 2002deputy Minister of Defence2003
Vyacheslav Tikhomirov1945 - 20146 November 2002commander of the Internal Troops2004
Valentn Bobryshevborn 194521 February 2003commander of the Leningrad Military District2005
Yuri Yakubovborn 194621 February 2003commander of the Far Eastern Military District2006
Konstanin Totskiyborn 195023 February 2003director of the Border Service2003
Vladimir Matyukhinborn 194511 March 2003director of FAPSI2004
Sergey Shoyguborn 19557 May 2003Minister of Civil Defencein service
Nikolai Abroskinborn 195111 June 2003Chief of the Federal special construction service2010
Valentin Korabelnikovborn 194611 June 2003Head of the GRU2009
Nikolai Kormiltsevborn 194611 June 2003commander of the Ground Forces2004
Sergey Lebedevborn 19482003director of the SVR2007
Ivan Yefremovborn 194622 February 2004commander of the Moscow Military District2007
Vladimir Sergeyevich Mikhaylovborn 194322 February 2004commander of the Air Force2007
Alexander Ivanovich Baranovborn 194612 June 2004commander of the Volga-Urals Military District2008
Alexei Moskovskyborn 194712 June 2004Deputy Minister of Defence2007
Nikolai Pankovborn 195412 June 2004head of personnel at the Ministry of Defence2009
Evgeny Murovborn 19452004director of the Federal Protective Service2010
Yuri Baluyevskyborn 194722 February 2005Chief of the General Staff2008
Nikolay Yegorovich Makarovborn 19528 May 2005commander of the Siberian Military District2012
Vladimir Pronichevborn 19539 May 2005head of the Border Guard2013
Igor Puzanovborn 194712 December 2005commander of the Leningrad Military District2007
Sergei Mikhailovich Smirnovborn 1950December 20051st deputy director FSBin service
Rashid Nurgaliyevborn 195627 December 2005Minister of Internal Affairs2012
Anatoly Grebniukborn 195512 June 2006Head of the Billeting and Arrangement Service of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation2007
Aleksandr Belousovborn 195215 December 20061st Deputy Minister of Defence2009
Alexey Maslovborn 195315 December 2006commander of the Ground Forces2011
Alexander Bortnikovborn 1951December 2006head of the economic security division of the FSBin service
Oleg Syromolotovborn 1953December 2006head of counter intelligence of the FSB2015
Vladimir Bakinborn 195323 February 2007commander of the Moscow Military District2009
Nikolai Rogozhkinborn 195223 February 2007commander of the Internal Troops2014
Vladimir Popovkin1957 -201422 February 2009Chief of procurement of the armed forces2011
Nikolai Klimashinborn 1952?head of the scientific & technical service of the FSB2010
Ruslan Tsalikovborn 1956?Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federationin service
Dmitry Bulgakovborn 195423 February 2011Deputy Minister of Defencein service
Valery Gerasimovborn 195521 February 2013Chief of the General Staffin service
Arkady Bakhinborn 195621 February 20131st Deputy Minister of Defence2015
born 1952?head of the economic security division of the FSB2016
Vladimir Kulishovborn 1957?1st deputy director FSBin service
Viktor Zolotovborn 195410 November 2015commander of the Internal Troopsin service
Pavel Popovborn 195711 December 2015deputy Minister of Defencein service
Oleg Salyukovborn 195522 February 2019commander of the Russian Ground Forcesin Service
Aleksandr Dvornikovborn 196123 June 2020commander of the Southern Military DistrictIn Service