Vladislav Alekseyevich Achalov | |
|---|---|
 Achalov in 2008 | |
| Born | (1945-11-19)19 November 1945 |
| Died | 23 June 2011(2011-06-23) (aged 65) |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union (1962–1991) |
| Branch | Soviet Army,Soviet Airborne Forces |
| Years of service | 1966–1991 |
| Rank | Colonel General |
| Commands | Soviet Airborne Forces |
| Awards | Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR - 1st, 2nd and 3rd class |
Vladislav Alekseyevich Achalov (Russian:Владисла́в Алексе́евич Ача́лов; 19 November 1945 – 23 June 2011) was aSovietgeneral,politician and public figure. Achalov served as the 12th commander of theSoviet Airborne Forces and the deputyminister of defence (1990–1991).
Achalov was born on November 13, 1945, in the village of Atamash,Atninsky District, in theTatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Upon deciding to join the army, he attended theKazan Tank School of the Red Army, from which he graduated in 1966. He started his career in the army as a commander of a platoon of tanks, and later he became the commander of a company of tanks. In 1973 he graduated from theAcademy of Armoured Forces but transferred to the Airborne Forces in 1974, becoming commander of an artillery regiment. In 1975–77 he was a commander of an airborne regiment and later (1977–78) vice-commander of98th Guards Airborne Division. From 1978 to 1982 he was commander of the7th Guards Airborne Division.[1]
In February 1981 he visited Warsaw and in September he participated in"Zapad-81" training exercise.[2] After graduating from theVoroshilov General Staff Academy in 1984, he became the deputy commander of the2nd Guards Tank Army and 1985 commander of the8th Guards Army within theGroup of Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1987–89 he was working in Leningrad[1] as Chief of Staff, First Deputy Commander of theLeningrad Military District.[3] From January 1989 to December 1990 he was commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces.
In December 1990, unexpectedly, "with no preliminary discussion, none of the usual procedures such as interviews with the Central Committee or the Poltburo,"[4] he was made a deputy minister of defence. This lasted until August 1991. After theAugust 1991 coup he was sent to a sanatorium, "the usual preliminary to enforced retirement."[5] He was a member ofSupreme Council of Russian Soviet Republic in 1990–1993.[1]
A supporter of the failed coup attempts of1991 and1993, in his later years he led a union of veteranparatroopers and organised a large protest against Yeltsin's policies. Achalov died at aMoscow hospital on 23 June 2011, aged 65.[6][7]
He was married in 1974 to Larisa Pavlovna Gudzi, and had a son and daughter.[8]
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