Vladislav Achalov
Encyclopedia
Vladislav Achalov (19 November 1945 – 23 June 2011) was a former Soviet general
who at one time commanded the Soviet Airborne Forces.
Achalov graduated from the Kazan Tank School of Red Army 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 the Academy of Armoured Forces but transferred to the Airborne Forces in 1974, becoming commander of an artillery regiment. In 1975–1977 he was a commander of an airborne regiment and later (1977–1978) vice-commander of 98 Airborne Division. From 1978 to 1982 he was commander of the 7th Airborne Division.
In 1981, the Soviet army planned to invade Poland
in response to the Solidarity trade union uprising and Achalov was chosen as a commander of the airborne landing operation in Warsaw
. In February 1981 he visited Warsaw and in September he participated in "Zapad-81" training exercise.
After graduating from the Voroshilov General Staff Academy in 1984, he became the deputy commander of the 3rd guards tank army and 1985 commander of the 8th Army within the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1987–1989 he was working in Leningrad. From January 1989 till December 1990 he was commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces and later (till August 1991) deputy minister of defence and member of Supreme Council of Russian Soviet Republic in 1990-1993.
He was a supporter of the failed coup attempts of 1991 and 1993. In his later years he led a union of veteran paratrooper
s and organised a large protest against military reform. Achalov died at a Moscow
hospital on 23 June 2011, aged 65.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
who at one time commanded the Soviet Airborne Forces.
Achalov graduated from the Kazan Tank School of Red Army 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 the Academy of Armoured Forces but transferred to the Airborne Forces in 1974, becoming commander of an artillery regiment. In 1975–1977 he was a commander of an airborne regiment and later (1977–1978) vice-commander of 98 Airborne Division. From 1978 to 1982 he was commander of the 7th Airborne Division.
In 1981, the Soviet army planned to invade Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in response to the Solidarity trade union uprising and Achalov was chosen as a commander of the airborne landing operation in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. In February 1981 he visited Warsaw and in September he participated in "Zapad-81" training exercise.
After graduating from the Voroshilov General Staff Academy in 1984, he became the deputy commander of the 3rd guards tank army and 1985 commander of the 8th Army within the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1987–1989 he was working in Leningrad. From January 1989 till December 1990 he was commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces and later (till August 1991) deputy minister of defence and member of Supreme Council of Russian Soviet Republic in 1990-1993.
He was a supporter of the failed coup attempts of 1991 and 1993. In his later years he led a union of veteran paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
s and organised a large protest against military reform. Achalov died at a 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...
hospital on 23 June 2011, aged 65.