Sergey Leonidovich Sokolov
| Sergei Sokolov Серге́й Соколо́в |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Minister of Defence | |
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In office 22 December 1984 – 30 May 1987 |
|
| Premier |
Nikolai Tikhonov Nikolai Ryzhkov |
| Preceded by | Dmitriy Ustinov |
| Succeeded by | Dmitry Yazov |
| Full member of the 27th, 28th Politburo | |
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In office 6 March 1986 – 29 August 1991 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 July 1911 Yevpatoria, Russian Empire |
| Died | 31 August 2012 (aged 101) Moscow, Russian Federation |
| Nationality | Soviet/Russian |
| Other political affiliations |
Communist Party of the Soviet Union |
| Awards |
 
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Soviet Union
|
| Service/branch | Soviet Army |
| Years of service | 1932–1987 |
| Rank | Marshal of the Soviet Union |
| Battles/wars |
Battle of Lake Khasan, World War II, Soviet war in Afghanistan |
Sergey Leonidovich Sokolov (Russian: Серге́й Леони́дович Соколо́в; 1 July 1911 – 31 August 2012) was a Soviet military commander, Hero of the Soviet Union, and served as Minister of Defence of the Soviet Union from 22 December 1984 until 30 May 1987.
Sokolov was promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1978. He was in charge of Soviet ground forces during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He personally led the main Soviet incursion of ground forces on the December 27, 1979. His actions and command strategies during the war made him one of the Soviet Union's most respected Marshals. On April 28, 1980 he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
Sokolov was appointed Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union in 1984 and held this post until 1987, when he was dismissed by Mikhail Gorbachev as a result of the Mathias Rust affair. He was also a candidate (non-voting) member of the Politburo from 1985 to 1987.
From 1992, Sokolov was an advisor to the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. In July 2001, he became an honorary citizen of Crimea, Ukraine.
On turning 100 he stated, "Military service prestige will regain the importance it once had."
Sokolov died of undisclosed causes on 31 August 2012, at the age of 101. He was buried on 3 September with full military honors at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow, next to his wife of 70 years, Maria Samojlovna Sokolova (19 December 1920 – 28 August 2012) who had predeceased him three days prior.
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