14 Facts About Viktor Astapov

Viktor Borisovich Astapov is an officer of the Russian Armed Forces.

Viktor Astapov currently holds the rank of Lieutenant General, and since 2019 has served as a deputy commander in chief of the Russian Navy.

Viktor Astapov saw action in the First and Second Chechen Wars as deputy commander of the 21st Airborne Brigade, and later as commander of the 51st Guards Airborne Regiment.

Viktor Astapov went on to serve in senior staff positions in the Southern and Western Military Districts, rising to the rank of lieutenant-general, before becoming a deputy commander of the navy, with responsibility for the coastal troops.

Viktor Astapov was born on 9 December 1962 in Tikhoretsk, Krasnodar Krai, then part of the Russian SFSR, in the USSR.

Viktor Astapov graduated in 1985 and went to serve in a regimental reconnaissance company of the Soviet Airborne Forces based in Tula.

Viktor Astapov subsequently received the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" Third Class for his service in policing the rising tensions.

Viktor Astapov then carried out studies at the Frunze Military Academy, graduating in 1996 and becoming deputy commander of the 21st Airborne Brigade, which was seconded to Chechnya during the First and Second Chechen Wars.

Viktor Astapov then became the commander of the 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division between 2005 and 2007.

Viktor Astapov graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in 2009 and was then appointed to the post of chief of staff and first deputy commander of the Siberian Military District.

From January 2011 Viktor Astapov served as chief of staff and deputy commander of the 49th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District, and in May 2012 became commander of the 49th Combined Arms Army.

On 1 August 2018, while serving as acting commander of the Western Military District, Viktor Astapov met with a Japanese military delegation in Saint Petersburg, led by Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera.

In February 2019 Viktor Astapov was moved from the position of chief of staff of the Western Military District to the post of a deputy commander of the navy, with responsibility for the coastal troops.

Over his career, Viktor Astapov has been awarded the Order of Courage, the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" Third Class, and the Order of Military Merit, as well as a number of medals.