Viktor Chirkov
| Viktor V. Chirkov | |
|---|---|
2015
|
|
| Native name | Виктор Викторович Чирков |
| Born |
8 September 1959 Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (now Almaty, Kazakhstan) |
| Allegiance |
 Soviet Union Russia
|
| Service/branch |
 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) 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. He retired from his position due to the health reasons in March 2016.
Chirkov is a surface warfare officer with Pacific Fleet roots. He was born on 8 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. He served as assistant commander of a corvette, then executive officer of Kotlin-class destroyer Vozbuzhdennyy.
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. 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. In the first years of this assignment, he served under Vice-Admiral Sidenko.
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Wikipedia