Vladimir Zarudnitsky

Vladimir Borisovich Zarudnitsky (Russian: Владимир Борисович Зарудницкий; born 6 February 1958) is a Russian Ground Forces colonel general and the chief of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia. He was heavily involved in the Second Chechen War, eventually becoming in September 2007 the commander of the army there.

Vladimir Zarudnitsky
Native name	Владимир Борисович Зарудницкий
Born	(1958-02-06) 6 February 1958 (age 67) Abinsk, Krasnodar Krai, Soviet Union
Allegiance	Soviet Union Russian Federation
Branch	Soviet Army Russian Ground Forces
Years of service	1975–present
Rank	Colonel general
Commands	27th Guards Motor Rifle Division 36th Army Main Operational Directorate Central Military District Military Academy of the General Staff
Battles / wars	Second Chechen War
Awards	Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 4th class Order of Military Merit

Soviet life

Zarudnitsky was born on 6 February 1958 in Abinsk. After entering the military in 1975, he graduated from the Ordzhonikidze Higher Military Command School in 1979. Between 1979 and 1985, he commanded a platoon and then a company in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. Between 1985 and 1987, he was head of an intelligence regiment in the GSFG. In 1989, Zarudnitsky graduated from the Frunze Military Academy.^[1][2]

Zarudnitsky served in the Soviet Army from the 1970s and became a junior officer in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, commanding a platoon, company, and intelligence regiment. After his 1989 graduating from the Frunze Military Academy, Zarudnitsky became chief of staff of a regiment and a regimental commander in the Far Eastern Military District. He then served as chief of staff and commander of a motor rifle brigade in the North Caucasus Military District.

Career in the Russian Ground Forces

Zarudnitsky in Maikop

From 1991 to 1994, Zarudnitsky served as chief of staff of a regiment and later commanded a regiment in the Far Eastern Military District. In 1997, Zarudnitsky became chief of staff of the 131st Motor Rifle Brigade at Maykop. He took command of the brigade in 1999,^[3] leading it in the Second Chechen War.^[4]

Zarudnitsky entered the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, graduating in 2003 with honors. He became commander of the 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division in the Volga–Urals Military District. In January 2005, he became chief of staff and first deputy commander of the 36th Army in the Siberian Military District. In February 2007, he became commander of the army.

In April 2009, Zarudnitsky became chief of staff and first deputy commander of the Moscow Military District.

In March 2011, he became deputy commander of the Southern Military District. On 3 October, he became head of the Main Operational Directorate and deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.^[3][1]

On 10 December 2013, Zarudnitsky was awarded the Order of Military Merit.^[5]

In June 2014, he became commander of the Central Military District.^[2]

On 22 November 2017, he was appointed chief of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia.^[6]

Personal life

Zarudnitsky is married and has a son and a daughter.^[2]