Igor Sergeyev
Encyclopedia
Igor Dmitriyevich Sergeyev (b Verkhnyu, Ukraine
20 April 1938 — d Moscow
10 November 2006) was the Defense Minister of the Russian Federation from 22 May 1997 until 28 March 2001. He was the first and as of 2011 the only Marshal of the Russian Federation
.
. Sergeyev became commander in chief of the Strategic Rocket Forces in 1992. In this position he was in charge of securing the former USSR's nuclear weapons.
. Sergeyev accepted reform within a limited budget under civilian political control. The number of military educational establishments was reduced markedly from their previous levels, which had not changed since Soviet times. A number of army divisions were given "permanent readiness" status, which was supposed to bring them up to 80 percent manning and 100 percent equipment holdings. Sergeyev directed most of his efforts toward promoting the interests of the Strategic Rocket Forces
. All military space forces were absorbed into the Strategic Rocket Forces, and the Ground Forces Headquarters was abolished. The Airborne Forces suffered some reductions, while the Naval Infantry only escaped due to their competent performance in Chechnya. Much of the available procurement monies were invested in acquiring new rockets.
Sergeyev was dismissed as defense minister in March 2001 and was replaced by Sergey Ivanov.
Igor Sergeyev was awarded the Order of the October Revolution
, Order of the Red Banner of Labor, Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces
(3rd class), Order of the Red Star
, Medal for Combat Service
, and other decorations.
Sergeyev died 10 November 2006 from the effects of blood cancer.
in 1999 but is also praised for the fact that the Russian military captured Chechen capital Grozny
in 2000 during the Second Chechen War
. However, the ongoing fighting in the south of the republic caused some concern about his efficacy after Vladimir Putin
became President.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
20 April 1938 — d Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
10 November 2006) was the Defense Minister of the Russian Federation from 22 May 1997 until 28 March 2001. He was the first and as of 2011 the only Marshal of the Russian Federation
Marshal of the Russian Federation
Marshal of the Russian Federation is the highest military rank of Russia, created in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It ranks immediately above General of the Army and Admiral of the Fleet , and is considered the successor to the Soviet-era rank of Marshal of the Soviet...
.
Career
Sergeyev served briefly in the Soviet navy but later transferred to the army, where he spent most of his career in the Strategic Rocket ForcesStrategic Rocket Forces
The Strategic Missile Troops or Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation or RVSN RF , transliteration: Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya Rossiyskoy Federatsii, literally Missile Troops of Strategic Designation of the Russian Federation) are a military branch of the Russian...
. Sergeyev became commander in chief of the Strategic Rocket Forces in 1992. In this position he was in charge of securing the former USSR's nuclear weapons.
Defense Minister
Sergeyev was appointed minister of defense in 1997 by Russian President Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
. Sergeyev accepted reform within a limited budget under civilian political control. The number of military educational establishments was reduced markedly from their previous levels, which had not changed since Soviet times. A number of army divisions were given "permanent readiness" status, which was supposed to bring them up to 80 percent manning and 100 percent equipment holdings. Sergeyev directed most of his efforts toward promoting the interests of the Strategic Rocket Forces
Strategic Rocket Forces
The Strategic Missile Troops or Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation or RVSN RF , transliteration: Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya Rossiyskoy Federatsii, literally Missile Troops of Strategic Designation of the Russian Federation) are a military branch of the Russian...
. All military space forces were absorbed into the Strategic Rocket Forces, and the Ground Forces Headquarters was abolished. The Airborne Forces suffered some reductions, while the Naval Infantry only escaped due to their competent performance in Chechnya. Much of the available procurement monies were invested in acquiring new rockets.
Sergeyev was dismissed as defense minister in March 2001 and was replaced by Sergey Ivanov.
Igor Sergeyev was awarded the Order of the October Revolution
Order of the October Revolution
The Order of the October Revolution was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was awarded to individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defenses of the Soviet Union, military and civil...
, Order of the Red Banner of Labor, Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces
Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces
The Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR also known as Order of Service to Motherland was a USSR military order created on 28 October 1974, making it the first military order created after the end of World War II.According to its statute, the order was awarded for...
(3rd class), Order of the Red Star
Order of the Red Star
Established on 6 April 1930, the Order of the Red Star was an order of the Soviet Union, given to Red Army and Soviet Navy personnel for "exceptional service in the cause of the defense of the Soviet Union in both war and peace". It was established by Resolution of the Presidium of the CEC of the...
, Medal for Combat Service
Medal for Combat Service
The USSR Medal for Combat Service was a Soviet military medal awarded for "combat action resulting in a military success", "courageous defense of the state borders", or "successful military and political training and preparation".It was created on October 17, 1938 by the decision of the Presidium...
, and other decorations.
Sergeyev died 10 November 2006 from the effects of blood cancer.
Criticism
Sergeyev is blamed by some for not effectively acting during Dagestan WarDagestan War
The invasion of Dagestan, also known as the War in Dagestan and Dagestan War, began on August 7, 1999, when the Chechnya-based Islamic International Brigade , an Islamist militia led by warlords Shamil Basayev and Ibn al-Khattab, invaded the neighbouring Russian republic of Dagestan in support of...
in 1999 but is also praised for the fact that the Russian military captured Chechen capital Grozny
Grozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
in 2000 during the Second Chechen War
Second Chechen War
The Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
. However, the ongoing fighting in the south of the republic caused some concern about his efficacy after Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
became President.